On 'fraidy cats:

[p0tat0es]

It would seem that I have no capacity for snark. I can't stand to read the comments on articles on Slog, or Line Out, or the P-I's site, or on seattle even.

What I hate is a) people making inflammatory comments anonymously, and b) people, who's positions I might actually support, making their point in such a ham-fisted way as to alienate anyone they might persuade, including me.

If you post something inflammatory or accusatory, I think you should have the cajones to sign your name (or in these cases, add a valid email address) to it. Take ownership of your statements. Do not be a little bitch who flings poo and then hides. And please do not allow conversations to immediately dissolve into "You suck!...no you suck!"

If I was one of those people who got off on debating, playing the devil's advocate, or was a political gadfly, maybe I'd feel different. I can't say for sure, because I am none of these things. Maybe someone can enlighten me on the appeal of this. 

OK, I'm going to go look at baaaaabyanimals now.

Comments

[joshc.livejournal.com]

I agree. The stranger's comment threads make me feel depressed about the universe. Not just that the comments are often inflammatory and anonymous, but that the people there seem to celebrate that aspect above all others. Worse, I think that some of the writers there get a weird kick out of it.