Day: March 21, 2002

Categories
Weblogging

Blogtank comments

Much of the discussion over at the new Blogtank is how to handle posts/comments from all the participants. Especially the comments.

If you’re a fairly regular reader then you know that I consider my comments and the interactivity between my readers to be the best part of weblogging. And I’ve been lucky to have great readers who are not shy about speaking their opinion, and do so regularly with wit, humor, skill, and passion.

(Though it’s been mighty quiet lately — whatsa matter? Cat got your tongue?)

The thing, though, is that all these comments, these pearls of great worth, are hidden; you can only find them if you click the little mousie indicator.

I’ve had people suggest using other formats, such as pages that open with my posting on top and the comments below, or streaming the comments into RSS. Or using a comment system that allows linking directly to a specific comment.

Good ideas. And not a chance.

This is a weblog. Hopefully, the reason people come here is because they like what I say. The comments, then, become a bonus and to get this bonus you have to do a little extra effort and click the comment link and open the comment window. If you want to reference a comment in your weblog, do so by linking through my weblog post, because the post does set the context (well, most of the time) for the comment discussion.

This isn’t MetaFilter. This isn’t Slashdot. This isn’t WikiWeb. This is, to quote a wonderful posting by bumr.net my fluff.

Categories
Diversity

Words, words, them damn words

Andrea wrote an extremely thoughtful discourse on why she doesn’t like to label herself as a feminist. Her posting follows from a link to another equally thoughtful posting on the “feminist” label at Anita’s.

As we’ve seen, the word “feminist” brings with it so much baggage, good and bad. When I say I am a feminist, and don’t explain what this means to me, you’re going to attach to me whatever baggage you attach to the word — so I better define what I mean by “feminist” if I use it.

And when you say you’re NOT a feminist, if you don’t provide a definition of what you mean by your rejection of that label, then I have no recourse but to think you must be rejecting qualities I hold dear.

Words. Words. Them damn words.

It’s interesting because I read Andrea’s posting just after I read some essays about words and their effect, pointed out at another posting. Steve Himmer linked to a essay on the language of terror, and quoted part of it:

Words are pivotal for keeping us in this mess. And words may be crucial for getting us out.

Words. Don’t try these at home boys and girls, you could get hurt.

Categories
Weblogging

The Blogtank RFP

Having an extraordinarily fun time coming up with an RFP (Request For Proposal) of the perfect technology that would support something like Blogtank.

I haven’t had this much fun in the longest time.

Come over and join the fun! Add your 0.02 worth!

This is what the web was meant to be!

Categories
Legal, Laws, and Regs

Religious Freedom 2

From Dave I found the references to news stories about the Church of Scientology’s use of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to get Google to pull links to pages of well known anti-Church of Scientology web sites, such as Clambake (Xenu), from the Google databases.

Regardless of my feelings about Scientology, this one act puts them beyond what is reasonable and right for a church within this country. Sorry, let me re-phrase this — within any country filled with people who supposedly value personal liberty over the dictates of an organized religion.

No one person can solve all the problems of the world, it’s true. All individuals can do is take a stance, and hope that enough others will join with that person, to make a difference.

I’ve put the link to Clambake prominately above my Plutonian list, and it will remain there until the politicians in this country finally realize that they don’t have a clue in how to work with the Internet and fix this law, or until Google comes to its senses and realizes that it has a moral responsibility to the greater needs of humanity — the right of any organization to be heard!

P.S.In the meantime, the route will be indirect, but Clambake will hopefully still get hits for the word “Scientology” from Google, via my weblog. Might not place as high in the ranks, but they’ll be in the database.

Update: 3/22/02 Google has restored most of the Clambake pages, including the front page. ZD Net. I’ve removed the link to Clambake since they are now back in operation.

Categories
Legal, Laws, and Regs

Religious Freedom

How not to deal with direction confrontation about religion in this country.

John Robb has the following to say:


Google forced to remove anti-Scientology links. I don’t agreee with the Germans on many things (although I lived there). But, I agree with the Germans when it comes to Scientology (by saying this I am being listed in some Scientology database in the sky). Germany treats Scientology like a cult and they outlaw it under the same laws that prevent distribution of Neo-Nazi propoganda. Scientology is a cult of the worst sort: one that can afford to hire lawyers, manage propoganda, intimidate opposition, and train absolute leaders. They work within the system. Very Nazi. Avoid it. Outlaw it. Denounce it. Besides, anyone who starts a cult based on the thinking of a writer of bad science fiction, should get a life.

I don’t have to tell you the flaws in this, do I? I don’t have to tell you the danger of this, do I?

Outlawing a religion (it’s still classified as a religion in this country, and there has been no successful legal charges against Scientology that would refute this claim) or any other personal belief other than those that advocate violence is against the Constitution on the United States. I know this document has been bashed and battered lately, but I still support it.

I hope you do, too.