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| --Tech & Moderator Notes |
| Decorum |
| 2010-04-23 |
| by Steve White (moderator, call sign AoS) There's been a bit of a kerfluffle the last couple of days about images of [ gasp! ] scantily clad wimmin in the comment thread of the Bloid. Yesterday it degenerated into some name calling. I'm not going to point fingers at individuals, but I am here to settle it. As someone astutely noted, this is Fred's blog. Fred asks us mods to help out, and that's what we do. All of us, Fred and the mods, talk behind the curtain to ensure that the Burg continues to work. We've been doing that over this issue. Allow me to make a few points: One -- one of the quicker ways to get banned from the Burg is to tell a moderator to fuck off. It not only offends that mod, it offends me. I'm not personally aware of how Ace handles the AoSHQ in that regard, or how the Powerline folks handle it on their blog. But I can guess. So can you. Don't do it. Two -- Mods may disappear a post when it is a duplicate or obviously inappropriate. Occasionally we screw up and delete one by accident. I did that myself earlier in the week (danged iPad), and posted an apology the next day. If we delete a post for any other reason, we'll post a moderator note to explain why. Three -- some folks don't mind cheesecake (or beefcake). Some do. Fred has a style for the Bloid women. I have mine which is a little different. It helps make the Bloid a little more interesting, and that's the point. I appreciate that GB has been posting pics. Entertaining enough and, I had thought, harmless. However. I am reminded that Rantburg punches above its weight. We have readers in places that appreciate what Fred does, readers who otherwise might not see the unfiltered press from trouble spots. That is the focus of the Burg. That's why we're here. If people who might consider visiting the Burg decide that they can't because it might cause problems with their employer (oh, you know, the Federal government as one example), then the cheesecake is detracting from our mission. Whether one is personally offended or not is beside the point. I like Angie Harmon as much as anyone, and more than most, but I don't come to the Burg for pics of Angie Harmon. I can get that elsewhere. So can all of us. Therefore, we're going to limit the pics in the Bloid comment thread. An occasional pic or two is fine, preferably SFW. More than that is a distraction from our core mission. I personally am going to tone down my selections for the Bloid wimmin. This is something that we figure out as we go along. Sometimes things go on for a while before we realize that hmmm, this might not be what we want for the Burg. This is one of those times. Again, GB, thanks, and keep the good stuff about our troops coming. I appreciate those a great deal. Four -- We want the Burg to meet its mission. We want it to be a place where sharp commentary, intelligent discussion, grade A snark and news you won't find elsewhere is aggregated into one community. Well, that and the occasional story about idiots, seedy politicians and stupid animal tricks. That's the core. Anything that detracts from the core sooner or later gets pitched. We thank our readers, regular and occasional. We hope you like what we do. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #42 People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along? |
| Posted by: Rodney King 2010-04-24 00:00 |
| #41 I think that both sides of this issue have some valid points, but this will not be a great site if respect for the decisions made by the people who do the work here is not a priority. I think that Fred and the mods here do a good job of trying to strike a balance between trying too many new things and being too formulaic. The decision they have made in this case makes sense for the following reasons. All the cheesecake being front-loaded on page one did take away some of Rantburg's focus, and it is reasonable to think that it might be a matter for recurring controversies on an issue tangential (not unrelated, granted) to the primary purpose of Rantburg. That being said, I must say that when I would take the time to check out GB's cheesecake segment, it was always well done and very entertaining. Clearly GB puts a lot of thought and effort into his contributions, and it would be great if there were some way for his fans to access it in the future. It goes without saying that GB's clips of life on the front lines and many other things he adds here are priceless and would be sorely missed if they were to ever stop appearing. So to Fred, the mod squad and Golf Bravo, I hope you all keep up the good work. |
| Posted by: ryuge 2010-04-23 23:50 |
| #40 This is the right choice. It would be sad if the 'Burg got onto the worky-filter list. Give GB a link to his blog over there next to the Oclub. |
| Posted by: rammer 2010-04-23 22:14 |
