The last batch of comments mailed in to me by the Editor contained much to inform and entertain me. Unusually, there was a thread of material which also annoyed me.
I have always insisted that there be no comment moderation, and that the freest of speech should prevail. This was my decision even in the face of an expectation that I would receive endless personal abuse.
This freedom comes, not with responsibility, but with an expectation of respect for the blog. It is my hope that commenters moderate themselves, in the sense of attempting to restrain the baser human instincts when afforded the opportunity to speak. In brief, there is an expectation to behave decently.
The strain of comment which distresses me is that which, no matter what the topic of my post, instantly and insistently raises issues of sexism and harangues feminism. This is becoming boring and is wholly irrelevant to the blog, and I would appreciate some restraint being exercised by these commenters. Equally, I would like these comments to be treated as provisional trolling – and to be ignored.
Feel free to abuse me, my crime, my sentence, or my very existence. But I will not stand by and do nothing if the integrity and the atmosphere of the blog is undermined in this way.
Another strand of comments, along with other information, leads me to think that my victim’s family are reading the blog. I would be grateful if all readers could be careful before dismissing harsh comments as mere trollery, lest these comments are the genuine feeling of those I have hurt.
Are these issues, the balance between freedom and respect, ones that all bloggers must inevitably grapple with? Perhaps I should, at the outset, have enunciated a clearer policy – that no comments will be moderated, so long as they are relevant to the purpose of this blog?
Freedom of speech. It’s complicated!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hurrah!
ReplyDeleteI like the term "provisional troll". It is a nice way of flagging up a comment that is disrespectful and naive without immediately dismissing the person as malicious.
We still need to solve the problem of all those Anonymouses though.
I am one of those anonymouses cos I don't know how to give myself a name!
ReplyDeleteBen with your limited access to information how can you possibly make a judgement? You're being fed daily mainstream media and nothing else.
ReplyDeleteHere Here Ben, i am sick of all the feminist ranting on here too, (and i am a woman). There is a time and a place, and it is not here on a prison blog.
ReplyDeleteRe Anon postings, i neither know how to set up an account, but nevertheless, have posted before on why i post anon. It is not to use as a smokescreen to be rude to anyone. I am an ex-con, and don't want everyone knowing my business. For the same reason, i don't subscribe to facebook or anything similar. Some advice given to me years ago. Never tell anyone anything. If you google my name you will see my crime on the internet. The police & employers look at these things. I am not for giving the police any info they can twist to fit. She writes on a prison blog..... she is friends with so and so on facebook etc...
Ben says that the person(s) who 'harangues feminism' is annoying and a problem, not 'feminist rantings' anonymous, please.
ReplyDeleteFor those who may be interested, the Name/Url option on the "comment as" drop-down allows you to give yourself a name (e.g. Jess) without linking to anything. It doesn't *really* identify you, but it doesn give people something to call you other than Anon #2.
ReplyDeleteI think anon3's misunderstanding illustrates that what Ben may have perceived as haranguing of feminism is actually just a reaction to some often repeated attempts to lure the blog commentary in the direction of a fairly sexist and pro-feminist agenda.
ReplyDeleteThis reaction gets a bit heated and seems an unnecessary distraction from the main issues to me. Intelligent debate about the issues Ben raises would seem more appropriate.
Frankly I don't think it does ben's blog any good when either, people hijack the comment stream for their own prejudiced agenda or when others launch into over the top vitriolic attacks on those who do.
@Rob "I think anon3's misunderstanding illustrates that what Ben may have perceived as haranguing of feminism is actually just a reaction to some often repeated attempts to lure the blog commentary in the direction of a fairly sexist and pro-feminist agenda."
ReplyDeleteIndeed it's pretty disgusting considering who and what this blog is meant to be about.
Good points Ben - and agree. Anonymous above -give yourself any name you like - just so others can respond to you. I for one will enjoy the blogs and comments being only about what Ben writes - no swearing or abusing others will be good too.
ReplyDeleteI know, lets all agree with eachother and love up to Ben without any distractions, disagreements or individualism, that'd be the best thing, agreed.
ReplyDelete"often repeated attempts to lure the blog commentary in the direction of a fairly sexist and pro-feminist agenda."
ReplyDeleteIt would be appropriate to give examples of this and name names of those concerned, rather than throw such accusations around.
@anon 10.15 no, it wouldnt be helpful, it would take comments into another argument that has fuck all to do with the blog.
ReplyDeleteAccusations ought to be substantiated, not thrown about without any evidence.
ReplyDelete@anon 9:56.
ReplyDeleteNo-one is asking for that. This blog is (primarily) focused on the penal system. Therefore discussion should focus on that (there is plenty of room for disagreement in that area). Suggesting that people leave other arguments at the metaphorical door will lead to everyone agreeing with each other is like saying that if I argue with someone over government economic policy whilst not mentioning the fact that I disagree with their views on veganism I am agreeing with them.
Right Tallguy, all discussion and comments should focus on the penal system, disagreements are to be allowed except if anyone has feminist views, in which case they are to face a kangaroo court by commenters. Fair enough.
ReplyDeleteI think anon @ 9.56 was being sarcastic.
Anon 4:39 PM This blog has been used by some to promote their own ideology, is it too much to ask that you respect what this blog is about and not use it to further your own aims?
ReplyDelete"This blog has been used by some to promote their own ideology" Oh dear that is terrible, I suggest you refer the matter to the thought police and let them deal with it Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 9.57...sarcasm being the lowest form of wit.
ReplyDeleteOnce again you absolutely refuse to stick to the principles of this blog, must be your nature that makes you so incapable of reasoned debate....rant on, hopefully you will get bored and go away
Hmmm, yes queenie, so banal!
ReplyDelete@ anon april 23rd 6.54, 9.10 and 7.16
ReplyDelete"I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is - I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat."
~Rebecca West