This is essentially a free speech forum. I enjoy much of the banter which goes on between commenters, particularly the dedicated band of people who post on a daily basis. There is an important distinction between my writing, and the comments section. The proportion of readers who leave comments is well under 1%. I cannot know what percentage of the readers read comments, but I suspect it is not terribly high.
In social media I find establishment hacks – particularly journalists and Labour Party functionaries – dismiss my thoughts by referring to the comments section. “Craig Murray – have you seen the tinfoil hats comments on his blog!” being a genuine and very typical example. Well, if people wish to damn me by association with the views of other people, that is sadly an example of the low intellectual standards of the British nomenklatura of our time. The only views on here which are mine are those which I write.
I cherish the diversity of the comment threads and am fond of our little community, most of whom I have never met. I do not value people by the standard of how close their views are to my own. I am sometimes saddened by the personal animosities which arise between people.
We state some rules from time to time. This is the current set, which I just made up:
No racism. Any comment which is racist will simple be deleted immediately. The biggest problem we face is anti-Jewish comment, which I will not tolerate. We are not in the business of stigmatising anti-Zionism as anti-Jewish, but there are quite frequently distinctly anti-Jewish comments. I deleted one just an hour ago.
Similarly, no holocaust denial. I do not believe it should be illegal (I am against thought crime) but I do not wish to have it on my blog as those associated with it often have very unpleasant sympathies. That is not to say the subject of the holocaust can never be mentioned – it will never be possible to ascertain the precise number who were killed, and it is important we remember not only the Jews but the Poles, gypsies, gays, freemasons and numerous others who suffered. But the basic facts are not in doubt. It is surprising how often people attempt to insinuate holocaust denial.
Sockpuppetry. It is in practice impossible to outlaw sockpuppetry without a formal registration system, which I do not want. But the adoption of multiple identities within the same thread is not to be allowed, nor the creation of identities of which the purpose is to ridicule, attack or insult another contributor.
Fair Play. Play the ball, not the man. Address arguments, not people. Do not impugn the motives of others, including me. No taunting.
Relevance
Attempts to keep people on topic are hopeless, but do try.
9/11
We don’t discuss 9/11. There are plenty of places on the web where you can do that. It tends to take over threads.
Contribute
Contributions which are primarily just a link to somewhere else will be deleted. You can post links, but give us the benefit of your thoughts upon them.
No explanation.
Enforcing these rules is necessarily arbitrary and needs judgement calls. Moderators are precluded from explaining decisions online. If you want to complain use the contact button.
Moderators
We have, and have had, excellent moderators over many years. But almost all have found it not only time consuming but also surprisingly emotionally draining. If you are interested in volunteering and are willing for me to know both your real and online identity, please get in tough using the contact button.
Macky and Phil, in case you haven’t worked it out; I’ll answer you here, but I will not do so at squonk.tk – it’s a matter of respect for an individual’s wishes in their own piece of the web, which I consider as important an issue as free speech. In conscience, I will not continue at squonk.tk
Moderators:
please could you tell us if Phil or Ishmael are banned at this site?
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[ Mod: Clark – both Phil and Ishmael have been put on pre-mod for their disruptive behaviour. When they redeem themselves, they may be removed from that list. However, I see nothing from them that is pending approval. ]
Macky,I request an apology for your accusation at squonk.tk that I was being deliberately dishonest.
It’s hardly surprising that the Establishment is so enduring. We, the opposition, are inferior. We can’t even extend basic respect to each other. We deserve to be dominated, because we’re so keen to dominate each other. Depressing? Or don’t you care?
@Clark, are you stating that it was “accidental” dishonest !?;
Clark; “Squonk has repeatedly ASKED that this not carry on here”
Whereas in actuality,
Squonk; “Discussing moderation policy at Craig’s – that’s okay. ”
Mod: thanks for the info.
Macky, Squonk made it clear to Ishmael that he wanted that argument closed. Squonk deleted some of my comments on the subject. I have not been dishonest; not accidentally nor deliberately. You’re quoting something that happened months ago. I’m referring to comments within the recent argument. If anyone’s being dishonest, it’s you. You also seem to be fishing after the personal identities of the moderators; for what purpose, Macky?
“We deserve to be dominated, because we’re so keen to dominate each other.”
I don’t think this condition is confined to the powerless, or liberals – it appears to be a human condition. The rich hate each other even more than they hate the poor, or we hate them.
But it is a shame a bit of basic respect cannot be granted, and yes (Phil) – I do think you’re due a fair bit of blame in this regard. It’s not just the “tone” of the message. It’s just about treating one another with common courtesy, and I don’t know why that’s so beyond some people, when they’d be vastly more effective should they practice it.
“You also seem to be fishing after the personal identities of the moderators; for what purpose, Macky?”
Yes, why indeed? As long as they keep the poo-flinging down to a manageable level and prevent spam-bots from overrunning the place, who cares who they are?
Glenn, moderators are “authority figures”. Some will try to get at them, just as a small number of people on a demonstration will try to taunt the police. There are some bastard coppers about, for sure, but I’d never object to someone just for being a police officer. Policing has to be a tough job. Moderating here was very stressful.
Clark; “You’re quoting something that happened months ago.”
Err, no, Squonk comment was made one June 23, 2015 at 12:53 am , and yours on June 25, 2015 at 4:03 pm !!
Clark; ” You also seem to be fishing after the personal identities of the moderators; for what purpose, Macky”
No, I haven’t; you should be the very last person to accuse people of seeking people’s identities; you spent weeks hounding me for my email, then used that to reveal person info, and then spent half a night surfing the net using that email tying to find more peronal info !
