We interrupt this blog...
One of the inherent challenges of an open society is balancing the free speech rights of all with the desire of a few knuckleheads to cross the bounds of decency. The comments section of the Snooze is a place for visitors to broaden and sharpen the discussion about the news of the day. At its best, it's a mature roundtable of ideas and information. At the least, it's a place for people to vent about something they've read. But in recent days, a couple of – what do we call these Neanderthals, anyway? – have decided to ruin the party for everyone. Let's be clear: People who leave racist, misogynistic, homophobic comments or make personal, hateful attacks against others will not be tolerated. To them we say, "Bugger off!" From here on, we are going to be judicious about when we allow people to comment on articles. We will remove comments that we feel cross the line, and we will ban repeat offenders whose venom spews unchecked. We have house rules, and if you don't like them – or are too immature to understand what they mean – then run along to the next party down the road. – The Webmaster
What PC crap ! If you want to enforce decency, you should ban yourself.
I've never met anyone more vulgar or uninformed than you, Jeannette
Sherwin, nor anyone so lacking in a basic sense of humor.The truth is
that like all of the moronic PC progressives around here you are utterly
unable to deal with opposing ideas. I don't subscribe to your above list
of sacred cows. I think all of the above groups are open to serious
criticism and some fun needling. I ain't licking their arses, if you catch
my drift. Whether I'm banned here or not is not important.
I would lose respect for myself playing on your dubious premises.
You can all bore each other to death with your think-alike robotic
PC garbage.
The important thing is that I was able to make some excellent points
while having fun too. Little house dictators like you are not that relevant
in the larger scheme of things.
As regards buggery, I defer to your expertise in this area.
Sigh.
You have taken enjoyment and use of OaklandNews away from other people and that's not forgivable.
You're not a martyr to free speech. You're a blowhard and a bully who has no sense of what living in a pluralistic society means. You've said that you think it means that racial slurs _must_ be acceptable. I think pluralism calls for courtesy.
You don't debate with integrity. Instead you personalize almost everything, so that anyone who disagrees with you is slammed not for what they have said but for all the crimes you feel like ascribing to them simply because they didn't buy
your arguments or agree with your authors.
Having been asked several times publicly and privately to stick by some very loose rules
you continued to be a shit.
You're banned.
The only thing that amazes me about Mr. Hardesty's comments is that he wasn't banned from this wonderful website eons ago. I think the editors have shown remarkable restraint in allowing him to continue to use vital political issues as a forum for the lowest kind of personal attacks without addding a single point of merit to the discussion.
I have read his comments with nausea and because of his vituperative language, have repeatedly chosen not to make a comment so as not to become the target of his foul and nasty mouth - which can only match what passes for his mind. While it grieves me to stoop so low, the only arse Mr. Hardesty should be licking is his own - and may he find the anatomical ability to do so.
Your permanent absence from this website is sheer delight for the many readers who love it. It will be savored as instantly improving the experience of reading Oakland News.
What ever happened to common courtesy in open disagreement? Have we lost all sense of decorum? Since Mr. Hardesty states that being banned from OaklandNews is of no import, all I can say is Hooray! Go away, little man. And God spare the poor creatures you attack next. May they not wait as long as OaklandNews in banning you.
Posted by: Robin Bryant on September 14, 2003 12:27 PMI too have been angered and nauseated by Michael Hardesty's comments. It is one thing to disagree, and it is quite another to mount scurrilous personal attacks on people with whom you disagree-and his attack on the editor of OaklandNews was positively sickening.
Certainly here at the Snooze we have been known to say nasty things about politicians and city employees. It's our job. If Mr. Hardesty feels that Oakland is the armpit of the nation, why is he living here? I doubt that he and his Libertarian friends have done anything to make Oakland a better place. Perhaps he needs to move somewhere more convivial for people like him- say, Orange County...
Posted by: Jane Powell on September 14, 2003 05:53 PMHere's an interesting angle: Hardesty is the 3rd person to be banned from making comments on the OaklandNews site. The first man was booted for racial slurs, the second for misogynistic slurs and vulgarity to the nth degree. Our reasons for bouncing them were the same as those clearly stated above by the Webmaster. (I am not the Webmaster.)
Hardesty knew this history. Therefore, I guess that he was looking for someone to blame and be angry at. For sure I was not his "good friend" but his good target.
I'm glad that it's over, sorry that he took so long to hang himself.
Root beer floats and chocolate malts for everyone!!!
*This discussion has been closed. No more comments may be added.*