You have to read this link here in its entirety down to the bottom.

Warning, it’s an analysis by conservative blog “johnny dollar’s place” about awful hate speech recently directed at Michelle, and it shows how despicable a blog thread can really get.

So there IS a difference between even this thread and the threads of many of our “progressive” brethren.

FYI, I got the link off of today’s Hot Air homepage in the “HEADLINES” section.

Also, when you read down to the end (please do: it’s fairly short) you’ll see an example of a certain term used.

Amerpundit may be none the worse off for leaving Hot Air, but we would be so I hope you don’t encourage him.
Christoph on July 28, 2007 at 11:02 PM

What you said echoed my feelings very closely. HA is a fine blog, one of the best out there. Long enjoyed AP’s cheeky air and his ability to find off-beat and also timely videos. But a comment was competely misconstrued and the thread went badly haywire.
Bear with me, please all the way through for my point: (before anyone gets pissed):
I was not encouraging any to stay or go, either way, but pointing out what went wrong on the thread and why. Amerpundit, I could say is a poster that ANY blog would be pleased to point to as a quality commentor. That he’s invested the time and energy to begin a new blog, which is hard work, and links to it to discuss topics that interest him in more detail rather than taking up too much space on HA is common blog custom these days, but he was mocked for it and called a troll by Myguyver. The problem is this: where was the discipline by AP to tell Myguyver to chillax? Like everyone else, Myguyver seems to respect AP’s opinion and would have deferred to AP’s authority. End of it. Isn’t it AP’s call as to whether he finds a poster to fall into the unwanted troll category, not some other poster? Two guesses, AP left for dinner and a pleasant weekend cruise under the stars, and has no idea what happened, or possibly he didn’t care. Unfortunately, the result is the same.
By proclaiming that a group of bloggers were grief-meisters and such, some bloggers took that as approval to go after the others. With nothing to set the boundries, the unsuspecting amerpundit was unfairly slammed and evicerated.
Since I was the one whose “would you consider” post pushed the piss off AP button, to say that I am aghast at 1) how badly AP took it when I had nothing but good-will towards him, and 2) how it all degenerated into attacks against a number of bloggers and most spectacularly amerpundit, is putting it mildly. The circumstances to weigh in deciding to be part of any group of posters : If random posters are delegated de facto or de jure authority by any blog manager to chase voices off the thread, out of the debates and discussions, well then posters investing in the site should think twice, because sooner or later, someone will take it upon himself to pick up the club and run those he don’t like out of Dodge.
Blog thread management is NO different than managing an office staff. The managing boss lays down the rules and expectations, and the staff complies. If all feel that even though they aren’t all liked, but are all treated fairly, it works. The moment some employees feel they have the upper hand with the boss, or the boss broadcasts that he don’t like one or two or a group of them, then the situation breaks down as one clique begin to manipulate against the other staff. It’s tough to be a good boss – he has to hide his feelings so that his staff which is always watching him closely for clues won’t make assumptions they shouldn’t.
I sincerely hope that this comment is taken as a discussion of the DYNAMICS of what happened, NOT as a PERSONAL affront to ANYONE.
As for me, if I am constantly misunderstood, and manage to piss off people I didn’t want to piss off, I’ve got to get my ego to accept that my writing isn’t as good as I had imagined it to be. I was going to ask amerpundit for his link, but not sure he’d be happy to see me show up.

G’night amerpundit.

P.S. Don’t let that jerk intimidate you, put the link back with your username.
;-)

infidel4life on July 28, 2007 at 2:13 AM

Yes, put the link back.

I’ll say that in my experience, this is one of the better blogs on which to comment.

Allahpundit, who whether he knows it or not, is one of my favourite bloggers and yet is imperfect as are we all.

Someone above accused me of being sensitive. Probably so. Anyway…

Amerpundit is one of my favourite commentators. Also, I linked from his username to his blog and found a delightful series of posts that were very thoughtful and the one that grabbed my eye immediately was about Private Beauchamp violating operational security.

Is that spam? I don’t think so, Mcguyver. This is a blog and specifically the comment section in a blog. We all share ideas including relevant links.

Aside from his username link, something allowed from Hot Air for our convenience and by design, amerpundit made no emphasis to link to his excellent posts. I did.

That’s too bad. His thinking is a resource I am beginning to appreciate. And amerpundit is invariably on point. If only we were all that thoughtful.

But the decision about that is up to Hot Air, not you. That was very condescending and, indeed, bullying of you. I hope amerpundit learns to ignore criticism more because in so far as comments indicate thinking, he’s the better man. That may well include yours truly.

Back to naliaka. Amerpundit may be none the worse off for leaving Hot Air, but we would be so I hope you don’t encourage him.

amerpundit, please don’t go away from this blog, unless you want to for other reasons. Being ignored by the masters, or being disagreed with others, good and bad, shouldn’t direct your decisions. Wear some of it as a badge of honor.
Consider also relinking your handle. Respectfully,

Entelechy on July 28, 2007 at 3:21 PM

With all due respect, those are indeed kind words, Entelechy, but why should he? AP got cheesed, and left, thus allowing a free-for-all among posters who picked up on his anger and ran with it to settle their own little scores. Mcguyver took the opportunity to rake amerpundit over the coals, assuming an authority he had no claim to, and was never corrected on it.
Leadership. If there is no discipline on the threads, it will degenerate eventually to nothing better than a pool of piranhas.
I said before, this was one of HA’s worse threads ever – and it has nothing to do with titles, but everything to do with establishing and maintaining a modicum of respect for other people, whether one agrees with them or not. A basic level of civility. In this case, AP set the tone. It’s his blog. Fair and square. Who needs the grief? There are other blogs that don’t allow it to get out of hand.

