I did away with the spambots a while ago by introducing the stupid captchas; it was either a few captchas for those who want to comment or up to a dozen (escalating) spambot BS comments per day.
There's a different reason for this blog post, though: An increase in conspiracy theory BS in comments.
I understand I do write quite often in disagreement with the mainstream (my agreements with mainstream don't appear worthy of writing about them to me), and there's probably a fine line between this and conspiracy thoeries. Some of my stuff may also be considered conspiracy theorizing - that's probably a matter of the point of view, I guess.
Nevertheless, I don't consider the comment section the right place for conspiracy theories. Open your own blog and write BS about money theory, shadow control of governments and the like in your blog if you insist on sharing it.
** Skipping some disrespectful comments about conspiracy theorists and their fans here.**
I suppose my own rules for comments did and do so far not explicitly damn conspiracy theorising and I've got a bad feeling about deleting individual comments because of such off-topic BS content alone.
Instead, I will apply a measure I did so far only apply once; I will close comments on the topic in question entirely once conspiracy theories appear and don't stop immediately after first warning.I won't block individual voices, instead I will shut down the whole talk which doesn't single out anyone.
This excludes trolls, obviously. I don't empower them to close all comment sections here. Troll posts will still be blocked and collected for the amusement of friends.
S Ortmann
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I believe I am a part of the problem mentionned here.
ReplyDeleteI am fully aware that the points of view I raise are also propagated by idiots, just as the other side in fact.
Everything I wrote here was meant as an honest contribution to the issue at hand. There are not too many blogs who raise interesting issues.
I also understand that people have to earn a living, and thus in relation to that cannot allow certain views to be heralded on their private blogs. I'm not necessarily saying it is the case here, but I suspect it's part of the equation.
(I had to post in a hurry, not finishing my previous post, sorry about that)
ReplyDeleteConspiracy theories are usually pretty naïve and somewhat boring after the first effect of novelty (reptilian Elisabeth II, that it an almost poetic idea), so I also do think they don't have anything to do with a blog oriented on military and political issues.
As you say there is a thin line between nutjob conspiracies and various methods of political "influence". But these latter methods are a vital part of what modern warfare is all about, like already the Jeburghs were in WW2.
It's not only about the romanticism of spy novels, it's because it's at the core of political processes, such as insurrections, civil wars or military coups. It's also at the core of the most serious threats against freedom.
It's not because there is an Alex Jones saying ludicrous things that these questions should not be adressed in good faith.
Of course it's your blog, so you give the orientation of it, but if certain shady questions are left out of the field, you may end with a glorified version of the "hardware porn" sites you use to make fun of. ("doctrine porn" ?)
Conspiracy theories are for people who want to feel like they're better (informed) than others, but without doing any honest learning, research or even original thinking for it. Kind of like ideologies.
ReplyDeleteThey simply don't belong here, just as "tactical" firing stance drills don't belong here, or warmongering or power fantasies.
It's simply the wrong place.