From what I’ve seen from other sites, eventually one side or the other will get tired of beating their head against the wall, and leave. Then the entire site is just a bunch of people that already agree with one another.

If I was a contributor, I probably wouldn’t even bother posting anything political since it’s pretty much assured to devolve into a left/right pissing contest.

Jay, that’s just crazy talk!

Where’s my gold star?

…it’s pretty much assured to devolve into a left/right pissing contest.

Indeed…and at that point, nobody is learning anything new and it’s a total waste of my time and yours.

Well, apparently it’s been brought to my attention that the world is doing just fine without my input, but I already knew that.

Jay,

I agree 100 percent. What’s that old saying? “Don’t discuss politics, sex or religion.” If we can’t talk to one another about issues as adults, why talk about them at all?

Gingersnaps: Again, I agree. It’s okay to disagree on issues (respectfully), but when it gets to the point of a “pissing” contest, I believe it’s best to end the conversation.

Here we go again. My main criticism of what goes on here is that at least a third of it is people telling other people how they think they should behave. It’s like half the people here want to play mommie to the other half. People lighten up and un-wad your panties. If I have the power to affect you one way or the other with words, then you are obviously not very stable or grounded.

Nobody, and I mean nobody has the power to offend you and make you cry. You choose to be offended and you choose to cry like a baby. Here’s an idea. Choose not to cry like a baby. Choose not to be offended.

Here comes the irony…

Glen,

This site does have rules. We are asking people to abide by those rules. If that seems overly constraining to you, or overly fussy or panty waddish, please feel free to delist yourself as a contributor.

Glen, why don’t you choose not to be so antagonistic?

It’s almost like you enjoy fighting or something…

All eise being equal, I think comments in blogs are vastly overrated. I’ll read them/post them if the opportunity’s there, but I don’t miss them when they’re not there.

Never, for instance, have I read Kausflies, AndrewSullivan.com or Instapundit and thought to myself “man, I really wish these guys had comments sections. I’m really dying to know what Sam11271971 from Portland, Oregon thinks about this.”

Kat, no way. I am waiting to be kicked off though.

Ginger, I don’t see myself as antagonistic. I give an opinion. If it hurts your feelings, that isn’t my fault. It’s yours. You chose to have your feelings hurt.

Glen, what we’re talking about here is having adult conversations without it turning into “pissing contests” that seem to turn off a lot of readers. Is that so unreasonable to you? What about a request to be civil gets *your* panties so in a wad?

Glen, YOU don’t see yourself as antagonistic, but I would venture to say that 95% of others do.

I am waiting to be kicked off though.

Why?

I think what you’re missing, too, in your comment to Ginger, is that the problem (except for explicit insults) is not hurting individual people’s feelings, it’s the tenor of the comments and the effect on the overall atmosphere.

Rachel, pardon me for responding when my name shows up in the post.

I am not ever though, going to alter my writing style to make liberals happy. I don’t expect William to alter his to make conservatives happy and I would never request that he do so. You see I believe in freedom Rachel. I realize that it is a strange concept and that people who express themselves freely, tend to be offensive and therefore need government (kat, ginger) to stop them and censor them.

Realizing this, I will bow out of this thread and allow you all to have your little “I’m better and nicer than mean old Glen Dean” party, and feel good about yourselves. I would say more but I am sure it would be censored.

People lighten up and un-wad your panties. If I have the power to affect you one way or the other with words, then you are obviously not very stable or grounded.

Nobody, and I mean nobody has the power to offend you and make you cry. You choose to be offended and you choose to cry like a baby. Here’s an idea. Choose not to cry like a baby. Choose not to be offended.

“Yet everybody just feels like they can relate, I guess words are a
mothafucka they can be great
Or they can degrade, or even worse they can teach hate
It’s like these kids hang on every single statement we make”

-Eminem

Words are powerful. Very powerful, and when you say otherwise, I think you are either being deliberately obtuse or purposely inflammatory.

Hell, one of the reasons I am a blogger is because I love the power of words so much. But with those words we have the power to hurt or offend. It’s our grown assed adultness that keeps us from going around being deliberately trollish, most of the time, anyway.

A lot of the time, Glen, your words are like using a 12 gauge shotgun to swat at flies. It’s largely unnecessary and puts holes in the walls. And it’s not just you, it’s a lot of people on the site.

Yeah, there are people going around looking to be offended, but when regular everyday people like nm are saying the site is filled with too much vitriol, then it really is. That’s why we are posting about it. That’s why we’re going around being “mommies” about the comments. Because we love this site and want it to succeed.