| #39 Thanks always to Fred & the Mods. I was never offended; I personally preferred the 1900's-1960's cheesecake to more recent vintage but i wholly buy Steve's rationale for toning it down. RB is too important. Keep up the good work and God bless the men and women protecting Western Civilization. |
| Posted by: JDB 2010-04-23 19:49 |
| #38 I appreciate GB's efforts. What GB does is done in good taste. I also appreciate Rantburg. It is a quality site. Sometimes I get on a rant, and probably just contribute noise. I learn a great deal each time I visit. After 911, it was a place to go and get some anger and frustration out also; in that sense it provided a great deal to many people who wanted to contribute anything they could to the WOT. THANKS! I might just add that about a year ago in Knoxville, we had a benefit called the "Ta Ta Benefit." Local ladies had their breasts photographed; some painted and some decorated in artistic ways. The photographs were from the neck down and navel up. These were then autioned off to benefit breast cancer. A good cause. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-04-23 18:28 |
| #37 well there is always Nick... for a daily dog biscuit slinks away...... |
| Posted by: 3dc 2010-04-23 18:14 |
| #36 I hear what your saying Redneck (BTW - my vote is to keep the name - I always respected rednecks :). People who want to hide their women are afraid, sexually immature, and repressed. Unfortunately some of us can't get away from the ones who would prefer to put everyone (woman and men alike) in a burka bag. Particulary around this area - Seattle. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2010-04-23 17:48 |
| #35 I'll put it up to the group, I helped Swamp Blonde find her new Nym as Cornsilk Blonde and I'll ask Y'all for a new nym, anybody? That you did, and I thank you for helping with the temporary name change....we're heading back to Florida in July since the Tsar got a transfer. ;) I'll go back to Swamp Blondie once we pack up and head back to the promised land. I liked Redneck Jim, but JimBama does have a certain charm to it. |
| Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie 2010-04-23 17:13 |
| #34 And if you want T&A go to NPR |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2010-04-23 17:10 |
| #33 Enough on T&A. Agree with BP. Back to GWOT. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2010-04-23 17:08 |
| #32 Judge a man not by the color of his neck, but by the content of his character. |
| Posted by: Mike 2010-04-23 14:18 |
| #31 Come Mr. Tally Man Tally me JimBama Daylight's comin' and me wanna go ho-ome.... ;-) Typical mechanic/engineer -- won't quit working until the job is done. Make the rest of us look like slackers, they do. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-04-23 14:02 |
| #30 ....minor correction ref #29 above. It should read "all ya'll" which denotes five or more. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-04-23 13:59 |
| #29 PS you can always tell the "Imported" Rednecks, it's "Iahm gointa Burn thet trash", not that ya'll are not welcome, you are But don't try to fake the drawl, a few years'n and it'll come natural;-) (My own ear has become "Tuned" as I've lived with other folks speakin. Hmmm, Bama Jim? JimBama? I kinda like the sound of that |
| Posted by: JimBama 2010-04-23 13:54 |
| #28 Thanks folks for the kind words, Redneck stays Redneck I might mention (As I missed saying it before) that the ones covering up their women and squealing like pigs are the very Islamics we are fighting, that's a big part of my dissent, that the Muzzies are winning in thir "Hide the women" Campaign, and for that very reason the pictures should stay, as an anti Islamic repellent. Maybe cut them back to four a day) but it ensures the "Holy Ones" are NOT here. (The fake Holy Ones Will, the real ones won't) While on the same subject I think they're Afraid of women. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2010-04-23 13:45 |
| #27 Sounds like Steve is trying to avoid the blame for earthquakes. :) |
| Posted by: Muggsy Glink 2010-04-23 13:42 |
| #26 I'll think about my nym asome more. There's always Southron Jim... Shipman and a couple of others have used that term. It's not one I'd heard before, and doesn't appear to have the connotations that redneck carries. Although I could be wrong about that -- the average accent in the ivory tower of my childhood was "something foreign overlaid with British English as an nth language". |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-04-23 13:41 |
| #25 Thanks, Steve. Agree 100% with the decision. Rantburg needs to focus on what it and it alone can do better than others, which is to bring "the unfiltered press from trouble spots"-- and from s non-trouble spots where the 'burg's unique collection of subject matter experts brings unique links and insights: fields like energy, weapons programs, the military generally, land use etc. But photos of wimmin are no one's unique specialty, least of all on the web. |
