“It’s a pity Bilbo didn’t kill him when he had the chance.”
“Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.”
Many of us remember what this site used to be like before the 2008 Presidential Primary season. Before the backers of Paul, Giuliani, Romney, Huckabee, Thompson, and McCain descended and made accounts for the sole purpose of promoting their candidates, this site was gentler and friendlier. The primaries changed that though.
Some of us want that old site back, or at least the old tone. It’ll never be the same, but we can at least take the edge off. If we’re going to do that, though, we have to stop giving the bots what they have coming when they assault threads with their conspiratorial accusations and monomaniacal posting.
I know. It offends our sensibilities when they don’t get the attitude they really need, much as it bothered Frodo above when he considered that Bilbo didn’t kill Gollum when he had the chance. But as Gandalf warns, you never know what role somebody may end up playing in our community. New users make mistakes. I once called Leon a moby and later was banned by Moe for the better part of a day for losing my cool badly. I settled in though.
Let’s give the people on our side the opportunity to settle in, and give our moderators the chance to ban the ones who don’t. I’m not saying we have to kill them with kindness, but we really can do better than constant barrages of namecalling directed at our right-wing commenters.
Attack Ron Paul all you want. Attack Democrat and progressive trolls all you want. Spare our commenters.
Thank you.
Moe Lane
Dan Spencer
Dan McLaughlin
Jeff Emanuel
Thanks, Neil
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 5:31PM EDT (link)I hate to be hypocritical in my recommending your post, when I, as often as not, find myself among the ‘bot attackers, but I’m going to go ahead and give it anyways, if only because it’s a level-headed post whose greater viewing would benefit the site’s readers.
“It is a popular delusion that the government wastes vast amounts of money through inefficiency and sloth. Enormous effort and elaborate planning are required to waste this much money.”
-P.J. O’Rourke
I'm going to be a hypocrite too
Third Street (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 5:34PM EDT (link)but what can I say; a good message is a good message.
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
Thank you very much, and Recommended (n/t)
Finrod (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 5:38PM EDT (link).
PETA and the ASPCA are pure evil. See here and here.
So, does recommending one of your diaries garner
eburke (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 5:40PM EDT (link)me a ‘gakking exemption’ card should I ever need it?
More seriously, this was a good, well-timed post based on some the heat that’s been flashed lately. Thanks for the reminder.
(so…is this why you get the big bucks?)
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
No.
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 6:02PM EDT (link)The big bucks are for not deactivating aji_mo’s account.
“It is a popular delusion that the government wastes vast amounts of money through inefficiency and sloth. Enormous effort and elaborate planning are required to waste this much money.”
-P.J. O’Rourke
I wish
Neil Stevens (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 6:18PM EDT (link)My services are available though for website and software development, and I do have a tip jar in my profile
RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Ummmm...I gave your tip to Scott Brown.
eburke (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 7:28PM EDT (link)Sorry ’bout that.
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Ehh works for me :-) (nt)
Neil Stevens (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 8:29PM EDT (link)RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Yeah, same here
aesthete (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 12:53AM EDT (link)I’ll try to toss something in the tip jar when I find a job, but for now, my contributions are limited by my wallet.
“It is a popular delusion that the government wastes vast amounts of money through inefficiency and sloth. Enormous effort and elaborate planning are required to waste this much money.”
-P.J. O’Rourke
Gee Neil does aji know that? nt
mbecker908 (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 7:50PM EDT (link)I actually did tell him that
Neil Stevens (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 8:28PM EDT (link)I told him if he gave me a hundo I’d ban him.
Didn’t work.
RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Dude! You work cheap.
mbecker908 (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 8:31PM EDT (link)I was hitting for like $100,000+…
That's actually my big weakness
Neil Stevens (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 9:56PM EDT (link)I never know what to bid. I usually end up underselling myself.
RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Perfect 5....ROFL!! -nt-
eburke (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 7:29PM EDT (link)“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Amen...I spent quite a while under the gun...
AceInTX (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 6:13PM EDT (link)and I think there are still times when some would pull the trigger…I’ve heard Mike Devine and a few others who are regulars on the Reco board who had similar experiences…
It is important to remember I think that just because someone disagrees on one issue that is a current topic of the day and has a way of speaking to that issue, that you may not find common cause with them once they’ve found their legs and or the topic du jour changes and shows them to be far more multi faceted than they appeared originally.
I have an abrasive way of saying things and believe it or not, I’ve worked off and on to change that….and I’m glad I was given the chance to find my place in the community if if it’s as the village idi…er….malcontent.
Ha
You know...
Neil Stevens (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 9:30PM EDT (link)Back in the day 10 recs all at once would have gotten me pretty high on the list.
We sure have grown.
RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Sigh....
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 12:08PM EDT (link)The good old days when we got 40K hits per day, huh.
