There is a lot of anger on the net, on discussion forums, in the comments section of blogs and even on Twitter. Separating the techniques of the professional anger people who use ‘anger’ to make a point – for that can be useful, there do appear to be a lot of morons and trolls out there who have nothing better to do after wetting their beds than to abuse and insult people on twitter or bloggers who try to express ideas and views.
John Bolch at Family Lore has had enough of people wanting to grind their axes on his blog…. Please, grind your axes elsewhere.
John writes…” I try to keep this blog a reasonably open place, where people can state their opinions freely, whether or not they coincide with mine (a quick read through the blog will confirm this to any neutral reader). Unfortunately, the privilege to comment freely is all too often abused by those with an axe to grind, and too much time on their hands (alas, it seems that this is probably the lot of family law bloggers). Too often, posts are hijacked by such people, whose comments often have little or no relevance to the point of the original post. I’m sorry, but if you want to grind your axe about lawyers biased against fathers/secret family courts/whatever went wrong when you experienced the family justice system, then please do so elsewhere, and let’s keep comments here relevant and civil.
So, if your comment is not approved, or is deleted, now you know why. Of course, defamatory or spam comments will also be rejected.
Politicians are used to maniacs turning up on their blogs and most have a policy of ‘be civil’. Richard Dawkins has now got involved…
Richard Dawkins takes on the Net
The BBC reports: Richard Dawkins has intervened in a dispute about the moderation of his official website. He says the nastiness of comments added to the site is a sign of “something rotten in the internet culture”.
It appears that the site, which describes itself as a “clear thinking oasis” has been muddied by thoughtless abusiveness.
Doubtlessly, some will say that the stridency of the new atheism movement may partly explain the aggressiveness one finds on the Dawkins website; that if Dawkins’s fan-base is populated by those who enjoy the sharpness of his verbal assault on belief and believers, then those acolytes might be tempted to outdo one another in futher sharpness.
But, to be fair, the Richard Dawkins I have met is a gentleman and a scholar, and I am not at all suprised by his stand against incivility.
We all get angry. These days, I prefer not to…in fact, I go out of my way not to get angry. I prefer to laugh and I would far rather parody something than write a diatribe to make a point. Fortunately, I get interesting and surreal comments from relatively insane sane people on my blog and the bed wetters and trolls tend not to be terribly interested in anything I write or comment on. I have a pretty open policy on comments, but I don’t tolerate people slagging each other off – unless they do it with style, elan and panache - and anyone who comes on to my comments section to say “Great… I’ve been looking for a site like this..keep up the good work” runs the risk that I will divert their URL for their law service (or other commercial activity) to a dodgy porn site.
I am pleased to announce, should anyone be daft enough to be abusive, troll-like or unpleasant on my blog, that I have a new award – Charon’s Bed-Wetter Award….
It is highly unlikely that I shall ever have to make this award… but I shall do so, possibly, if I get seriously tedious people writing 
++Target Reached++
Old Holborn and Anna Raccoon did the business with the help of a lot of people on the blogosphere… I was happy to support this (and did) and thank you to those of my readers who did
Anna Raccoon reports: “A quick update to let everyone know what the state of play is with Nick Hogan.
The Blogosphere has reacted in magnificent fashion, the target has been reached in a mere 4 days. There are legal technicalities which Denise is fully aware of, which will be sorted very soon – and he will be home.
I have spoken to Denise several times today, as has Nick, from prison. He is very much happier than he was yesterday, considerably cheered by the huge bag of cards and letters he has received this morning, and Denise is fully aware of everything that is going on.
My heart goes out to Denise, she has been subject to constant rumour and scurrilous speculation, which has only made a difficult situation more difficult to bear, but rest assured, she is in constant contact with Old Holborn and myself, and wants me to thank you all from the bottom of her heart.
They said it couldn’t be done – well it couldn’t without Old Holborn’s help, or Guido’s final push, but this has been a non-partisan, non-political, non-campaigning, tour de force on behalf of ordinary people who were shocked at an ordinary man being jailed for failing to report his fellow citizens.
Well done everyone!”
I shall refrain from nominating anyone for your Bed-Wetter Award…
(BTW, love the No Smoking pic – should be on display in all public places!)
Good post sir,
I am by no means an expert is psychology and perhaps a testament to that is the fact that I gleamed one of the best reasonings regarding this matter on an episode of “Waking The Dead.”
Peter Boyd is having an anger management session where he is informed that people get angry with others because they expect more of them.
Put downs and criticisms of one’s work can be hard to take, especially if you have tried to create something that you think people may like, or will help them along. The ego then expects readers to adorn the expert opinion and share in the amazing insight. Ultimately many people write articles viewing themselves as Jesus on the Mount of Olives spreading the gospel.
When this is criticized writers think, why would they do that?
Perhaps it is akin to building a miniture St Pauls Cathedral out of matchsticks to a scale of 1:250 only to have some yobbo torch the joint in front of your very eyes. It may well induce the red mist.
That said, and this is obviously quite true when writing within the legal sphere, lawyers love to argue. They absolutely love it. Experienced lawyers are used to rebuffs, criticism and being in the firing line. Moreover they choose to put themselves in that situation every day. Quite often there is no harm intended it’s just something you have to get used to – its rarely personal and if it goes that way, then that other person has lost the debate.
Alas, on occasion, I have succumbed once or twice myself to i-rage. I blame it on youthfulness and being too sensetive. If I am going to succeed in this business I must “man up” like Peter Boyd.
Oliver…. excellent….
I do enjoy a bit of debate and argument!
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charon – shall i give you my address now for you to send the award? please accompany with a waterproof sheet…
i like the no smoking notice – as much as i enjoy ‘thank you for not smoking’ signs, which always make me think, ‘well, i was going to be not smoking anyway, but you’re welcome’. probably cos i’m a smartarse.
an angry smartarse.
re denise – nice when someone helps another the worst motives are imputed…
SW – You are always welcome on the blog…. in the insane sane category!
As are all the regulars…. I get very few abusive people!
The difference has to be that, even if lawyers love to argue, there is also an historical need to be civil while you do it – you probably need to deal with the person you’re arguing with today tomorrow. There’s simply no such slant online and you can get away with some scorchingly redundant collections of epithets because you don’t know the other person and have no connection which needs maintained. I think that’s sad.
It doesn’t even require putting your real name to things, it’s just a question of liking your reputation. I’m quite attached to my scotslawstudent persona even though that’s clearly a pseudonym.
Oh Charon, what was I saying!! I have just read an article on The Times about a “compensation culture”.
My hands quiver at the keyboard poised to unleash a spew of venom amongst the uneducated. Help!!!