When someone gets desperate enough, or juvenile enough, to starting throwing accusations of anti-semitism around simply because he's not winning a debate or doesn't like the opinions expressed here, I see no reason to allow the bandwidth I pay for to provide him with a platform.
I just banned an IP for the first time since I started blogging. I'd like to think it will be the last time but somehow I doubt it.
I suppose it would be nice if I could say this is a free speech zone and anything goes. But it isn't free -- I pay the bill here. And I don't have the time or patience for people who can't keep it civil and stay within obvious bounds. If that affects your interest in reading this blog I'm sorry about that, but I'm also prepared to live with it.
pogge,
I must have missed that particular comment, but I think I can guess who you're talking about.
I can't say I'm surprised.
To be clear, he didn't accuse me of anti-semitism. But I can only assume that was the next step when the only way he can refute a military general's opinion of military strategy is to accuse the man of hating "joooooos".
And using the term "joooooos" is probably enough in itself. He's condemning racism and using racial epithets all at the same time.
I've banned far more IP addresses than you have, but I had a bigger problem with comment spam until I installed MTCloseComments.
Still, I know how you feel, and I don't think you need to feel ashamed or anything. After all, this is your space. You should do with it as you see fit.
within legal limits, of course. :-)
Shame doesn't really enter into it though I admit to hesitating for fear I was overreacting. But the pattern of escalating language was there. When someone seems determined to provoke a reaction, why deny him what he wants, eh?
As you say, it's my space and just as importantly, my time. I'm not getting paid for this, I'm doing it out of interest. If someone's going to get silly enough to take the joy right out of it, let him go start his own blog so I can ignore it.