Popular Science shuts off comments on its site

Not shocking at all, most liberals do not like being questioned.

Quote:

Comments can be bad for science. That’s why, here at PopularScience.com, we’re shutting them off.

It wasn’t a decision we made lightly. As the news arm of a 141-year-old science and technology magazine, we are as committed to fostering lively, intellectual debate as we are to spreading the word of science far and wide. The problem is when trolls and spambots overwhelm the former, diminishing our ability to do the latter.

[….]

But even a fractious minority wields enough power to skew a reader’s perception of a story, recent research suggests. In one study led by University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Dominique Brossard, 1,183 Americans read a fake blog post on nanotechnology and revealed in survey questions how they felt about the subject (are they wary of the benefits or supportive?). Then, through a randomly assigned condition, they read either epithet- and insult-laden comments (“If you don’t see the benefits of using nanotechnology in these kinds of products, you’re an idiot” ) or civil comments. 

[….]

A politically motivated, decades-long war on expertise has eroded the popular consensus on a wide variety of scientifically validated topics. Everything, from evolution to the origins of climate change, is mistakenly up for grabs again. Scientific certainty is just another thing for two people to “debate” on television. And because comments sections tend to be a grotesque reflection of the media culture surrounding them, the cynical work of undermining bedrock scientific doctrine is now being done beneath our own stories, within a website devoted to championing science.

via Why We’re Shutting Off Our Comments | Popular Science.

Vox Day Saith:

Comments aren’t bad for science. Comments are bad for those who are stubbornly clinging to outdated scientific paradigms that are showing obvious cracks. 

William Teach AKA Porter Good says:

I guess they haven’t heard of using methods like Bad Behavior, Akismet, Disqus, and others commenting blockers. They aren’t perfect, but certainly cut down quite a bit.

[….]

There are many Warmist websites I’m blocked from commenting at. Same with other Climate Realists like Steven Goddard, Tom Nelson, Anthony Watts, etc. Because Warmists do not want debate: they want people to sit down, shut up, and smile as Government becomes more intrusive and controlling. All based on a lie.

This is pretty much what I was thinking too. If you have a blog or a website; and you do not allow comments, what you basically have is a pulpit with an empty Church. Now, I moderate comments, because this blog sometimes like to attract the attention of some trollish folk who like to make appearances here. But, anyone can comment and as long as the comments don’t blatantly violate my comment policy, I will let them stand. This is because I do not mind people coming back and commenting. I also like it when they donate, but I digress. 😉

 

Two very interesting reads

Here and Here.

Two things here:

  1. This is why I do not get into blog wars with anyone anymore. It just isn’t worth it. Especially not all that.
  2. This too is why I keep my distance from hacker groups. I used to run a BBS many moons ago and used to play on usenet, in a CB Radio newsgroup, but that was it for me. I never got into anything illegal, ever. That second link above there, is why.

Doing that stuff is always a losing bet. Why I don’t play that sort of game with anyone. I just don’t need the hassle. (This here was not a blog war, nor will it ever be.)

I do opinions here and that’s all I’ll ever do.

 

Gay Bashing at Little Green Footballs?

Go read.

Looks like it to me. 😯

Update: I made this statement because I thought the photo was an underhanded swipe at Greenwald’s sexuality and I said so.  Now, it seems that Johnson is calling me “mentally disturbed.”  I wonder if Johnson knows that he can be sued for making such inflammatory comments in a public forum? Remember guitar-boy, I can and will use lawyers, if needed. 😡

 

 

 

LGBT Blogger Pam Spaulding quits blogging after 9 years

Believe it not, but this one is a shock to me personally. Pam is one of the “old school”, Pre-facebook, Pre-twitter bloggers from when I got into blogging in 2006. She has been at it for a very long time.

The Story:

All good things must come to an end, even after numerous awards and accolades, it’s time to acknowledge that I cannot continue to run on fumes alone. The Blend could continue limping along, but my health and well-being come first; over the last few years burning the candle at both ends with a full-time offline job and PHB. It has taken a severe toll — most readers have learned that I am dealing with chronic pain conditions — fibromylagia, and in the last couple of years, aggressive rheumatoid arthritis.

My decision to close the blog is just as reality-based as its content has been. If I cannot produce material at the frequency or with the same level of quality, enthusiasm and effectiveness, it’s really time to close the doors to this coffeehouse — and work to ensure it continues to have a life as an archive, a snapshot in our digital political history. Pamshouseblend.com will redirect to archives.

Looking back, I churned out pieces at an incredible pace — up to ten posts a day– many long-form pieces, commentary, curating news articles I thought my audience should check out, and occasionally (and increasingly) doing citizen journalism at news events and conferences. All of this while holding down a full-time day job with no connection to politics or activism. And most of of those posts were done in the wee hours, so I didn’t get much sleep over the lifespan of this blog.

via Goodbye Pam’s House Blend: after nine years, closing the coffeehouse July 1 | Pam’s House Blend.

Believe it or not; I know how she feels. I have had a bad case of the burnouts myself. I have blogged since 2006 and sometimes, you get burned out. I am not LGBT at all; in fact, I am the straight man and a Christian. However, I have always said the people, who choose that lifestyle, should be allowed to; without fear of being harassed, discriminated against, or treated unfairly. I guess that is what separates we libertarian types from the so-called “Christian Right”, which is about a damned parody joke of itself former self anymore.

I wish Miss. Spaulding the best, and my prayers go to her for her medical condition and yes, I do truly mean that; she should really take care of herself. This blogging business is fun, but it is not worth ending up in an early grave over. I know all about that medical stuff, as I am contending with some medical issues myself.