I have learned, after much time making a fool of myself, to consider the criticism at hand and analyze whether there is even a shred of truth to it. If so, then I am glad for it, and will do my best to learn from it.

This is a technique I highly recommend to others.

Glen –

In fairness, you’re probably feeling a little picked on, but lemme try this:

Opinion:

46% of country doesn’t seem to know what the definition of a “recession” is

or, perhaps,

“What does it mean that 46% of Americans think there’s a recession going on when they’re very clearly is not according to the economic indicators” (I’m biased–> this, to me is the question that should be asked)

Insult:

“46% of country doesn’t have enough sense to get out of the rain (i.e, they’re morons)

So, Glen, I don’t believe in freedom just because I’d like people to be civil? Because I believe civil conversation is possible among people who disagree? Of course you should respond when your name shows up in a post. Do you need to respond by calling people crybabies? Because that’s exactly what I was talking about in the post above. Again - not about the politics.

“You see I believe in freedom Rachel. I realize that it is a strange concept and that people who express themselves freely, tend to be offensive and therefore need government (Kat, Ginger) to stop them and censor them.”

Kat and Ginger are the government?

Come on Glen: MCB is a private enterprise. As such, it can be moderated any way its proprietors choose. There’s nothing contrary to libertarianism in the notion that priovate entities get to police themselves. In fact, that’s pretty much the whole point of libertarianism.

Roger, thank you for your perfect example. That’s exactly what I meant.

I am not ever though, going to alter my writing style to make liberals happy.

Glen, take a second and realize that this isn’t about liberal vs. conservative. It is about running a point into the ground to where it is no longer of any use to yourself or others. It is about making MCB so toxic that some of the regulars don’t even want to read any longer.
I don’t care if you call me a crybaby or say that Rachel doesn’t believe in freedom…all you are accomplishing by stating those things is showing everybody how arrogant and closed-minded you really are.

You see I believe in freedom Rachel. I realize that it is a strange concept and that people who express themselves freely, tend to be offensive and therefore need government (kat, ginger) to stop them and censor them.

You are completely free to write and handle comments as you see fit on your own blog.

It’s your place. Call people “stupid”, make your points, etc.

But this blog has posting guidelines. Any newspaper, magazine or television show in this country has rules or codes of conduct or professional guidelines or whatever you want to call it.

You received a copy of the posting guidelines from Ivy when you agreed to sign on.

It says things like:

Drama is okay, trolling is not. Drama drives traffic. But going out and posting something that you know is going to piss everyone off is something you might reconsider. Do not personally attack anyone in your posts.

Why do you hate freedom, Rachel?

I am not ever though, going to alter my writing style to make liberals happy.

It’s not about changing yourself. It’s about finding where you fit in. If your writing goal is to piss as many people off as humanly possible, then it’s not compatible with the goal of MCB. It’s not that anybody is telling you to do anything you don’t want to. Just suggesting that maybe your goals aren’t a good fit for this website.

If you go to a movie theater and start chatting it up on your cellphone, you’re going to be asked to leave? It’s not because the theater wants you not to be able to talk on your cell phone, but rather because you’re reason for being in the moment (to talk on your phone) is incompatible with the theater’s reason for being (to entertain patrons with a movie). The world’s big enough for both things to exist, just not together.

The martyr complex isn’t helpful here. It’s preventing you from giving a fair listen to what people are saying.

*SNORK*

I just loves me some Sarcastro.

Open and shut case of instant karma.

Ah, the ol’ drive-by. Care to explain?

Let me just say that my goal with the post was certainly not to make it all about Glen Dean, but just to use a recent example that many of you would be familiar with.

Brittney, for full details, please see this thread at Ned Williams’ blog wherein Sharon has decided that I am evil (for something I didn’t do) and that my evil has caused MCB to be a miserable failure.

Open and shut case of instant karma.

As was Lennon taking four rounds in the torso.

This is rapidly becoming one of those threads that fills up the “recent comments” section. My ADD is kicking…ooo squirrel!

I’m still wondering whether Sharon ever met with that census guy a few months back.

I don’t agree that this is a fruitless exercise . . . just today Glen apologized for sounding like a “music snob” and just yesterday William used a cute-ish word like “ugh” or something. Seems to me we’re being “nicer” and “governing” ourselves.

Rachel - thank you for writing this.

Glen - asking people to be civil is the first part of civil-i-zation. As George Costanza once said,’We LIVE in a civilization here’.

