New Blog

Hmmm.....I apologize for the trolling. I meant no offense. I've poked around these message boards on occasion and enjoyed the discussions. I was a little geeked up about blogging and wanted to get a few eyeballs on my site, but didn't realize that my post would be inappropriate.

O.K. This gets "points". Anybody who says sorry and really means it is already ahead of the DUmmies....(IMHO). Not to mention you've survived a proper FR "beating".

After going through so much trouble just to get a little publicity for your blog, you ought to hang around. :-)

I've poked around these message boards on occasion and enjoyed the discussions. I was a little geeked up about blogging and wanted to get a few eyeballs on my site, but didn't realize that my post would be inappropriate.

We appreciate the sentiment, and let me say welcome.

There have been many people who have signed up on FR solely to pimp their personal site/cause, and only to do those things. Overall, that's bad form across the 'Net, as most message forums and sites like FR exist to promote conversation their own forums, not act as personal advertising for people, and most especially for those new folk.

You mention on your blog (which looks pretty interesting; I'm interested in how it will develop and grow) that there are folk "beating their chests like gorillas protecting their turf." The way to win friends and influence people is not to insult them as you go. Much as you would not enter someone's house and abuse your hospitality, do not do it here. It's only polite.

You mention the usernames here. Many of them are pseudonyms, while others (like mine) are variations on their real name. Some feel they have to protect their identity due to work or other concerns; others enjoy their nicknames and use them online while still others don't mind their personal identities being known. Take the time to learn about folks before passing judgement. You'd be surprised at who you might find behind some of the usernames here. There are politicians, authors, talk show hosts, newspeople and plenty of other folks here, and many of them would be more than happy to take a look at your site, provided you take the time to ask politely.

My apology on this board was sincere. The trolling truly was a mistake of ignorance, and I do appreciate your civil tone.

I have to respectfully protest your mild scolding of me for "insulting" some of the folks here who continued bashing me after I had apologized. I'm not trashing anyone for posting anonymously. God knows I have. What I take issue with is incivility that hides behind anonymity. Frankly, I find it to be cowardly.

Look, ever had some new hire where you work screw up something that seems obvious and simple to all you veterans? How do you treat that person? Do you berate and insult or do you simply pull the newbie aside an explain a few things? I think you can judge a whole lot about someone just based on how he treats the new dumbass. Afterall, we've all been that guy at one point or another.

I think you can judge a whole lot about someone just based on how he treats the new dumbass. Afterall, we've all been that guy at one point or another.

Indeed we have. And in "ordinary" circumstances and places, I'd agree with you completely.

But the sheer numbers of people whose activity runs completely counter to that very logical notion has led most of us to become rather curmudgeonly cynical of people who present themselves in a certain fashion. I am certainly guilty of it.

The problem children that come through make it difficult to truly greet sincere new posters (as I believe you to be), and I apologize for that.

Fair enough.

You know, I can't help but be enthused about how quickly things have changed over this past year. One day this summer I stumbled across the word blog and became curious about the term. I "discovered" bloggers just before the Rathergate scandal, and couldn't believe what I was witnessing. There was an information revolution going on right in front of my eyes, and most of the country still had no idea what a blog was!

Just weeks before, I was getting my conservative fix from Rush Limbaugh and a handful of cable news hacks. Now I found myself rushing home to the computer each night after work. As the blogosphere took bite after bite out of Dan Rather, I found myself emailing out advertiser contacts to all my friends and calling CBS every night on the phone.

My fiancee thought I was nuts. Every time the bloggers smacked Dan around, I'd yell for her to come to the office for an update. She asked, "What's wrong with you? Why are you so emotional about this?" My response was that I'd been seeing the MSM get away with this crap for my entire adult life, and no one had ever been given a voice to call it to account. I felt like I was watching a kid who's finally discovered that he can take the schoolyard bully who'd been pushing him around for years.

It was a glorious few months, and anyone who had a hand in that takedown should be proud. I feel privileged just to have been a witness to it.

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