Well, success has its price, my friend.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
I'm trying to do my part in the "cheering" section.
Steph C (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 12:33PM EDT (link)I rarely write a diary of my own but I do recc’ often.
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
The back and forth yesterday and the day before...
ceili_dancer (Diary) Wednesday, January 13th at 11:45PM EDT (link)Reminds me of the “conversation” between the PSAs in the movie Airplane. The white zone/red zone guy/girl that descended into some bad name calling.
I know what this is really about, ceili_dancer
Neil Stevens (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 12:46AM EDT (link)You want us to have a debate on abortion.
RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Listen Neil, Don't tell me which zone is for stopping
ceili_dancer (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 4:03PM EDT (link)and which zone is for loading. I’d go to the next lines, but I don’t want to get blammed.
Gandalf was so wise....
penguin2 (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 10:49AM EDT (link)I think these lines are some of the most profound in the story. It is applicable to almost everything in life. I love LOTR.
You were banned Neil? Wonders never cease!
Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. – Benjamin Franklin
When Good stands up to Evil, Evil blinks. – Vassar Bushmills
Conservative Education: Suggested Reading List
Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots
Well Gandalf is the main character...
Neil Stevens (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 12:13PM EDT (link)… in exactly the same sense that Jesus is the main character of the New Testament.
RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
If I'm usually nice
itrytobenice (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 11:55AM EDT (link)can I get a couple of mulligans for the times I don’t feel like it?
Proper grammar saves lives.
Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.
Depends on who you're yelling at (nt)
Neil Stevens (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 12:12PM EDT (link)RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
OK Neil. I'll try to guide rather than smash.
Brian Hibbert (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 1:10PM EDT (link)You’re right. Some of those people just don’t know the tone here yet.
I’ve been a little too quick to the gun lately.
Candidate for Trustee of Illinois Central College
Socialism doesn’t work. It looks nice on paper, but it’s been tried and it’s failed miserably every time (usually accompanied by widespread death and suffering).
Proud member of the V.R.W.C.
Take back our party!
Check out Unified Patriots
Is this where I say Gingrich/Palin 2012?
PGDeFreese (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 4:25PM EDT (link)Couldn’t resist.
_________________
Thou art the Great Cat, the avenger of the Gods, and the judge of words…-Inscription on the Royal Tombs at Thebes
I'd be happy with any permutation of Newt, Sarah, Fred, or Liz (n/t)
Finrod (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 5:28PM EDT (link)..
PETA and the ASPCA are pure evil. See here and here.
I just want to promote my
kyle8 (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 5:39PM EDT (link)candidate right now, Lyndon LaRouche, he is the wisest man in the universe, (Except for my prophet L. Ron Hubbard, Xenu be praised),
I tell you that Ron Paul is a slippery snake oil salesman.
LL in 2010 !
“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle
I guess you missed the tags of my post? :-) (nt)
Neil Stevens (Diary) Friday, January 15th at 1:54AM EDT (link)RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Playing nice is not an intuitive reaction.
redneck_hippie (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 8:13PM EDT (link)Even less instinctive is refraining from piling on. It’s the piling on that makes us look bad. Your reasonable request is timely and I’ll keep it in mind when the primaries kick in.
55555!
Sam Gamgee Thursday, January 14th at 9:07PM EDT (link)I wish I could recommend this post twice! Thanks, Neil.
“I wonder what sort of tale we’ve fallen into.”
Hey Gandalf
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Thursday, January 14th at 11:24PM EDT (link)I’ve had a couple of people ask me why the comment section of my last Brown diary was never enabled?
Did you disable it by mistake?
Neil Stevens (Diary) Friday, January 15th at 2:43AM EDT (link)I just checked the edit log for it and none of us disabled it. No editors ever touched it; you’re the only one who ever did.
I just enabled ;them for you though.
RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
#2!
Neil Stevens (Diary) Friday, January 15th at 4:28AM EDT (link)Yup, it’s still nice to get that kind of rec feedback.
RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
it's clear we're cravin' for civility nt.
Justin Spagnolo (Diary) Friday, January 15th at 1:08PM EDT (link)nt
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives. “ -James Madison
This is too funny Neil
Scope (Diary) Friday, January 15th at 9:11PM EDT (link)I promise that your appeal will be as ignored as last weeks newspaper. I just checked the reco names, and, some of the worst offenders have not recommended this diary.
I'd consider this comment an offense, Scope (nt)
Neil Stevens (Diary) Friday, January 15th at 10:15PM EDT (link)RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Thanks Neil
shaitra (Diary) Sunday, January 17th at 11:43AM EDT (link)You just got my first reccomendation.
The LOTR rocks.
Being a new person I have commented sparingly to avoid getting blasted for saying something stupid. In the mean time, I read and learn every day from all the great contributors to this site.