| Posted by: lex 2010-04-23 13:25 |
| #24 tole you i was raised up in yankee country... well, anyways, I'm a-fixin' to burn a pile of brush, so ya'all take care now |
| Posted by: abu do you love 2010-04-23 13:11 |
| #23 Dammit abu it's, "I'm fixin' to burn a pile of brush". |
| Posted by: Beavis 2010-04-23 13:08 |
| #22 As someone who was raised in 'yankee country' and moved south where my soul belonged take pride in the nym Jim. there is a simple joy in being redneck and i love it. good folks around here. now i got me a pile of brush to burn, so best run off the the package store so i can enjoy the show. |
| Posted by: abu do you love 2010-04-23 12:57 |
| #21 Huh. Here I thought it meant someone who works outside and has a grasp of reality, enjoys enjoying life. /get that treatment when traveling Man, I'd say keep the nym - its the person, not the clothes. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-04-23 12:52 |
| #20 There, I dislike shouting, TW My post and yours "Crossed in the mail" I'll think about my nym asome more. The whole reason I use it is I'm born and raised In and around Montgomery Alabama and despite Living elsewhere I tend too be drawn back like a magnet, I've lived in St Johns Newfoundland, Keentucky, Virginia, and visited Italy, Spain and Jamaica. Courtesy of Sam's Canoe Club (USN to Y'all), So since Too many associate the deep south as all redneck I took the name as a Joke, but I'm finding that It isn't seen as a joke by our less intelligent viewes, but assumed as fact that I'm A Stupid Southerner, that I can do something about, so since the Joke's misunderstood I need to stop it, If someone calls me ignorant they could be right, but Outright damn stupid? So he name goes. I'll put it up to the group, I helped Swamp Blonde find her new Nym as Cornsilk Blonde and I'll ask Y'all for a new nym, anybody? |
| Posted by: mstrmech 2010-04-23 12:41 |
| #19 And yes, I do understand the link between enjoying pictures of wimmin and standing up for other rights. That was a point I was trying to make in my own clumsy manner. It's like the recent story about South Park, which I never watch because I find it offensive. But whether I find it offensive or not they have a right to do it. OK, maybe the pix went overboard. But I still say some people need offending. It was pointed out to me just this morning that in that culture, the one that was offended by the recent South Park episode, there are certain things you just don't say. But if they're going to live in this culture they need to understand that you don't go around murdering people for exercising their right to free speech. Free speech is important to us and it includes occasional pictures of a scantily clad wimmin. It is one of the basic cornerstones or our culture. If they want us to respect their culture they're going to have to show a little more respect for ours. If they can't understand that then we have a problem and we can damn well make it their problem too. Thanks to Fred, Steve, tw, lotp and all the other mods for exercising their right to free speech. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2010-04-23 12:27 |
| #18 Back to the Woodward governor bench MSTRMECH. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-04-23 12:22 |
| #17 First of all thanks fo dumping Bertie Glock7175 but the Nym stands, I'm proud of my accomplishments whether or not anyone else is, Now my comment on giving in to Nannies stands, the Whole idea of the "Burg is to discuss what the MSM won't and that's a part, if threre's a general disliking of Women here I don't see it, and an occasional skimpy clad beauty is NOT found on the MSM anywhere, this is NOT "Weekly World News" in any far stretch of the imagination. No I DID NOT miss the Mod's Message, I simply disagree the meek don't belong here anymore than the meek would pass Boot Camp (Yes I did) and our respective tastes rise far above the (OOOOH GASP, A NIPPLE) crowd. |
| Posted by: MSTRMECH 2010-04-23 12:18 |
| #16 Only one person made a point of your name, Redneck Jim, and you'll notice that I sinktrapped it. Besides, given all the self-proclaimed rednecks hanging out here, you're in good company. You could call yourselves a Roughhouse of Rednecks... or perhaps something less euphonious but also less silly. :-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-04-23 12:10 |
| #15 Y'all are making too much of my made-up name, OK, I hereby change it to mstrmech as I AM a Master Mechanic after all(ASE Certified all fields) |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2010-04-23 12:01 |
| #14 (oh, you know, the Federal government as one example) As a Fed (albeit unimportant), I'm not as worried about the cheezcake as I am the politics of the Burg. I keep a low profile at work in that regard. |
| Posted by: Spot 2010-04-23 11:46 |
