Saturday, April 24, 2010

Comment Moderation

As a general rule, I stop reading blogs that moderate comments. Even if the blog owner is an internet-addicted insomniac who is online 24/7, there will be delay between comment submissions and their publication. This delay is reason enough for me to never enable such a feature.

There are plenty of comments I delete, which is sad. Perhaps I should leave up every Asian dating website link, every non-sequitur invitation to an ad-splashed blog about business/finance, even every record of a person deleting a post or posting a comment twice accidentally. But the comments I am most conflicted about are comments made by one DM, aka Dave Mabus, real name Dennis Markuze of Montreal, Canada.

Most Recent Photo of Dennis Markuze

DM’s comments are annoying for a few reasons. He copies and pastes the same quasi-gibberish comment on all recently updated blogs at the top of Mojoey’s Atheist Blogroll. Part of DM’s goal is to cause atheist sites to moderate their comments, which I gather from the statements that begin many of his postings. My best DM impersonation of this opening:

“ENABLE SOME COMMENT MODERATION ON YOUR BLASPHEMY!”

I don’t think enabling comment moderation is an acceptable solution. One could remove oneself from the blogroll, but why should a blogger disengage from a shared community simply because of some jackass Canuck?

Frankly, I don’t find it frustrating to simply delete his comments when I get around to it. I know for a fact that I enjoy deleting them more than he enjoys posting them. His posts are also entertaining to people who find his antics to be novel. Not everyone has had contact with someone who believes Nostradamus predicted that Depeche Mode would usher in the apocalypse.

But there are those who have watched him harass the atheist/skeptic community for a while, and it seems some of those people believe leaving his comments up for any length of time will give him undo attention. Perhaps as a result of this mentality, many atheist blogs require comments to be approved before posting. They find DM and those like him to be disruptive.

Which brings me to another annoying aspect of DM’s comments: they are very long. He isn’t writing much, but he spaces it out so that his comments take up a screen or two. I think it’s pretty obvious that this is purely by design. Combined with the tangential nature of his comments, it would be hard to argue that his comments are anything but disruptive spam.

Yet, I don’t like deleting his comments. I usually do, but not always. I wish he would read the post he is commenting on and address what is said, but I guess that’s too much to ask. I would like nothing more than for a crazy religious person to come to my site and react to my posts with violent rage, since:

1. threats don’t scare me, they energize me.
2. it means I hit a nerve.
3. public rage is entertaining.
4. it’s just another thing to talk about.

I don’t want to give this DM guy attention, but it’s not like my tiny little blog post read by 10-20 people will make any difference. If you really want to stop people like DM, just ignore him… or write an entire blog post about him, which he won’t read, but will undoubtedly comment on immediately upon publication.

33 comments:

  1. He is a jackass. I just ignore him, like he writes in invisible ink. If there was a nuclear war, who do you think would survive- him or JD?

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Random Commenter4/24/2010 4:58 PM

    Well played, Ginx, well played.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yeah, you're better than everybody who moderates comments. Get off your self-righteous high horse, and while you are at it, add comment moderation to your blasphemy blog!!!

    COMMENT MODERATION TONIGHT!!!!!!!!

    THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING!!!!!!!!

    I wish he would read the post he is commenting on and address what is said, but I guess that’s too much to ask.

    He doesn't have the mental capacity for that.

    ******************************

    Ginx,

    but you have NO ANSWER TO DM... therefore you FAIL...


    Mabus, THE GREATEST unhinged MIND OF OUR AGE!!!

    Repent, unmoderated comments blogger, and enable comment moderation!

    Part of DM’s goal is to cause atheist sites to moderate their comments

    If he actually succeeded in doing that, what would he do with his time? He HATES comment moderation, believe me, just as every spammer hates it.

    Sorry for the nature of this comment, by the way, but I've just deleted the umpteenth DM comment from Skeptical Eye and the Dennis style kind of rubbed off on me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. LOL

    No SE, your blog kicks the ass of my blog. Just look at the followers! You have more people who use eagles with American flag back drops as their avatar than I have followers in total. That is intimidating.

    I just don't see his posts as that harmful, though I'm happy to take them down.

    I remember the first time I saw one of his spams, I spent like 3 hours reading some of the craziest stuff I've read in a long time. I don't know if I could deny people that pleasure.