Then again everyones definition of poor taste differs and as some wise man said “and that is why there is a ass for every seat”.

I can’t quite wrap my mind around blaming the car jacker for the crash. That’s not to say the carjacker isn’t a dirt bag who deserves to have the book thrown at him, but as far as blaming him for news helicopters crashing? That’s a stretch, IMO.

Yeah, I agree.

I can’t quite wrap my mind around blaming the car jacker for the crash. That’s not to say the carjacker isn’t a dirt bag who deserves to have the book thrown at him, but as far as blaming him for news helicopters crashing? That’s a stretch, IMO.

speed911 on July 28, 2007 at 2:07 AM

Precisely. Additionally, I’m not pleased with the media’s concept of ‘standing by and watching while crimes are continuing.’ If the helicopters had crashed while attempting to help end the chase, then I would feel a lot worse about it. As it is, they don’t want an end to the chase…most civilians get out of the way and let the police do their job…these guys hang around like vultures and want their shot to continue for as long as possible. Because of that I can’t dredge up a whole lot of sympathy for this incident, anyone’s personal connection to the victims notwithstanding.

Over time, even if we might have disagreed on issues now and then, I most of the time read and appreciated your comments. You’ve also tried hard to be polite and reasonable. Sometimes even those whom we believe to be on our side act peculiar, for the strangest and often inexplicable reasons. Other times we come across ‘strange’ to them. Let them be. Decide only based on your own pros/cons.

Consider also relinking your handle. Respectfully,

BTW, anybody like gay turtles?

I do remember watching as a desperate OJ Simpson and his pal, Al, cruising down I-10 in the White Bronco, as hundreds of patrol cars follow in “hot pursuit”. The worst part of it? I watched this via live feed through the ESPN channel? They were following the chase with their own helicopter and had the best coverage if I recall correctly. Now that’s freakyf deaky!

Bradky on July 28, 2007 at 10:03 AM

Good answer, its hard to tell with you.

Unreal. So 4 people are dead to bring us live coverage of an assinine police chase.

Keep your f*cking minds on what you’re doing, morons, or somebody will get hurt.

I think you are both missing the point here. Helicopters are notoriously difficult to fly and they crash often. I personally wouldn’t go up in one unless I somehow had to and even then would want a very experienced pilot.

I just received a broken DVD from Blockbuster Total Access, now that’s Freaky Deaky.

Bad Candy on July 28, 2007 at 3:25 AM

I suppose if I watched MSNBC I might have noticed they do the car chases as well. You missed the point, any network from BBC to XYZ would do well not to broadcast this stuff.

AP, perhaps a little strange for a title but that is your choice. One of the things I love about HA is your strange and creative titles, And yes occansonally someone is going to get pissed off as a result. That just means you are pushing the outside of the envolope dude. Keep it up, You won’t hear any bi%ching from me.

Amerpundit,
Just as AP has the right to title as he wishes you and I have the right to be outraged by it and mouth off accordingly. I think some folks on this site just love AP and jump to his defense rapidly when someone calls him on something. I don’t think AP’s skin is nearly as thin as some of his defenders. Anyway, your comments are always appreciated and would be missed if you did not continue to contribute. Please don’t go away.

As for everyone else, This is one of the things that make this site great. We have the right and duty to disagree without fear of banning for our thoughts (unless of course you break the rules in the terms), I would just ask that we keep it civil and enjoy.

Unless of course if you are picking on csdeven ;-)

Now, someone is allowed to make up any private definition for a phrase that he wants, but the chances of that being communicated to anyone is around zero.

If you asked a person if he wanted to see something “freaky deaky”, he would be oddly intrigued, depending upon how unconventional, or edgy, he was. But no one would expect to see death, unless they were into that sort of stuff. That’s the impression the phrase gives to most people – most people I’ve ever known, at least.

I think it’s a big mistake leaving it up and it has nothing to do with journalistic integrity or poetic license or anything of the sort. People are going to see it and really react. I did a double-take when I saw what it was about. Twice.

Coupla, three things

First:

Good freaking night! this is the weirdest series of comments I have read in a while. AP don’t change your headline! My hermeneutic is one of authorial intent, you have stated and clarified both your intent and motive in using certain words; that should be enough. Gawlee-geez!

Weight of Glory on July 27, 2007 at 11:48 PM

Seconded.

Amended.
In a language like English:where one can

speak of “lead” guitars or “lead” weights. “Bass” frequencies, or “bass”boats, a ship’s “bow”, or a “bow” & arrow, maintenance of context is the reader’s imperative.

Second.

AP, if you don’t post more freaky deaky robot videos,stat, this crowd’s gonna turn ugly.

Uh-oh. Too late.

Third.

I wonder if I’ll be branded as flippant for that last remark.

If so…at least it’s good company.

Thanks.

Sorry about posting that link.

RedCrow on July 28, 2007 at 3:35 AM

It’s the same one that Allah linked to in the original post.