Comments on: Roger Cohen: Obama’s Iran Address Will Bring ‘Painful But Necessary Redefinition of Relations with Israel’

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:38:40 +0000

you’re just censoring.

You betray a fundamental misunderstanding of what a blog is. A blog is not a public soap box. It is not the public airwaves (controlled by the FCC). It is not a political candidate’s forum. A blog is a public forum that is owned by an individual. That individual sets the tone, rules, whatever for the site. The site is a reflection of that person & his or her values. So the idea of free speech or censorship is entirely beside the point.

While there is certainly debate and disagreement with my ideas here, that does not mean I have to give voice to every nut, crackpot or wingnut troll for the sake of “free speech.” I’m attempting to maintain a relatively civilized forum in which ideas are discussed with a certain level of intelligence & analysis. That doesn’t mean that I’m running an afternoon tea, as there is strong language and antagonism here at times. But I have no obligation to publish everything that everyone attempts to post here in my comment thread.

A hasbara troll is someone who sees their role in life to write long-winded comments at multiple sites which they believe will show the flag of Israel among the heathens, Israel-haters, self-hating Jews, etc. These are people who have too much time on their hands and a very limited supply of media resources fr. which to draw the bile they spew. They have NO INTEREST in engaging in debate or dialogue. They only want to ARGUE. They are propagandists.

I’ve said all I want to say about this so move on please.

By: Richard Witty

Richard Witty — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:26:02 +0000

So leave him three.

Otherwise you’re just censoring.

Excepting paid agents, what does “hasbara troll” mean anyway?

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:36:07 +0000

You don’t know what you’re talking about. This guy tried to publish 10 comments in a single day. I’d limit anyone who did that. He’d never published a comment here before. He wasn’t responding to anyone’s comments posed to him. He was just a right wing troll fueling the hasbara machine.

By: fiddler

fiddler — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:30:53 +0000

Richard W., that’s (Supreme Leader Ali) KHAMENEI, not (former President Mohammad) KHATAMI. Different names, different dudes.

By: Richard Witty

Richard Witty — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:01:48 +0000

If you applied that policy consistently (free from consideration of perspective), then there are others you’d have to limit as well.

I personally think that allowing individuals to respond to questions or assertions posed to them adds to the vitality of the place.

I don’t know the specific posts that you are referring to, maybe they were offensive.

Others can never know.

By: Richard Witty

Richard Witty — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:53:32 +0000

Thats right. Sorry for the error.

By: kylebisme

kylebisme — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:59:06 +0000

Anything short of letting Israel transfer all the Palestinians to Iran and Iran opening up to US corporations exploiting their resources however they please won’t be enough for the powers that be, and Iran has no intent of doing anything of the sort.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:22:43 +0000

10 comments in your first day ever commenting here is ultimate chutzpah. Take a look at the comment rules before you comment again. I will approve the first two of your 10 comments today. If you want to comment again in future, don’t abuse the privilege. Not everyone here wants to read your scholarship as much as you need to spout it.

I have no interest in making my comment threads a repository for Islamophobic maundering. So if your goal is to prove to us that Islam is a perfidious religion give it a break. There are hundreds of other website where this sort of rubbish would be welcomed. DOn’t waste our time or yours.