    ReplyDelete
  5. comment moderation is just really annoying.

    Like spam.

    Two wrongs don't make a right.
    Two annoyances don't make an un-annoyance.

    ReplyDelete
  6. see you delete the posts because you CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH....

    ReplyDelete
  7. my job is to KICK ATHEISTS IN THE HEAD!

    priceless...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hard to kick people in the head a la cyberspace.... Chemical castration is available for the myriad of issues that you appear to have.

    ReplyDelete
  9. crystal night is a reference to when the SUN IS ECLIPSED....

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Random Commenter4/24/2010 10:18 PM

    Wow, the guy is finally responding instead of spouting BS. At least there exists some intelligence in there. Oh wait, that's just a badunk.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yeah DM is an idiot. Got himself banned as banal at Pharyngula. (DM did deserve it, even if ol PZ is a bit dishonest about the reasons he bans some people. )

    ReplyDelete
  12. I had to enable moderation because DM was leaving 3 or 4 long ones, and occassionally doubling up the short ones so they would repeat, and he would interrrupt the flow of the discussion.

    I don't mind people sharing their thoughts about the article or a related topic... but if you're just going to talk nonsense then I have to question whether or not you really care about the discussion in the first place.

    DM doesn't care about the discussion. So I don't care to hear his nonsense.

    Plus my blog has a certain professionalism to it that I'm trying to maintain. It's sort of like a fine restaurant vs. a McDonalds. I have the right to refuse service to anybody... especially know-it-all-know-nothings who do is spam until nobody can talk about anything because they're separated by a mile of white noise.

    Even though I won't post DMs (not even) comments on my blog... it doesn't mean I'm going to censor everyone. If someone shares a genuine opinion or thought, then I'll put it up no matter what.

    If they talk poopy bobble head stars at the arcade made Mrs. Robertson pick up the daisies so that Jesus forgives but the foreclose needed to be approved by the bank in order to run a marathon die in hell.... it's all just white noise.

    That's all I hear coming from spammers and trolls... and it means nothing... and I don't want it clogging up my turf. I want meaningfull ideas and discussions. Nuff said.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ginx-

    I'd have to question your not reading sites that moderate. Moderation is necessary.

    I would question full on censorship... but censorship is the restriction or oppression of allowing others free opinions.

    I allow people's opinions... no matter how stupid or blinkered they may be.

    What I won't tolerate is static interference. DM was spamming my site with about three or four emails per every post I did. This would make it difficult for my regular readers to enjoy a discussion... as they would be stuck scrolling through nonsense and gobbledygook for minutes on end just to read a follow up to their comments. It wasn't only a pain for them... it was just annoying for me.

    So I'll take out the trash as to let others communicate freely. Moderation, therefore, helps the discussion along. Spamming and flaming are the two things I don't allow in any forumn or discussion.

    People should respect others, even if they disagree.

    DM doesn't respect anyone, so he doesn't deserve anyone's respect. What a sad little life he leads.

    ReplyDelete
  14. One last thing...

    although moderation may also slow the discussion down, it also gives people more time to think through their points.

    So the way I see it it can be both a bane and a boon.

    However, when I have real professional scientists and historians visiting my blog and leaving comments... it looks totally unprofessional to have spam all over the place.

    And what's more, if people are reading my blog it's because they choose to... knowing ahead of time that I maintain a strict decorum and keep a clean house.

    But like I said, it's not all bad, it can benefit everyone who is serious about the discussion by keeping the conversation on track and by not becoming ridiculous by having to read the same damn thing four times in a row on every single post.

    Besides, there is a point where excessive spamming of the same person becomes harassment. And at that point, we can take legal action. As it is now... we could... if we wanted... have DM's web provider stop selling him internet service or ban him from their servers. But that would be censorship... and I don't agree with that. Just saying... DM ought to tread carefully lest he offend someone who takes him down permanently.

    Then how else would he get his free internet porn and jollies?

    ReplyDelete
  15. DM doesn't respect anyone, so he doesn't deserve anyone's respect. What a sad little life he leads.

    Tristan, I think that is the best comment on DM I've read anywhere. It is all about simple respect, no matter how strongly you disagree with someone's ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  16. this blog has at least one professional (social) scientist reading it! :D

    -Dr. AE

    ReplyDelete
  17. we're not here to DISCUSS...

    it's LIGHT OR DEATH...

