Ouch! That stings!
Yesterday I spent more time on EX than I have in the past 6 months, posting comments as I frequently used to. I always go back and re-read comments later. I like to see what other people have to say too. It's a cumbersome process, (something I hope is improved with upcoming changes to ex,) but I like the conversational aspect. Sure, we can have conversations of sorts on message boards, but the primary source for open communication is through the blogs. That's were we can share thoughts, ideas, and opinions with quitters at large.
I was surprised this morning to see that comments I had left on a blog yesterday were missing today. Gone! Vaporized. I scrambled around a bit to figure this out and this is how it appears to me. I can delete a comment that I've posted on another Exer's blog, and I can delete a comment posted by another Exer on a blog I have written. I did not delete the comment that I posted yesterday, which leads me to the conclusion that the only other person who could have, did.
This disappoints me enough to compel me to write my own blog critcal of censorship. Sure, had I written something, flagrant, obscene, imflamatory or derogatory, by all means, take it down. But deleting comments that simply offer another point of view, something other than "RIGHT ON! AMEN! YOU ROCK?" That's sad. = (
Personally, I thought my comments were quite benign, at least by my standards. ; )
If all you are looking for are accolades, cheers, and applause for your blogs, just say so. I'm happy to cheer for anyone who wants a cheer. Just bracket [clap here] in the tags line. Or, if you're writing a blog as a testimony to your skill as a writer, disable comments and let your work stand as a personal work of art. But why publish a thoughtful blog, particularly one with statements such as, "and you’re going to think I’m mean for even typing the words, but here goes," or, "one final thing (before I rock the boat too much more,)" enable comments, and then proceed to selectively accept and delete comments according to how well they jive with your stormy thoughts? Once you impose censorship on a public forum, your blog sinks to the level of propoganda and detracts from the legitimacy of EX as a community for open discussion.
I realize "your blog is whatever you want it to be." All I'm saying is, let your blog be what you say it is ... and if you opt to allow comments, allow comments.