Sarcastro - obviously, the evil genius switch has no off position. Instant Karma - SNORK -

I know what you’re thinking, here comes that shrill, Johnny one note Reason over religion! again, with his irrational exclamation point firmly in tow.

The shrillness that some here exude is totally justified, because we are not operating on the level of mere partisan screedery, or whatever. We are coming from a standpoint of unmitigated moral outrage at the behavior of the executive branch. If you’re offended, good. You need to be.

Good know you keep everything in perspective ROR.

“We are coming from a standpoint of unmitigated moral outrage at the behavior of the executive branch. If you’re offended, good. You need to be.”

Yes, because members of the Executive Branch of the United States Government are always popping in here at MCB.

A little full of yourself aren’t you?

Roger:

If you say so, it must be true.

Yes, because members of the Executive Branch of the United States Government are always popping in here at MCB.

he probably just thinks of mcb as the national version of ginger’s blog. the gov hangs there all the time.

ROR –

Actually, I don’t need to say it at all. Quite obvious from your comment.

Roger:
I bet at least 42 percent of the America would disagree with your assesment:

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7779.shtml

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070706195925.rdm9h3ci&show_article=1

he probably just thinks of mcb as the national version of ginger’s blog. the gov hangs there all the time.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
©2007 Aunt B. (All rights reserved.)

Yeah, me and the Gov…we’re tight…

Ror!

Funny: I was never polled for that article!

And where is the proof (i.e. transcript) that Bush actually said that? After two years, I still have a hard time believing that anyone in the Government would be that obtuse to say that out loud. (But then again, that could just be my naivety.)

Oh gosh, here comes that shrill, Johnny one note Reason over religion! again, with his irrational exclamation point firmly in tow.

Yikes, I never wanted to make this about Glenn, or Roger, or any single contributor. I get blasted for saying things like this, but I have seen community blogs do this as long as there have been community blogs, or bulletin boards, or whatever. I mentioned as much when I first heard about MCB. I never meant to offend the people who were ballsy enough to try this, and it has done well despite the long odds. I agree that it is a shame that only a few of the 47 contributors are participating. Maybe the mere act of airing this out from time to time will work in the site’s favor, I think people respect transparency.

Glenn, your words don’t hurt. I’ve got a pretty thick skin. Some people prefer not to hang around a place where shrillness rules, its boring and it yes it sometimes offends people’s sensibilities.

RoR, dude, I’ve rarely seen such a poor grasp of timing. This comment thread was a perfect opportunity to acknowledge that your passions, or mine, may not be shared by everyone else. You won’t win them over by claiming some imaginary moral highground. I’m willing to admit i have to keep my sarcasm in check, and be less dismissive of poorly constructed posts. I’m hoping to bat .500 in these areas.

More than 42% of Americans go to church.

I’m betting 42% of Americans can’t find Iraq, North Korea or Burma on a map.

Does that make them equally right in Ror’s eyes?

More than 42% of Americans go to church.

Really?

I think I’m going to start a Christian Rock band.

I am not saying I am right. I am not “claiming” anything. I am saying that my position on the executive branch is not extreme.

I’ve already acknowledged over and over again that my opinion is irrelevant.

Why should anyone pay attention me?

RoR, I probably hold a similar view of the Executive.

It says something about the spirit of this place that people even bother to not only pay attention, but to offer you their hands…

Well, I am with William and Beale on this, and I won’t back down. I agree with Number9 on second amendment. I agree with Glen on some economic principles, if not all. I respect Ned’s arguments on abortion and gay marriage, even if I don’t share his conclusions.

But I am going to remain in the loud, shrill, impeach Cheney and Bush crowd.

Not that it matters.

P.S

I know, I know, that’s all “shit MCB doesn’t want to talk about™”

Like I said, I understand perfectly well that world is doing just fine without my input.

Ror! I’m second to no one in my distaste for the Bush administration. The war in Iraq is a perfect example of ideology first, policy second. The waste and carnage and profiteering is beyond anything I thought that Bush had in him. Nation building, whether incompetently performed or inchoate, was condemned roundly a few years ago by someone running for office..oh yeah..it was BUSH.

Many of us get it or agree generally. Who exactly do you think you are convincing by your tone and repetition?

So much about life is just listening. So much of it should be about trying to separate the signal from all the noise. After a certain point, after YOUR point has been made, it all turns to noise. (my points too….)

What I should have explicitly added to the post, but didn’t, because I erroneously assumed it had been stated enough times that I didn’t need to - none of this is about anyone’s politics. It is about tone.

