Behold, our brave new world. It appears that ?ºber-troll D3b Fr1sch has blown another seal over at Jeff Goldstein’s place, in comments.
I’m not going to reproduce those: They’re just plain ugly – crazy ugly. That the woman needs help is clear, whether or not she needs that help in a padded room, wearing a jacket whose sleeves tie at the back is not yet so obvious.
But it’s also becoming increasingly clear that too much of our discourse in the blogosphere has moved from the vigorous and even passionate debate of ideas into fevered personal assaults and lunatic ad hominem. Part of that is no doubt due to the anonymity of the internet, and part of it is probably due to the fact that people who used to be confined to shouting at the television in their mom’s basement can now achieve self-validation for even the most extreme thinking in one or another of the online echo chambers.
Communities – even virtual ones – must have standards, and those standards ought to be policed or else they’re not communities so much as mobs. When a mob’s centrifugal force spits one of these hyper-partisan loonies out into the broader world, the asylum keeper site owner ought to own up to his responsibility.
And now I want to take this opportunity to once again thank the regulars here for being such all-around good eggs.
Even you, Zane 
Neptunus–
You should change “word” to “world” in the title, too. I mean, I think so, anyway.
I think so too, thanks
Thanks for the compliment. Someday, I hope we’ll have the chance to meet. Hell, if you’re ever in NYC let me know and my wife and I will treat you to a nice dinner. Maybe we can even squeeze in a round of golf up at West Point before that, if you’re so inclined.
If you’re ever in Mayport, give me a shout, and the wife and I will treat you (and yours, if they are with you) to some fine seafood.
And Lex, I think you’re a better writer than that other Naval Aviator, Ward Carrol. Stephen Coonts? Well…almost there;)
I’m not a “good egg”…. but I’m good at other things.
Esp. making trouble.
Lex-
We may live on opposite ends of this country, but if I ever get the chance to met you, I’d love to at least buy you a beer.
As much as I enjoy Mr. Goldstein’s site, I daresay you do a FAR better job of leading by example when it comes maintaining a civil tone. Even when you’re ripping some hapless fool a new one.
It’s your ship, CAPT Lex. Just glad to be a part of it.
Thanks, RPL – are there any good restaurants in NYC?
And thanks for your offer, too, Byron. It’d be a pleasure, and who knows? I might end up down there before too very long. There’s a thing I may have to go and do aboard JFK. Oh, and Ward – a classmate of mine – has one major advantage over your humble scribe: He’s actually published.
WK, I bet you’re good at making trouble. That’s why I’d accept that beer from AFS – her I trust not to try to take advantage of me
Jeff gives as good as he gets, Steve, and his language can be a little “grown up.” But from what I’ve seen, he generally offers anyone who wants to debate issues a fair hearing. The problems come up when his adversaries run out of facts to marshall, and start debating feelings. This earns a bit of derision, and then those feelings turn against him, and that’s when the gloves come off.
Now we might never get to see that armadillo dance.
I still shout at the T.V. and my parents are long gone…
RPL – If you ever lure Lex to NYC, can I come to dinner too?
Sorry, is this when I ought to call you a silly bastard?
Pity you’re not flying something heavy, apparently even B-2′s are visiting Darwin these days….
Oh and no, I’m not in Darwin. Pity for those guys doing 18 hour missions from Guam, a bushy field is all they get to see.
Dear Babs: Of course. I’ll even offer the coice of going out or, if you and Lex prefer, I can cook for you. My wife likes meeting people, so this would be a treat for her.
I guess you’re cleared hot, Sim. And I almost wish I was flying something heavy – it’s been that long.
Almost.
Send me an email, CAPT., and if you have the time, we’ll hook up. And the only reason why you’re not published, is because you haven’t yet submitted a manuscript;)
We do play well with others, don’t we?
It’s a reflection of our host, of course….
Sir, the pleasure is ours.
Send the email, CDR, I’ll be waiting. And I suspect the difference between you and Mr. Carrol is that he submitted drafts, and hit the lottery, and you have not…yet;)
Ack…something broke, me or Blogger…mea culpa
Lex, echoing the sentiments of others, if you ever find yourself in CT, there are some great watering holes in Hartford, Glastonbury and my fair town, Hebron. Our treat and our honor all at once.
And oh yeah, we can get rowdy here, but we try to keep it civil. Most of the time, and those times when we aren’t civil, we usually find our humble scribe at the lead.
Gad, it’s deep in here. What is this, the mutual admiration society?
AFSis, you want to buy Lex a beer? Good luck on that one–he’s only playing with you. He’s got this quaint idea that the gent always pays.
Okay, I admit it… You’ve got a great place here, sir.
Yes, FbL, you hit the nail on the head….but…
These are Neputnus Lex’s digs:
Where even the most mundane story is spectacularly recounted….
Absolutely. I love the way you put it, Curt.