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October 10th, 2006
Farewell, Narrator
In recent weeks, while talking to friends and family, the Narrator has sometimes come up as a topic of conversation. These people express an appreciation for what I blog about, and show their interest in what I have to opine on. However, they feel that the Narrator brings a cloud of negativity and polemic simply for the sake of arguing. They then tell me that they prefer to not visit my blog so as not to have to read his comments.
This issue has come up several times in the past couple of months. Several people have suggested that I ban him from my blog. I do not enjoy censorship. I enjoy a productive debate, hearing various points of view, all in an attempt to further gain understanding. However, I feel that the Narrator’s dialogue tactics could use some polishing. Rather than being called ignorant, a deskchair (huh?), and an idiot, I would like to see sincere discussion.
One person commenting on this situation expressed their opinion as follows:
I can understand well reasoned argument and opinion, however, narrator and [those who leave similar comments] are nothing but argumentative contrarians who enjoy fomenting and tearing things down.
I have offered my views on the Narrator’s diaolgue methods before, and I’ve yet to see them change. Whether he changes them or not is his own decision, but I’ve grown tired of them.
So, I’ve blocked the Narrator. I would rather that my friends and family be able to enjoy what I have to write about instead of feeling uneasy and perturbed based on the comments of one of my visitors.
Now that the Narrator won’t be able to comment on my site, perhaps that irksome rash of his will finally subside…
6 Responses to “Farewell, Narrator”
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Wow.
I hope this comment won’t be seen as Narratorish, but it seems a bit silly that your readers can’t skip past Narrator’s comments. I find it strange–indeed, rather dubious–that they will actually visit your blog more often (and at all) now only because Narrator is banned.
Or was this post your way of lessening the effect of any cries about censorship? Don’t get me wrong, I support your decision (it’s your blog), I just find the reasoning a bit “off”.
“So, I’ve blocked the Narrator. I would rather that my friends and family be able to enjoy what I have to write about instead of feeling uneasy and perturbed based on the comments of one of my visitors.”
That is exactly what I was trying to convey in my posts in Blogger of Jared. It was a warning about that exact situation (which already happened at ProvoPulse).
I for one think it’s awful to ban him. Not wanting to read his comments means that those people shouldn’t read his comments. i enjoy reading them and enjoy the arguments/discussions that arise out of them. Banning his dissenting or questioning comments is very Mormon of you though, so I’m not surprised.
PZ Myers at Pharyngula deals with trolls by disemvowelling them. A script intercepts comments from certain IPs and strps t th vwls, lvng nly cnsnnts bhnd.
You can still read their comments, with a bit of work. I think of it as a tx n bnxs bhvr.
Fonter,
That’s awesome!