Say Uncle has some good advice about blogging, “Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.”

While that does upset a few people, I like it. It is honest. Uncle does a great job, and he reminds all of us to just be who you are.

I expect to sway no one from their opinions. I am not here to recruit newly minted Constitutional Conservatives of any party. I want to find out why people feel and think the way they do. I am here for me, for expanding my knowledge and horizons. I am here to learn.

As far as tone goes, I like MCB. It seems to be self regulating. There are a few that push the boundaries. There are more than a few magic 8 ball commenters. And a few classic trolls. A few pranksters, a few snarksters. I like it.

I also think the comments do not make the blog. The posts do. And MCB is doing very well in that category. Yes, there are a lot of contributors sitting on the sidelines. You will find that happens as more contributors come on line. They may want to sit back and check out the new posters.

Is MCB perfect? I don’t know how a blog can be perfect. It is compelling. It is interesting. I wouldn’t change the formula. It seems to me that the temperature got turned up a little.

Isn’t that a good thing?

Mack wrote:

Maybe the mere act of airing this out from time to time will work in the site’s favor, I think people respect transparency.

Agreed. I think this is an important exercise, although I’m sorry it appears as if Glen is being singled out for his tone. I’m not saying Glen’s posted haven’t irked the hell out of me, but so have other posters and especially commenters, so I think this discussion is more useful on broad terms.

Lemme put it to you this way…

Some people who are being picked on in this thread, and William, have a way of taking a perfectly correct and valid opinion and making it confrontational.

When you get confrontational people don’t listen unless they already agree with you.

If the only people listening are the ones that agree with you…. what’s the point?

So what are you accomplishing by being so confontational Glen? You can either tick people off at you or have them listen to you. Which do you prefer?

Look, some of us just like to debate. It’s not for everyone. How can you wage an effective debate without confronting the views and of the opponent? How can you get a person to think without giving them information that may make them uncomfortable? Again, some of us could give 2 shits that Marie Osmond fell down. Different strokes. If you post something thats provocative and politically charged, you’d better expect a strong retort and should be prepared to stand by what you say. Debate can be a scrap and it’s not all nicey nice all the time. Right serr8d?

It’s not for everyone. How can you wage an effective debate without confronting the views and of the opponent? How can you get a person to think without giving them information that may make them uncomfortable?

I suggest you check out the comments at Aunt B.’s for a good example of how this is done…and done well.

I think it is also appropriate for me to add some further thoughts.

I enjoy debate, and would be very disappointed to see debate leave this site.

But the first goal of MCB has always been to promote community. That means that the debate which takes place here needs to be as civil as possible.

When anyone says “how can you get a person to think”, that shows they are starting off with the assumption that others DON’T think and haven’t put thought into their conclusions. It’s that type of bullying and adversarialness that is contrary to the tone we strive for at MCB.

Debate can be a scrap and it’s not all nicey nice all the time.

I realise that. But HERE at MCB, it IS “Nicey nice”. That’s the rule. Granted, things sometimes get heated–but we try to avoid it. And there’s a difference between something occasionally getting heated (like that conversation between me and Ginger a few weeks ago) and those comments and posts which start out picking fights.

Thanks Kat! Aunt B is awesome. Funny you’d use Aunt B as a debate model. Guess I should say ‘fuck’ more in my comments, maybe include more sex too? Now that would be a welcome relief from my Bushating. Wouldn’t it?

Funny you’d use Aunt B as a debate model. Guess I should say ‘fuck’ more in my comments, maybe include more sex too? Now that would be a welcome relief from my Bushating. Wouldn’t it?

Yes, please. More “fuck” and sex is always a good thing.

What would we do without ya Ivy?

Willia:

I think what you’re missing here, is that “nicey nice” is what YOU’RE supposed to be. It’s not necessary for the people who are correct in their views, which would be most everyone that disagrees with you.

I am seeing a great Baptist model coming from all of this discussion. We can scream and feud like crazed fanatics on a blog…and then be the closest of friends over a warm piece of pecan pie a la mode.

Do I agree with that model? No. But I do get to decide whether or not I want to be a contributor to the fray, a voice of civil debate, or just a listener. I lean toward the latter two, but understand there to be something therapeutic to a good rant every once in a while.

‘just my 2 cents worth,
Will

Ha, ha, Ivy…

I thought the whole point of debate was to be civil and to prove your point by stating facts that could be readily authenticated? I agree with Kat on this. The whole reason I fell in love with NiT (when it was run by the other folks) and now MCB is because you could have an honest debate without getting all shrill and screaming and feuding.