    ReplyDelete
  18. So sayeth the fool of all fools.

    ReplyDelete
  19. the really SHARP END OF OCCAM’S RAZOR…

    they mix SKEPTICISM with ATHEISM…

    KABOOM…


    Now I want you to listen to this little f*cker...

    http://www.ted.com/talks/james_randi.html

    Randi:

    When I see your UGLY FACE I understand why you are an atheist
    _________________________________

    now I want you to watch this video of DELUSION...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW2zsobxJDU

    with the atheists:

    they start begging when they start dying...
    _____________________

    Atheists,

    but you have NO ANSWER TO DEATH... therefore you FAIL...

    the Death of Ath*ism

    *********************************
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-8-Yxdphsg

    DEATH TRAP

    **********************************
    THE REAL QUESTION:

    DOES ATHEISM HAVE A FUTURE?

    AND THE ANSWER - NO!

    Atheists,

    GET OUT OF MY UNIVERSE

    you little liars do nothing but antagonize…

    and you try to eliminate all the dreams and hopes of humanity…

    but you LOST…

    THE DEATH OF ATH*ISM - SCIENTIFIC PROOF OF GOD

    Crystal Night, Atheists!


    FINALE:


    Have I said this before?

    ***********************************

    http://warsofatheism.free0host.com/

    ***********************************

    PULLING THE PLUG on atheism

    http://www.firstscience.com/site/articles/coles.asp

    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3228845133_3599f8108f.jpg

    bye

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090126/as-indonesia-solar-eclipse/images/c52d9d50-7ca2-4c3a-b13c-c866836298c8.jpg

    Einstein puts the final nail in the coffin of atheism…

    *************************************

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7vpw4AH8QQ

    *************************************

    atheists deny their own life element…

    LIGHT OR DEATH, ATHEISTS?

    ********************************

    ***************************LIGHT*********

    ************************************

    ___________


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC7Sg41Bp-U


    E=MC2


    ____________


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmtK-X_MV0k&feature=fvw


    DOWN THE TOILET!!!


    _____________



    http://open.salon.com/blog/sandra_no_longer_miller/2009/02/13/files/lamb1234553042.jpg



    LAMB POWER!


    _____________________



    Shermer - Randi - Myers - Harris - Dawkins VS. NOSTRADAMUS - EINSTEIN - MARKUZE


    you are ANNIHILATED!!!

    crystal night is a reference to when the SUN IS ECLIPSED...


    FINAL WARNINGS THIS WEEKEND


    Repent and turn to God or be destroyed...

    LIGHT OR DEATH, ATHEISTS?

    ********************************

    ***************************LIGHT*********

    ************************************ or death...


    LIGHT!

    ReplyDelete
  20. tristan - actually you are the godless little fool... repent or be destroyed....

    ReplyDelete
  21. tristan you are such a HEADLESS IDIOT... Look at types of blogs you follow...

    YOU BUNCH OF FUCKING MORONS....

    ReplyDelete
  22. UNDERSTAND!!!?


    Shermer - Randi - Myers - Harris - Dawkins VS. NOSTRADAMUS - EINSTEIN - MARKUZE


    you are ANNIHILATED!!!

    crystal night is a reference to when the SUN IS ECLIPSED...


    FINAL WARNINGS THIS WEEKEND


    Repent and turn to God or be destroyed...

    LIGHT OR DEATH, ATHEISTS?

    ********************************

    ***************************LIGHT*********

    ************************************ or death...


    LIGHT!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Ginx, I couldn't agree more. I HATE when people moderate comments...especially when I know they are the type who don't like disagreement with their views. If someone is confident in his/her view, then allow others to say what they want and let others see it too!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Yeah, I do not believe in moderating others myself. Best to just delete this jackass. I would not delete anyone else though.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I remember the first time I saw one of his spams, I spent like 3 hours reading some of the craziest stuff I've read in a long time. I don't know if I could deny people that pleasure.

    That's a very good point, there are some interesting to read from DM's links. Some is just plain crazy, but some is really fascinating. This link to a TED presentation by James Randi that he posted a few times was great. I highly suggest people to go take a look... it made made look at other TED presentations after that one, I particularly liked Sam Harris' presentation on morality for example.

