Censoring a blog is a no-win game. Wherever you draw the line, people will complain. I’ve been reluctant to cancel people for most infractions, with exceptions such as use of the N-word or particularly offensive remarks directed at fellow commenters. (I don’t care what they say about me.) But wherever you draw the line people will say, “I notice you ban for X, but allow Y. So you think Y is acceptable?”. No I don’t think Y is acceptable. I’m just too lazy to censor everything.
I recently decided to weed out a few Russian trolls, mostly because commenters kept saying they found them annoying. But like a hardy weed, I have no doubt they will grow back.
The Russian trolls (troll?) were a weird lot, oddly disconnected from the actual blog. They accused me of being a communist, even though I was far more supportive of free markets than they were. (They support regulation in all sorts of areas.) Roughly 90% of the time when they said that I believe X, I actually believe not X. I was even accused of being a Vietnam War draft dodger—LOL. They were also stupid, insulting, hysterical, mean, pro-Putin, nationalistic, racist, authoritarian—hmm, I wonder if Trump was using a burner account?
They were also really bad at prediction—assuring me just a few weeks back that rumors of a Russian invasion were unfounded.
In my defense, I did allow the Russian trolls to post about 1000 comments. (You should see some of the stuff that I have not allowed, often far worse than what gets through .) And no doubt the few remaining Russia trolls will continue to defend Putin.
Nature is kind to us in one respect—we don’t see ourselves the way others see us. At an intellectual level, I understand that superior minds see that much of what I say is kind of stupid. But in my day to day life I am oblivious to that fact, just as when I’m at a party I’m mercifully aware of how others regard my appearance, or my feeble attempt at witty conversation. God help us if we could see ourselves the way that others see us. Life would become unbearable.
I suspect that many commenters do not understand that they are hurting their own cause by writing comments that seem stupid. Not stupid in the sense of being wrong—brilliant people like Paul Krugman can be wrong—stupid in the sense of looking like they were written by a low IQ person. That really hurts their cause.
About 90 years ago, Pessoa had this to say about people pushing theories of the occult:
What I find most shocking about those teachers and connoisseurs of the invisible is that, when they write about and describe their mysteries, they write really badly. It offends me that a man can master the Devil, but not the Portuguese language. Why should tackling devils be easier than tackling grammar? Why is it that, after all these prolonged exercises in concentration and willpower, someone can, or so he says, experience astral visions, but cannot, with far less investment of concentration and willpower, have a clear vision of syntax.
Given that grammar isn’t my strong suit, I’m more bothered by people who haven’t mastered logic. If you cannot understand logic, then why should I care about your views on the nuances of foreign policy or monetary policy?
Here’s a question to think about. If you tell me that an obviously brilliant person is “stupid”, then what should I infer about your intelligence?
PS. For those who don’t read the comment section, check out this comment from a Russia troll named Nick, for a flavor of what you’re missing.