I still love this site. I wish we had something like this where I’m from.

Now Will, why do we have to go pick on da Baptists? I’m Baptist!

Kate, exactly - this wasn’t meant to be a Glen Dean pile on, but to use an example to illustrate the broader idea. I assumed Glen would be okay with that, given his comments about how nobody should be offended by blog posts/comments.

Look, some of us just like to debate. It’s not for everyone. How can you wage an effective debate without confronting the views and of the opponent?

The line between arguing and debating is a fine one at times. Confronting a view is part of debate, while confronting a person is part of any argument.

Saying “I think this view is wrong because of X, Y, and Z” is debate. Saying “If you believe this view, you’re a moron” is an argument.

Confronting a view is part of debate, while confronting a person is part of any argument.

Huh? A person is not a position. Where did you learn to debate?

You don’t have to insult anyone to have a discussion. You don’t have to call them funny names to diminish them.

Do you really believe what you do here is debate? It isn’t. Trolling is not debating.

Huh? A person is not a position.

That’s my entire point. When you’re attack a person, you’re having an argument. When you’re attacking a viewpoint, you’re having a debate.

An here is where the problem lies. You are here to fight. I just said “X is the case” and you responded with “No, X is the case, what are you stupid?”

I know you like to pick fights, but can’t you at least wait until we’re in disagreement to do it?

You don’t have to insult anyone to have a discussion.

Trolling is not debating.

You can cut the irony with a knife.

Do you really believe what you do here is debate?

Yes, it’s what you do here that I don’t consider debate.

I know it isn’t my opinion that matters and I hate to raise another issue of contention, but I question whether AuntB’s site is a good model. Even though she usually tones down in the comments (which seems to be the gist of this post–inflammatoryness for effect), AuntB makes Glen look like MotherT . . . as in Teresa. As I told the Hutchmo over at my site, what some folks seem eager to foster is less like “community” and more like “community theatre” with one’s ideologically-sympatico peanut gallery as the audience.

No offense intended, Ned, but the above comment is absolute proof that no matter how well developed your sense of humor, no matter who you reach out to, no matter how civil you run the discussions on your blog, someone somewhere will think you are a bitchass tyrant. Aunt B’s blog and the discussion that go on there are mature, humorous, reasonable and fair. I can’t imagine anyone thinking differently.

Huh? A person is not a position. Where did you learn to debate?

Do you really believe what you do here is debate? It isn’t. Trolling is not debating

9, Dolphin was pointing out the difference between debate and pointless arguing.

And really, I think Dolphin is one of the better debaters around here, he’s not trollish at all, yo.

I dunno, Ivy. You’ve seen the pumpkin he carved — could he have done that without the least little bit of fiend in him somewhere?

Ned –

I used to think much the same of Aunt B., but figured out soon enough that she’s kind of like South Park–look beyond the “shits” and you’ll see the giggles.

Huh? A person is not a position. Where did you learn to debate?

People often represents a position by ‘beliefs’ that are unsupported by facts. These beliefs sometimes must be confronted in a debate without being insulting, (although I’ve been known to slip into cynicism once in a blue moon).

I dunno, Ivy. You’ve seen the pumpkin he carved — could he have done that without the least little bit of fiend in him somewhere?

Well, that’s a good point. I dare not meet Dolphin in a dark alley, lest he carve me up like a jack o’ lantern.

You’ve seen the pumpkin he carved — could he have done that without the least little bit of fiend in him somewhere?

::Scary movie laughter::

Late to the party, since I’ve been dealing with my own drama…

I’m reminded of this:

It does no good to cut off a man’s nose, and then give him a rose to smell. - old Indian proverb.

Mack seems to have this sort of thing down - I consider him an authority on civil discussion. Except when it comes to housekeeping superiority.

Roger,
Point well taken, and it isn’t just the expletives I’m talking about (though that is certainly an aspect of the abrasiveness.)

Brittney,
No offense taken, but I’d say it certainly matters from which side of the cannon you’re looking at AuntB, and I have to say that I don’t venture into her comments section without bringing my A game and an awareness of not wanting to ratchet up the debate.

Slarti,

I like that quip. And I agree: Mack is good at presenting his arguments.

I think the reasoning behind this post and most of the comments in the thread is that no one should venture into comments anywhere without bringing both of those. Unless they’re doing humorous/friendly comments where that’s appropriate.

