One does so abhor invective and personal insult, but isn't that what an alter ego is for?

1. Wini, England

Yes indeed! :)

Wikipedia calling for standards has to be a joke - recently one of their so called 'respected' editors with degrees & phd's coming out of his ... ears .. was revealed as a fake :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007...

The worst part of it is that people actually give donations to that organisation - where they would be better feeding some starving kids somewhere or fighting illness .. rather than feathering the pockets of charlatans who have given us a haven of misinformation which most Universities & scholars tend to avoid.

Free speech to some means its ok for nambla members to post how to molest children without getting caught.

I'd just like to point out that although my case has been used in this article to illustrate how much trouble blogging can get people into, a French industrial tribunal ruled last month that I was wrongfully dismissed by my employer, because I had not overstepped the boundaries.

It seems to me that you are using the facts selectively to make a particular case, which is not entirely fair.

Anonymity breeds contempt.

In which case, we're all pretty contemptible .... trolls even more so because they do it quite deliberately.

#8 American: It also gives one the ability to spout forth on any and all subjects regardless of their expertise, belief or indeed the ability to walk and chew at the same time.

For pity's sake, Tim O'Reilly has nothing to do with Wikipedia! The more journalists collaborate on a story, the less accurate it gets. This artilce is absolute nonsense.

#7 - I think that was the point.

Calm Doon !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_the_Headless_Chicken

It'll never catch on. Incivility is much more entertaining than good keyboard manners. I indulge in both modes from time to time , but usually in the former.

Being downright rude isnt much use, but it frees us to say things we probably wouldnt say to the big nutter sitting beside us in the pub. All in all it's a good thing, anything that encourages debate is good.

#16: No it isn't - discuss.

Douglas , ootside Now.

Wow! Look at thatscottishwoman deleting posts faster than they go up that disagree with her rubbish.

17. thatscottishwoman Why are you deleting those posts? There was nothing offensive about them?

Oh, sometimes I just want to read a book or listen to music or have a quiet drink when I open postings such as these and read the utter rubbish that is passed of as reasoned thought.

I have never visited a blog, created one, or commented on one but they seem to be an invidious force for mischief and mayhem in the WWW.

Don't people send letters anymore or write letters to the editor or discreetly discuss things in the privacy of their homes.

Why this urge for notoriety and outrageousness as evidenced by some of the blogs and blog incidents cited here?

What about a "code of spelling" too so that the authors of the blogs can write their blogs in proper English.

Dam rite Saul #26. More attencion two detale when replieing tooo

Freedom of speech, like freedom itself, has a flip side: responsibility.

There's always a balance!

If we start censoring people's blogs we'll have about the same rights as this poor Egyptian blogger:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6385849.stm

26 All right Paul you can take your "schwa sticker" off now.

#31

How cute - yet another name never before seen.

I don't delete posts with which I don't agree - I either answer them or ignore them. Now unless you care to offer some proof that I am deleting posts I suggest you stop spreading lies.

As for this little gem:

"The only Trolls I know are the ones that go on & on about trolls like you and Djookers."

I agree - the only trolls are the ones who go on an on about "trolls" like me and Djookers. i.e. you. Cheers little troll.

333

I see you have nothing of substance to say. i accept your capitulation. Good day to you.

#35

I said good day.

It appears as if this poster at 32,34, & 36 does not like differing opinions.

#39 practice chanter

You are very wrong, Bikewoman agreed wholeheartedly with my post at 37 and its deleted, care to explain that one?

Maybe the trolls that posted the other ones pulled them themselves in an attempt to make Bikewoman look bad. It a tactic frequently used by right wing trolls, in fact two have admitted to doing it.

#40

If your posts were removed the mods must have thought there was something wrong with them. That simple really. Complain away, you cant really have any thing to complain about

41. Djookers

Why would anyone believe you on this subject? You seem to leave a waqke of trouble no matter wher you rear your ugly head.

32. Bikewoman

You and Djookers make quite the Trolling Team!

#40 Henry

As I said before (you need to learn to read much more carefully) I RESPOND to posts or skip them. If I wanted your posts to disappear, why would I respond to them, thereby creating a record of their existence. Now if you would like to show us the protocol from the Scotsman demonstrating that I "removed" your posts, that is one thing. But your trolling attempts are ham-handed at best and certainly immature.

#43 Niners or should that be Srenin

It doesnt matter how many times you change your name, or delete the posts you are still guilty of posting this wee cracker where you called yourself a troll. It is way better than the two names located at Bolling AFB. Do yourself a favour and give it up, you just look sillier after every post

""The only Trolls I know are the ones that go on & on about trolls like you and Djookers."

BTW, delete what you want, it all gets captured.