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.
In fact (insert any name here) + Clark’s stupidy = Tag Team !! 😀
“this is not real is it…”
Yes you better believe it, the unreal is Clark’s reality, and vice versa !
“(obviously to an intelligent person)” = The crucial qualifier !
Macky, I no longer believe that your insults are genuine. You have lost your power.
I think I can do it.
The other blog, I as going to post something about toothpaste but decided naaa, So i’v let that go… And the merry-go-round people here? I can really do without the gray mundaneness of it.
But I met you Macky, and seem nice, but what’s actually being together in the face of love? A minor encumbrance…we found love in a hopeless place…. 🙂 …It’s something. I will escape.
Sorry Ishmael, apparently I seem to have lost my mo-jo ! 😀
Nice…
On a (semi)serious note, did you notice how our neurotic attention seeking friend was besides himself because he didn”t know anything interesting to add to the great Council Tax Debate !
The **** are short. ******* glow impartiality **** *** ******. I wish I could say more. The ******* clean the *****, the *******, the ********. This ** *** a purge. Repeat. **** is NOT a *****. Regret**** necessity. Is anything making it over border? Lo siento, no puedo decir más.
Mackey
I tell you, there where some nice (small) moments of banter, but shit, what a clique of expectant entitlement over anyone else not part of normal Craig-isum…
I’v never got into blogs much anyway, just thought i’d come along and support, contribute. And I’v found a hell of a lot out about blog culture in general besides this particular one. And our culture full stop…
I don’t know what’s worse, the treatment from others (including not standing up for me, had that before in ‘real life’) or the near total ignorance from Craig. I respect his act and some of his work. But hell it’s only being human. Does not make him exclusive by any means. Yes there is no respect, real interaction, ideas exchanged.
“It owes me nothing” is the attitude. Unbelievable. Actually I never asked for any kind of payment or flavors. Or excepted anything but common decency and respect. Even under some hardness I retain that…If I didn’t I wouldn’t post. And I have to say I no longer do respect enough to.
Hello Afrend, good to see you. I think we can speak freely here. Probably everywhere except the most recent thread, judging from the moderators’ messages. Or is the problem at your end?
Ishmael, have we met?
Macky 26 Jun, 2015 – 11:37 pm
I’d forgotten about him. I don’t know why he ….No i’v been like that at times. Can’t see the forest…
I’m still a bit cautious online because I don’t know what people are like, but if they do have serous issues they REALLY should not put themselves our there…And they have to take responsibility for there choices…
Or it could be just weaseling. But i’m beginning to think some (though using formal words and phrases) really haven’t got much going on….Fine, but I still have some life in my veins.
“but if they do have serous issues they REALLY should not put themselves our there…And they have to take responsibility for there choices…”
It’s seems to be a Catch 22 situation that they can’t help, in that those with issues do feel the need to put themselves out there, as a psychology prop to reassure themselves that they don’t have issues !
I was reading some analysis of philistinism earlier. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philistinism
May have to follow up on this guy.
“Ödön von Horváth chronicled the coarseness of affect that limited the worldview of the bourgeoisie. (ca. 1919)”
BTW, I note, David Graeber mentioned about ‘the left’ and right with regard to embracing there radicals….”Left”, what left. The biggest most effective political left that really exists is the people. Full stop.
“a psychology prop to reassure themselves that they don’t have issues !”
Are we falling out of love macky 🙂
I notice that traced in me of course. But I know I don’t need it. Just enjoying these last moments…There are more alive people out there, I know it.
“The biggest most effective political left that really exists is the people. Full stop.”
Well, you just seem to be having a happy chat with Macky, on your own, so you’re not doing too great with your own prescription, are you? Clark is also the people, or haven’t you noticed?
Hello Technicolour, good to see you, too.
“Clark is also the people, or haven’t you noticed?”
None of you are fucking people compared to most I care to know. There are minor ass holes I know of and avoid, but most would never treat other people like this you (fill in you own indignant abuse phrase here).
Macky likes to ridicule me for psychological problems. When I was a kid at school, it was normal to insult people by calling them “flid” (thalidamide victim), “Spastic” (cerebral palsy sufferer), “paraplegic” (partially paralysed) or even “woman”.
Ah well. Macky and Ishmael seem to think I’m an utter shit.
“None of you are fucking people compared to most I care to know.”
There we are then. You are dehumanising real people, albeit typing people, and so – well, I don’t know. Carry on being beastly to them? Whatever.
Macky, big love and hug. Thanks…
Stay exuberant and beautiful…
The shadow does not hold sway yet. Not over you… and not over me.
“There are more alive people out there, I know it”
Cruel irony ! Up pops Technicolour !
Ishmael, warning, if you haven’t already had the misfortune, this one makes Clark seem Mensa material ! 😀
Naa it’s over, i’m in scroll past mode Macky.
“Stay exuberant and beautiful…”
No worries, I’ve been almost single-handedly facing the trolls & Craig-bots here for years now, and still smiling ! 😀
God, how?
Why?
I tried to inject some freshness but, yea after a few years on and off, not just the bots but the blog itself has always felt a bit crap to me. Craig changes page again, everyone comment.. I tried to add something, little but blaaa, no, some ok ish seeming people but ‘big’ heads etc.
Do you need saving Macky?
Surly you do not…Fair play I guess if you decide, but I don’t see much changing much.
“Why?”
There are some good people here, and you do sometimes get good info, even from Craig when he writes about the one thing he knows best about, ie his ex-insider’s knowledge of our rotten system; plus it’s a bit of the good samaritan in me, I can’t let good people get ground down by the souless robots & trolls here.
Ishmael 27/06/2015 9:12 pm
“Yes, do you have some cyanide pills…”
Ishmael 27/06/2015 9:13 pm
“I’ll just have one or two thanks, should do the trick.”
It was not at all obvious that that was a joke. Clark immediately did what he could to defuse the situation and limit any damage, which was quite proper behaviour.
It is inadvisable to crack jokes about suicide when people have no means of evaluating you except the words you are using.
J
Macky, we got along fine for years before you turned up. Better, in my opinion. In my opinion, the blog doesn’t really need dishonest, abusive Kremlin advocates. But that’s just my opinion.
Shall I take the piss out of you because you’re less intelligent than someone else? I’m sure there must be someone cleverer than you, somewhere…
JSD, good to see you; I hope you are well.