Glenn; “Yes, why indeed?”
You really should stop believing anything Clark states, as it normally not only a lie, but also a reverse projection.
“Reverse projection”?? Do me a favour!
Sorry, I hit enter too soon. Wish there was an edit feature here.
It’s not just Clark’s idea that you’re fishing for identities of the mods. Come on. But perhaps I’m wrong – are you truly disinterested? Anyway, about the facts that you claim Clark has “revealed” about you – can you think of anyone, anyone at all, who gives a toss? Seriously? Or is this just one more thing to bang on about ad infinitum.
Phil, many sufferers don’t like to mention their depression. There are many reasons. Look at the “psychological analysis” – or personal abuse and smears – that have been directed at me by Macky as the reward for my openness about my emotional state.
Some people think of pre-mod as a punishment, and seem to think it gives the moderator sadistic pleasure. Putting a commenter on pre-mod increases the work load considerably; you need to keep checking the moderation queue, and then you have to make judgements about the comments that it holds back. When I was moderating the main thing I wanted to do was participate in the debate, not faff around deciding whether the conversation would be degraded by the various contents of a given comment.
Glenn-uk; “Reverse projection”?? Do me a favour!”
Yes;
“Projection is the psychological phenomenon where someone denies some aspect of their behavior or attitudes and assumes instead that others are doing or thinking so. It is usually seen as the externalisation of a person’s negative traits, placing blame on an outside force such as the environment, a government, a society or other people.”
Was what I stated about Clark snoping a lie, he didn’t hound me for my email, he didn’t reveal personal info in spite, he didn’t search the internet using my email ?!
It all recorded here & at Squonks !
But Macky, for the love of God – who gives a damn? Why bang on about it, when nobody cares?
Macky, I have no idea whether I’ve “revealed” which sex you are or not (this is what Macky means by “person info”[sic]) because all I have is a name on an e-mail address, which could be invented. How on Earth was I supposed to know that you regard which sex you are as a secret? You never mentioned such a thing. I repeatedly asked you to contact me so we could communicate privately about the difficulties of moderation. I sent you a nice e-mail, but all I’ve ever had from you is hostility and smears.
Macky, all interaction with you has made me feel deeply unhappy.
Yes Macky, after months of abuse from you I did reveal something that I discovered from your e-mail address. Actually that e-mail address is used to advertise your services – so hardly “private information”.
Clark; “Macky, all interaction with you has made me feel deeply unhappy.”
Well the obvious answer is to stop doing it; but you can’t help yourself can you, you always initiate an attack on me & then get upset when I reply.
I note that your in all your misrepresantions above, you didn’t even attempt to justify scouring the to find Israeli dancers ! 😀
Macky, 6:36 pm:
Yet the link Macky used at squonk.tk, and which I was replying about, was this:
https://squonk.tk/blog/2015/03/15/the-general-discussion-thread/comment-page-45/#comment-18321
Fifteenth of March – months ago.
Macky, did you set that up to drop me in it?
Macky, you lie, lie, lie. You make repeated reference to me in comments to others that have nothing to do with you or me. And my only “revelation”, concerning Israeli dancers, taken from your own advertising material so the complete opposite of “private”, is what I referred to at 7:00 above.
I believe you are trying to degrade my emotional state, that you are attempting to damage me emotionally.
Clark; “Actually that e-mail address is used to advertise your services”
Don’t give up your day job, you’ll never make a good detective !
So the message for all, is never give your email to Clark in you value your privacy, as he will try to find out personal info to use against you, and is quite shameless about it !
Clark; “Fifteenth of March – months ago.”
?? Are you blind or mad !? Squonk comment was made one June 23, 2015 at 12:53 am , and yours on June 25, 2015 at 4:03 pm !!
Clark; “I believe you are trying to degrade my emotional state, that you are attempting to damage me emotionally.”
Another projection, of course. If you not enjoying this, it must be because you are a masochist.
Oh, give it a rest FFS. I thought there was something of substance someone wanted to discuss?
@Glenn_uk; “Oh, give it a rest FFS.”
Who initiated ? I like to see you turn the other cheek to lies & misrepresentations.
Ah, no, I see what’s happened. The URL that Macky posted includes the date of the thread, not the comment, and the thread was given its current date in March. I took the date from the URL, and thus thought Macky was quoting from March.
However, Macky has still quoted very selectively:
Clark; “However, Macky has still quoted very selectively:”
LOL! As if only quoting the relevant part makes any difference.
You really not only can’t stop yourself, but you don’t even realise you are doing it !
Macky, you have used a selective quote from Squonk’s expression of unhappiness to justify doing that which was making him unhappy. Maybe I’m not a masochist, as you have asserted. Maybe you’re a sadist. Or maybe you aren’t.
WHY do you fish for the personal identities of Craig’s moderators?
Testing.
No I won’t talk on pre-mod.
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[ Mod: Ishmael : You have now been removed from pre-mod. ]
@Clark; “WHY do you fish for the personal identities of Craig’s moderators?”
Why do you insist on lying ? Is it because clutching at straws is the best you can do ?
I don’t really care as i’v effectively left. But It felt more open before, tough I had issues and made contributions then. Largely ignored, didn’t let it bother me too much. Straw that broke.
I’m sure it will continue, not without some measure of usefulnesses, but so cliquey and self absorbed. Partly just what blogs are often like. Orchestrated by a small group for a small group.
Dunno what else to say….