Thanks to that quick post I dashed off a couple weeks ago, this site has been getting a lot of new readers. With new readers comes new comments. We like this.
However, a few of these commenters have left comments whose apparent purpose is not to engage in conversation but to troll. I just deleted one in the coyote-hunting tournament thread that extolled the “fun” of killing coyotes, for instance.
The vast majority of those of you who’d like to take part in the discussion here don’t need to hear that kind of stuff. In fact, the vast majority of you don’t need to read what’s in the next couple of paragraphs.
This blog isn’t a “safe space.” Nothing interests me less than running a “safe space” here. But I delete hate speech without prejudice or warning or apology. Trolls will not be fed here. “Hate speech” is construed here to include paranoia about worldwide jihad, speculations as to the True African Agenda of elected officials, or extolling the joy of murdering top predators in order to work out your own personal psychopathy.
What we do like here is intelligent discussion in which the commenters presume one another’s basic humanity. Disagreement is a wonderful thing: it helps all of us refine what we think.
I am a leftist and radical environmentalist. I don’t hide this. I’m older than most people on the Internet — hell, I’m older than the Internet — and my convictions in this regard have only gotten stronger the longer I live in the world. It’s unlikely you’re going to persuade me that our species’ own convenience or wealth-garnering or desire for “fun” outweigh the rights of other species to exist. It’s even more unlikely you’ll do so by leaving a comment on a blog.
But I’m glad to talk to anyone who’s willing to talk to me, and more importantly to the other commenters here, as a human being worthy of courtesy and respect.
If you need more explanation for some reason, check out this old post on my previous blog.
But Chris, you forgot to ban the puns!
Left and radical. I like it.
Several days ago the I urge you to read some books on nature photography. I would recommend John Shaw but his books are from the film era, although even if youre shooting digital, they would help you a lot. You seem like a nice guy or I wouldnt have taken the time. provided a lot of laughs in our home.
As a former Evangelical pastor (over 25 years) I get those “you should read the Bible sometime” comments. :) Gee I think I might try that some day.
Back to your pictures. We had a whole family discussion on how subjective art is. As a serious, amateur photographer I “know” the rules about photo shooting. Read all the books. (wasted hundreds of rolls of film) It is still subjective, in the eye of the beholder. Ultimately, I shoot what I shoot cuz I want to :)
All that to say, I like your blog AND your pictures, AND your politics. :)
Bruce
Hey, thanks Bruce!
Larry, you can take my ham-handed puns when you can pull them out of my cold, dead hams.
You can take my ham-fisted puns too, but you’ll fist have to kill me.
I think Arvind’s just bacon to have his comments chopped.
Chris, please salami to say in reply: “Nya nya nya nya nyaa nyaa”
Man, I wasn’t expected to meat all these puns! What a bunch of baloney. Talk about the wurst thing, ever.
Rachel, it chorizo annoying at times.
A great example of totally wild west unregulated internet is usenet, full of trolls and spammers. You have a blog that reminds me of some of the groups I subscribed to,
lots of thoughtful articles and commentary,before they succumbed to anarchy.
Morongobill
Usenet invented Chris Clarke, and Chris Clarke invented the internet. You really should read a book about that sometime.
Argh, these groaners are like a steak through the heart! (And Morongobill, your thoughtful comment just got sandwiched between the puns.)
I’m afraid I don’t like where the separate threads of “you should read a book,” edible animal parts, and my own writing are likely to converge.
Please keep shooting the trolls, they are the only thing that is always in season. This place has become a nice place to stop by, sort of like a shaded area next to a stream where you may be surprised by what you see, or refreshed, but never bored.
I like your politics. I don’t know what a radical environmentalist is, but I have a hunch that I’m pretty close to being one myself. I’ve been worrying for 40 years about all the pollution and lack of concern for what we are doing to the only home we have. I loathe belonging to a species whose motto seems to be: “Earth first! We’ll strip mine the other planets later.”
Please quit deleting me, dood.
I would never. You are the very model of an modern ideal commenter.
I troll as much as I can. I feel I’m doing a public service with drive-by insults, inflammatory yet unrelated remarks, and generally being an ass. It’s a hobby.
No, seriously, I like the way you stated it, Chris. Disagreement is good. I know it’s a way for me to learn. Debate can be spirited and sharp without being harmful.
And on that photo comment… I was going to respond there but couldn’t come up with anything other than “I feel your pain.” (Yes, my brain lacks serious creativity lately.) Thankfully Bruce hit the spirit of what I was thinking (as did the commenters on the original post).