I don’t know, nm. I endeavor to be respectful of commenters on my site regardless of whether they’ve earned my respect, and I my concern about ratcheting up the conflict is out of fear of unleashing the hounds of hell. I don’t worry about that at Braisted or Hutcheson’s sites. But that’s just me. Roger, though having some of the same views that I have (sorry Roger) can banter with the best of ‘em and he certainly has AuntB’s respect, more for his talent than his views, I’d submit (though his maverick Conservative angle is appealing to many Liberals).

And I don’t intend to talk behind AuntB’s back with this whole discussion . . . I’d be interested to hear her view on all this.

9, Dolphin was pointing out the difference between debate and pointless arguing.

Ivy, I was referring to democommie, not dolphin. I would not call dolphin a troll. I find it interesting he sees me as one. Perhaps he felt I was referring to him also.

Perhaps he felt I was referring to him also.

Well you did quote me. I think it’s a reasonable assumption.

#9, I thought you were referring to dolphin as well.

#9, I thought you were referring to dolphin as well.

On re-reading the comment above I thought I was replying to democommie, but yet it was dolphin that wrote the comment. Not saying they sound alike, I just made a mistake.

Let’s see if I can make the point clearer. As kids we were taught you can criticize the performance, but it is not good to criticize the performer. I don’t think dolphin is a troll. I do think democommie is mostly a troll. I also recognize that democommie has made some effort to advance the ball up the field. Still stuck with giving silly little names, but more willing to actually engage.

William has softened the edges that were most rough. I don’t see that things are going badly, in fact it seems to be better. Still some tribal warfare, but whenever a blog has a big growth spurt you have to expect these things.

The fact that some people want other people to go is healthy. Consider NiT, apathy is the blog killer.

Keep putting the burrs under the saddles, this is one of the most lively discussions in Tennessee.

If you need something more liberal, TennViews seems to be doing well. If you need something more conservative there are plenty of other choices. Want to talk about 1st and 2nd Amendment rights, try SayUncle.

MCB seems just fine doing what it is doing.

#9, I thought you were referring to dolphin as well.

My mistake, I thought democommie had written that comment.

Let me see if I can make the point better. When we were kids we were taught it was okay to criticise the performance but not the performer.

You can have a debate with another person without insulting them, calling them names, marginalizing them or minimizing them.

I don’t think dolphin is a troll. However, he feels I am. I do find that interesting.

I do think most of the time democommie is a troll. Not all the time. And he has proven he doesn’t have to be but rather chooses to be.

A troll does not advance the discussion. But just because someone disagrees with you that does not make them a troll.

Better?

You can have a debate with another person without insulting them, calling them names, marginalizing them or minimizing them.

Agreed. And that’s what dolphin was saying as well.

I don’t think dolphin is a troll. However, he feels I am. I do find that interesting.

From where I sat it looked bizarro, because it looked like you were picking a fight with him (dolphin) for no reason. Which seemed troll-ish. And I don’t consider you a troll.

I then started to wonder if perhaps you misread dolphin’s comment or something. Because you guys are in complete agreement.

Note to all,

I would ordinarily have deleted the above comment in its entirety for calling #9 a name but given the fact that much else happened there I figured I’d leave it.

Democommie, should you ever decide to return, please remember that civility is called for in these comment threads and personal attacks are NOT allowed.

I don’t find it disrespectful when people challenge what they perceive as ‘my beliefs’ but, that is not the same for everyone. What doesn’t work in relationships is fairness (particularly the male - female kind). You can’t expect someone to respond as you would to a similar comment/question from them. Yes, it’s not fair, but that is reality.

I enjoy MCB, kudos to all that make it what it is. It is what it is MBC: (Mostly Conservative Bloggers)

MCB

I’m the king of typos

I am not here to recruit newly minted Constitutional Conservatives of any party.

Damn it! I had my papers in order and everything! Way to get my hopes up.

[…] The Bitchass Tyrant Addresses Her Critics Posted on November 1, 2007 by Aunt B. It’s good to think critically about your projects and the way you enact them.  I know that.  But, damn, it’s hard to hear criticism, especially when you’re just wandering along the internet catching up on threads you’ve left neglected only to find that you’ve been the topic of conversation. […]

[…] did something a couple of days ago which I’m not very proud of. I used Aunt B. as an example of a blog comment section done well and civilly and didn’t respond to those who criticised her in return. That, understandably, caused some […]

[…] I hopped back to the original post at MCB, to see what was going on and get a better sense of the conversation. (Damn Adderall kicking in […]