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2004 December 9

Caught on Fire

What I at first thought was fog now looks more like smoke as comments on Left2Right have devolved into flame wars reminiscent of unmoderated Usenet threads, which I also stopped reading (back in the old days, before HTML was a glimmer in the eye of Sir Tim). On Left2Right, just as on Usenet, posters can be anonymous. Threads go off on tangents and get overrun by a few people who just can't stop bickering. By my unofficial count of a snapshot of the comments on one entry five identities posted 70 out of 115 comments. My advice, which will of course not be followed:
  • put the flame thrower down and step away from the keyboard
  • if you've got that much to say, get your own blog.
David Velleman said that “the way to get through to people is to listen to them and be willing to learn from them.” I wonder how much listening to this logorrhea he and his colleagues are willing to take.

Posted by Hank at 2:02 PM

 
ravens-pupil