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.
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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.
I’ll just have one or two thanks, should do the trick.
Ishmael, there is much in your comment that I don’t understand; most of it seems unclear to me. I’m sorry for that. But what have I written that you think is vile?
Ishmael, you seem distressed, and I’m sorry about that to. I’m not sure I understand your question, but no, I wouldn’t wish to give you the means of suicide, if that’s what you mean. I’d really rather just chat.
Clark, go take some rest, lighten to load. I don’t want to chat with you else I might end up really looking for the means of suicide…
I am actually fine…But your ignorance and stupidity do stress me a bit. I’ll get over it like minor hangover. ie, No big issue.
Ishmael, I don’t know what of my writing you find ignorant or stupid, and I would rather that you told me. But since you have threatened suicide and blamed me for your feelings, I shall say no more to you.
And Ishmael (sorry), if you change your mind and want to talk to me after all, just say; here, or click on my name for my e-mail address.
Best wishes.
lol…It was a joke Clark. CLEARLY re-illustrated as such. But you STILL don’t seem to get….Anything, and plough your own strange path.
“I’m not wasting any more time on you.”
Clarey Macky was well ahead of me.
Ishmael, I have been affected by suicide several times; the worst was in 1993 when my woman-friend of the time hung herself. Please do not joke about suicide; such talk has to be taken seriously.
Were your comments about my vileness, ignorance and stupidity also “jokes”? If not, what were you referring to?
Ishmael, this is how disagreements blow up out of all proportion on the Internet and in texting; the medium removes all the non-verbal communication, all the body language and tone of voice, even the expression found in handwriting. Sarcasm is often misinterpreted in e-mails, in blog comments and in texts. I apologise for misunderstanding. I try to be clear to avoid misinterpretation; I’m sorry if it comes over as, er, cold or something.
“Were your comments about my vileness, ignorance and stupidity also “jokes”? If not, what were you referring to?”
Ok….But this is the only clue i’ll give you, don’t expect a conversation about the other inferences I made and you ignored or “didn’t understand”…This was one of those blind vile stupid ignorant De-humanising replies.
“And Ishmael, I’m sorry that chatting with me and others on the second page of this thread is not good enough for you. ”
But you can’t?, won’t?, just don’t? (who knows) see it…Read back thorough, consider what ‘my issues’ are, what the overall subject is. Then get out of my face…Though i’ll make sure that happens anyway…
God, do you think I have no self respect. Who the hell do you think you are.
Ishmael, you wrote:
“Ass end” – so it seemed to me that this wasn’t good enough for you.
Maybe you don’t think I have any self-respect. And maybe you do; it is hard to tell from what you write, which is ambiguous.
And Ishmael, no. I do not have to go looking to work out what you might have taken offence to. I have plainly stated that you can tell me. I will pay attention. But you have as much responsibility to be plain and clear as I have to pay attention. It is a two way process between equals.
And yes, I handle sarcasm fine, But it’s when the coldness is obviously in every day remarks.practice it irks some me some, and should. . Though it does not get to me deeply, and i’d never use whatever issues I may or may not have had/have. Or imply others where really making me feel like that bad. Why I made it obvious it was not serous. Ie “i’m fine, = to minor hangover. After making sure you knew they were ‘meant’ (jokingly) for me, Just in case you’d accuse me of not helping with issues I thought you may bring in about yourself.
Ishmael, the two parts of your 9:25 pm comment were contradictory – I couldn’t tell which part was serious. Maybe that is a failing in my comprehension, but genuine concern for your life is not vile, ignorant or stupid. Concern for your life is not the way of Sauron. Your Sauron quote may imply that you regard me as the embodiment of ultimate evil. I have directed nothing like that at you.
“so it seemed to me that this wasn’t good enough for you.”
Bingo. and a lot else has not been good enough as i’m milked then oppressed, after the contributions I made over the years.
Do you even read back through? to really try and understand? It’s like your ignoring the whole context, continually. Like just selecting parts of ongoing remarks it total isolation from even the last few. Let alone what this is all about.
I don’t want to press you, and i’m fine not coming back. So what gives?
“Ishmael, the two parts of your 9:25 pm comment were contradictory”
Not if you’d had followed the remarks shortly after. Or just did not think so seriously perhaps. Yet you bring it up again.
Ps Some other things where meant ‘seriously’ as I also re-illustrated those for you. Did my best.
I gota go Clark, goodbye.
Goodbye Ishmael.
Ishmael, you have not been “milked”. You are free to comment, or not, as you wish; no one is forcing you. This blog doesn’t owe you anything.
And it was not simply a “Sauron quote” it was the words of Sauron speaking through the ‘Mouth of Sauron’.
Implying the relevance of ‘treating’ with that which has no power and only speaks for his master. As if I was here to bargain anyway.
“This blog doesn’t owe you anything”
Yes i’m all to fucking aware of that thanks. You-ll get yours.
@Ishmael, damn ! I feel guilty leaving you alone with Clark, enough to drive anybody, well anybody sane, to the brink of suicide ! 😀
See if you can spot the Clark character here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRiSnqgVy88
What a bunch of cunts.
Ishmael, what do you mean by “you’ll get yours”? It sounds like a threat. Is it?
MACKY….. my love.
It’s been hell, like burning hell.
I’m watching.
lol,,,i’m almost crying, Thanks macky, brill, I needed that. excellent…
Tailor made almost ! Doesn’t make equal recompense for what you’ve had to endure, but at least you know what you are up against ! 😀
“Ishmael, what do you mean by “you’ll get yours”? It sounds like a threat. Is it?”
Your just trying to wind me up arne’t you? this is not real is it…
Most who support power and oppression “get it” from the very people they back. No It’s (obviously to an intelligent person) not a threat by me, it was a near certain promise of reality based on historical precedent.
Ishmael, yes, we will all die eventually.
You seem to be working as a “tag team” with Macky. I’ll no longer take you seriously.
LOL ! The real tag-team was Ishmael & Clark’s stupidy !! 😀
Ishmael, I do not support oppression. Power is just a fact of life. Or maybe you don’t need to eat. Myself, I’m mostly vegan.
Macky clearly supports Putin’s government, and that clearly does perform oppression. Much hypocrisy.