    Isn't ironic? He wants to annoy Atheists' blogs and their readers, but it actually starts interesting discussion on comment moderation and supply us with alternative readings or videos to watch...

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm actually quite sympathetic to Ginx's position on comment moderation. I like his free spirit, his commitment (in spite of his contradictory statism) to unfettered liberty. God bless Ginx! He has inspired me! I'm getting an urge to leave comment moderation off permanently, and then letting the spamming chips fall where they may.

    As a matter of fact, I have moderation turned off at this very moment, as I write this. I feel so liberated. I think I'm even ready for an open debate with DM. In fact, I'll go beyond that, and challenge DM to a formal debate, in front of an audience at the Crystal Cathedral (in honor of Crystal night, of course).

    Now, since I know DM's opening statement and rebuttals will consist of variations on what he has posted above, preparation for my own opening statement and follow-up arguments should be a breeze.

    Come on, let's all work together to make this debate happen!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one trying to figure out there's anything of substance to these bizarre rants.

    Interesting that he suggests that Crystal Night is "a reference to when the SUN IS ECLIPSED", since the first thing that came to my mind is Kristallnacht, which sounds less astronomical and more like someone contemplating a shooting rampage.

    The relatively recent addition of "FINAL WARNINGS THIS WEEKEND" also comes across as a bit threatening. I suppose it could mean that if we haven't seen the clear and obvious truth of his delusional ravings by the end of the weekend, he'll give up and quit spamming us, but... frankly, it sounds like he's threatening some sort of attack on anyone who doesn't agree with him. (Which, I suspect, is pretty much everyone, since I still can't figure out what he wants me to agree with.)

    Or maybe he's predicting the Second Coming for Monday morning, and expects us to be devoured by the Cleansing Fire of the Lord.

    Not that I'm especially worried. It's a long drive from Montreal to Texas, and frankly I deal with scarier people on my morning commute. Likewise, if an all-powerful being has a beef with my beliefs or behavior, I'm sure it'll let me know. ::shrugs:: It's just so... odd.

    Nice to meet you all, and thanks to SE for pointing me here.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Shermer - Randi - Myers - Harris - Dawkins VS. NOSTRADAMUS - EINSTEIN - MARKUZE

    ??????

    Einstein didn't believe in god...

    ReplyDelete
  29. Einstein was essentially theistic. He was not "Jewish" or a believer in any sort of monotheism, but Einstein undoubtedly subscribed to mystical notions of spirituality. He was particularly taken by Spinoza's pantheism.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Einstein was more of a deist no? not sure if that is what you meant... because he definitely was not religious, spiritual yes, bu I do consider myself spiritual too in a way, but with zero belief in the supernatural.

    ReplyDelete
  31. WOW! You have some serious Christian idiots commenting om your blog! I wish I was that good of a blogger! Keep up the good work!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. ATHEISM FAIL!


    you FIGHT PAPER TIGERS...

    the blood and bodies of the atheist movement...


    you mofos killed MICKEY MOUSE!!!!



    this has more TRUTH then what Dawkins, Randi, Harris, Myers, and Shermer combined have said in their entire lives...

    http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/works/red-book/

    http://www.marxists.org/reference/ar...-book/ch32.htm


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2oZWpqtNi4&feature=related



    they tried to BULLDOZE the entire METAPHYSICAL DIMENSION...

    they LOST THE WAR......

    you have FORFEIT YOUR SOUL, shermer... you have become an object in the material world, as you WISHED...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGQzxhxjGIs




    we're gonna smash that TV...

    They had become ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE AND OF GOD...
    you pushed too much and *CROSSED THE LINE*

    degenerates (PZ) or children (HEMANT) - ATHEISTS!

    Become Revolutionary Marxists!

    FIGHT ATHEISM

    http://chaosmarxism.blogspot.com/




    do you have anything to say, you STUPID LITTLE F*CKER?

    how about I tell you, Mr. Shermer, EVERYTHING YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORLD is

    Nostradamus predicted world socialist revolution

    DON"T BELIEVE ME?

    Feel the REALLY SHARP END OF OCCAM'S RAZOR

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZYFsOP7rBc


    *WRONG*

    THE BOOBQUAKE - 911!

    Princess Di is wearing a new dress

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7tEj4pstFI

    RUN, ATHEISTS, RUN!!!

    ReplyDelete

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