Either way, I wish Pam the best in whatever she decides to do.

When a blogger dies

A voice is silenced, a keyboard and voice goes black.

We bloggers; left and right, are the 6’th estate, which rail against the corporate media and against tyrannical Governments  —- no matter which side politically that they happen to be on and where those Governments happen to be in the World of ours. Our battle is not with guns, or knives; or even fists. We battle with the very thing that can change the course of human history —- words.

We have lost another voice, another fighter in the battle for the soul of America. Another voice in the argument of ideas. Another voice of independent media.

Amusing Bunni has died

For the record: I did not even know her personally; nor did I have any personal interaction with her. However, I happen to be  co-enlisted with her, in this battle for the soul of this great Country of ours. We both were were writers and yes, bloggers. Those of us, who still believed in the founding principles of this great Country of ours. One of which is a timeless principle —- Freedom.

Godspeed to her, may she rest in peace.

Update: Camp of the Saints has a excellent posting up remembering this blogger as well.

Bloggers and Lawsuits

InstaPundit Points to the following:

SUING BLOGGERS NEARLY ALWAYS BACKFIRES: “Edwin Mellen Press is dropping a wildly unpopular libel lawsuit against a university librarian.”

If you’re thinking of suing a blogger, read this first.

This is why I have a disclaimer.

I’d love to see some Jewish Right-winger sue me for telling the truth about them. I’d counter-sue for millions and clean up. 😀

As a matter of fact, I have a rather good lawsuit against David Horowitz, because of two bloggers, who were in his employment, slandered me once. I might still pursue that one, because is malice involved there; and I know why. Those woman now work for Michelle Malkin, and I could actually include her in the lawsuit, if I wanted to. Could you imagine the media fallout on those people, if I went after them in court for a few hundred million?

I mean, I have not been able to find work, since that was published; and I could very well go into court and state my case; that I was slandered and now, because what was published about me; I cannot find a job. Also too, I could state in court, that these women attacked me and slandered me, because I dared to point out Michelle Malkin’s hypocrisy and went after her for publishing personal information about Graeme Frost’s parents back in 2006.

I believe I have a very tight case against them all. The question is, do I really want to bother with it? Do I really want to try to find a lawyer that would take the case pro-bono or at least take it to be paid, when I win? Also too, is it really worth all that effort, all the hatred that would be for me, like from the blogosphere and from Fox News?

That’s the stuff that I have to consider.

Funny blog quote of the day

This is too good to pass up:

I’ve learned that using my wife’s blush brush to put on my own TV makeup is more than a little problematic from both a marriage stand point and the extra color it adds. I’ve also learned that my make up is more expensive than my wife’s make up, but that’s a whole other story.

Hmmm… I wonder if their dress sizes are the same too? Rolling on the floor

Sorry, I just had to. Tongue

Answering Digby

Just thought I’d answer a progressive blogger.

Digby who runs Hullabaloo, which is a left-wing blogger, reacting to this story here, asks the following:

I have to say that while Scott Walker is clearly the meanest of all the GOP wingut Governors (and Jan Brewer is clearly the dumbest) Rick Scott has got to be the weirdest. And that is saying something.

Florida, what were you thinking?

via Hullabaloo.

The same darned thing that you progressives and the rest of the rube idiots were thinking, when you elected and reelected that flipping dishonest, wall street brought and paid for, Marxist asshole in the White House — that’s what! The man campaigned on hope and change and what’d we get? More of the same. More of the same polices of George W. Bush. More drone strikes of American Citizens, More of “F*** the big three!” More of this President being interested in so-called “High tech jobs” and not low tech, general labor jobs.

So, the next time you want to lash out at the right there Digby. Remember, try looking in your own backyard for a change. (Hope Change?) Because your man is not really much of a prize either. In case you have not figured it out; I was not, am not, and never will be a fan of this President. Not because of his skin color; but because of what he is. Malcolm X summed him up very nicely — there are two kinds of blacks — Field and House; and Obama is a House. I have friends who are Field, and they are the best people ever. Most of the House kind are on Fox News and now are in the White House.

Now only this; and this comes from a personal standpoint; namely mine. He promised these jobs would come springing out of the woodwork. Just where the hell are all of these jobs at? I am unemployed, have been since 2005. Well, except for blogging, which really does not count as a job; because for one, I love doing it and for two, it really does not pay that great. But, where are these “Shovel-Ready” projects that this idiot actually had the stones to say would come popping out of woodwork? Now, you cannot blame the Republicans! You all had a majority in the Congress and the House for the first two years. Not to mention now, you basically have a majority in both houses, with a bunch of candy ass Republicans in both houses. So, where are the jobs at, that your “Hope and Change” savior promised?

The truth is, he could not create jobs! You knew it, Obama knew it; and the Democratic Party knew it! But, they instead chose to LIE to the uneducated idiot voters and they bought that damned lie and proceeded to elected and reelected the man. I knew what Obama was about, long ago. Which is why I broke away from that Party! Yeah, the Republicans are for the rich people. I get that; but at least they do not blow smoke up people’s butts and promise them stuff that they cannot deliver on. I give them that credit. Which is a heck of a bunch more than I can say about Obama and the Democrats now.

My detractors always tell me, “get a job!” My response is, “find me one, and I will!”

Of course, when you are a housewife out in Santa Monica and not actually in the real world, trying to find a job; one can only expect so much. I am just saying.