| #13 Tata's be damned! OK, looks like Besoeker's ready to fight! |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-04-23 11:44 |
| #12 Fred and the Mods, thank you so much for your work. Posted by: swksvolFF Ditto! Tata's be damned! In a totally whacked out insane ObamaWorld, reading the Burg gives me some kinship with like minded people and the ability to gain knowledge on an endless variety of topics. Helps my BP as well (120/80 at todays annual PSA & DRE screening this morning). Smart hand salute to Fred and the Warrior mods. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-04-23 11:30 |
| #11 Fred and the Mods, thank you so much for your work. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-04-23 11:16 |
| #10 and a kind of superficial sarcasm that says you all are not SERIOUS about the danger that is looming And? As in something other than the pics? Is there more that we should know about? Hopefully it's not the snark. You'll have to pry that from my cold, dead fingers. :-) |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-04-23 10:54 |
| #9 Everything was civil until the redneck showed up. |
| Posted by: Bertie Glock7175 2010-04-23 10:31 |
| #8 Redneck Jim, please read my comment again. You appear to have missed the point. This isn't about weakness or nannyhood. That said, there are plenty of other sites where you can peruse nekkid wimmin to your heart's content. |
| Posted by: lotp 2010-04-23 09:56 |
| #7 They also make a good reason to fight! :-) |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-04-23 09:42 |
| #6 While Im forced to acceed to the mods wishes, put my name firmly in the LIKE NEKKID (or nearly) WIMMEN column,it was an interesting diversion, and fun too. I'm sory the Nannys and weak minded won this one. Please consider. There's always someone who will object, whatever you're doing, it gives them power over you and your thoughts. These people are basicly cowards. The trick is to ignore them, preferably humiliating them in the process so they slink away to look for easier prey. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2010-04-23 09:27 |
| #5 Damn, I thought this was going to be a thread about Rahm Emanuel farting... |
| Posted by: Raj 2010-04-23 08:02 |
| #4 GB is welcome to start his own blog and provide a daily link from the comments for your convenience. Good people, there is a war going on. Right here and now, there is a pitched battle behind the scenes in DC and elsewhere regarding the alliance between the hard left and the Islamicists and their campaign to bring down our culture and our country from within. I get glimpses of that battle due to my job. The next 6-12 months will either start to turn the tide or be a time when the collapse accelerates. There are a lot of people who influence the heavyweights who are sitting on the fence. They've started to hear a little about the real nature of CAIR etc. but they're not yet convinced there's a danger. Rantburg can be an important influence in opening their eyes but not if its tone is set by pinups and a kind of superficial sarcasm that says you all are not SERIOUS about the danger that is looming. And yes, I do understand the link between enjoying pictures of wimmin and standing up for other rights. But it's not the only issue at stake - and the stakes are very very high at the moment. |
| Posted by: lotp 2010-04-23 07:16 |
| #3 Why doesn't GB start his own blog, and post a link to today's pics every day? I liked the pics; more 1920s girls please. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2010-04-23 07:00 |
| #2 It sounds like GB's column is in a bit too prominent place to continue where they have been on the main page. Can he instead post under "Opinion"? That shouldn't raise any alarms, and folks would have to go looking for them instead of suffering by being forced to view them over and over and over again. Can he post pics-behind-pics as he has been? Or are we going to have to learn how to live without? His posts developed organically over time and do have quite a following, so they must serve some kind of function, even if I'm not exactly sure what it is. |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-04-23 01:29 |
| #1 Thanks Steve (and the rest of the mods too) for the work behind the curtain. thanks also for this note. it IMHO puts the issue in the proper light and builds up the burg much more than the heartfelt and emotional ballyhoo of the last couple days. i will miss the pinups and while they can be found other places, i do not go there. thought they lightened the mood a bit, and made the site more 'fun'. that said, i am not the one that gets to make the calls, and a rantburg without the pics is still going to be one of my first stops each day. will hit the tip jar soon as the next check comes in. Thanks also to GB for the work, and the diversion. Special thanks Fred for the place we get together. And lastly, thanks fellow rantburgers for the community. |
| Posted by: abu do you love 2010-04-23 00:54 |