Dear crybabies,
I think I need to explain a few things to you:
First, the Saker blog is the Saker‘s blog and not your blog or a public blog. So your First Amendment rights don’t apply here. Cry me a river!
Second, you are mistaken if you think you got “censored” for your views or ideas. In fact, except for clear cases of racism (this is the only “view” I “censor”) you get your comments removed for breaking/ignoring the rules of moderation and/or for petulance, whining, trying to bypass the rules, bitching about the moderators, rudeness, etc.
Third, some of you have been bitching about Saker’s censorship on other blogs and websites. Good! I encourage you to keep it up, keep whining (but only over there, don’t try that here, it won’t work). What you don’t realize is that you provide me with free advertisement and when smarter folks than you check out the blog and they often end up staying (since, unlike you, they have no problem commenting within what the rules allow). Some even tell me that they will never go back to unmoderated blogs simply because petulant trolls with a overblown sense of entitlement systematically try to “own” the comment section, which is really repugnant to intelligent people.
Today I even had one of you send me a message bitching because I intend to keep my Telegram channel “by invitation only”. Dude, open your own channel and invite the planet if you want, but don’t tell me what I get or don’t get to do on my own resources!
The truth is that I personally owe you absolutely nothing and that if/when you come to what is MY blog, you should do what every well-mannered person ought to do: accept the rules of the house or leave. Please understand than when you leave, there is no need to send me a kind of “divorce letter” which the narcissists amongst you obviously feel compelled to send me. The truth is that each time I get such an email I think “good, thank God, this one will finally leave the blog”.
[Sidebar: just a true fact FYI – those who bitch the most, either never send any donations, or send very little and then, in their “divorce letter” inform me that they will stop sending me the couple of bucks they sent. As for those who send the most, so far, not a single one of them as EVER demanded anything in exchange for that support. So each time I get one of those “divorce letters” I also have a good laugh…]
What mostly happens is this: a person discovers the blog, initially likes it, but then is shocked/hurt/angered either by me writing something which offends that person’s political sensitivities, or that person gets a comment trashed. Then one of two things happens: those on the left side of the Bell IQ curve either bitch, or double down while those on the right side quickly adapt and see that these apparently over-the-top rules are, in fact, quite reasonable and minimalistic. This is why you see articles on the Saker blog written by conservatives and liberals, Right-wingers and Left-wingers, Muslims, Christians, Marxists and atheists. The truth is that we are all a happy and quite diverse family, but that is a family in which you, the banned person, really does not belong: I think of the Saker’s moderation setup, if you wish, as a “filter” which keeps those who truly belong here inside and those who don’t, outside.
Oh, one last thing: I also get to decide which articles should have an open comment section, and which ones don’t. In the past, I rarely closed down a comment section, but since the pandemic began, I had to do that (twice iirc). Please believe me when I say that, if/when, needed, I will do that again, if only because I do not want to swamp my moderators (who already work very hard and get no gratitude!) with a first wave of stupid comments followed buy a second wave of complaints and demands.
Conclusion: “the Saker blog is a den of iniquity which censors everybody”
Absolutely true!
Every time I see this accusation on another blog, I want to post “YES! you are 100% correct”. But I don’t. Why? Because, on principle, I never post a comment on an unmoderated blog (for reasons, see above).
But now you know :-)
Cheers,
The Saker
Saker,
One of your best! Well said, brother.
Well put
I completely agree with you Saker. A perfect show of strength, wisdom and compassion.
I like your blog because of you, an exceptional analyst and communicator, and the quality of the dialogue you provoque.
Let’s keep this within the adults in the room. I am happy to have the privilege to listen. This is not the place for spoiled brats…
Right on the money, Saker!
Never realized it needed explaining. Good job explaining it again.
Please ask your off-topic question in the MFC. Thx. Mod.
Can’t be louder and clearer, I would append this letter to the Rules and keep there forever.
Lol, maybe I’m wrong to stereotype, but ticked-off Russians – and I don’t just mean the Saker – seem to be consistently quite hilarious, lol!
Makes me wish I spoke Russian….
Beautiful! Love that crybaby graphic.
Pat Lang published a similar manifesto back in March. His was a lot shorter, and not nearly as much fun to read.
Interesting.
I must admit, excellently said.
And thats why this is the best blog on the net.
Thanks.
Me bets that writing this made you feel good. :-)
Absolutely true!
cheers
Well done Amigo!
There is wide space available to discuss and challenge the views in blog. Since 2011, when I started following the blog, what I see is that those people who really want to understand, learn, discuss were always welcome. |
Trolls instead just want to break the balls. Pure stupids in C.M. Cipolla’s taxonomy.
[ http://harmful.cat-v.org/people/basic-laws-of-human-stupidity/%5D
The crying babies are those who fell so special about themselves to the point to want to dictate rules in someone else’s blog. Probably, they are used to do it in other channels… and to get the people to bend for their requests, maybe fearing to lose followers.
AHA! That is the point they got wrong about The Saker’s community: we are here not to follow anyone, but to discuss ideas and learn.
Did not you realize there is no Like/Dislike button here?
…no Visitor counting applet ?
People sign their comments as they want… or not sign at all?
Vão chorar no pé do caboclo! :D
Google translation,MOD:
They will cry at the foot of the caboclo! : D
Quick explanation about “Vá chorar no pé do caboclo!” :
“Go cry at Caboclo’s feet”. This expression that only people from Bahia know, is said to those who will ask or lament with those who do not want to hear it and will not consider it. The Caboclo (Native Indian) stands at the top of the monument to the Heroes of Independence of Bahia, in Campo Grande, center of Salvador…
https://www.salvadordabahia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Campo-Grande.-Centro.-Foto-Amanda-Oliveira-6-1024×683.jpg
Well said Saker!
Good. Since you’ve gotten rid of certain pests, The Saker is far more enjoyable.
” Cry Me a River” I love it. Keep up the good work Saker.
Thanks Saker,
the most honest piece I’ve read all day. Well said.
Saker,
you provide a needed service, free of charge. I’m grateful for the information and analyses you provide us.
thank you.
Osori
Dear Saker,
I wish to thank you for many illuminating posts in the past which have had a direct impact on my life. Nevertheless, as one who has criticized you, MoA, and recently even Unz in other fori, I wish to explain briefly what happened from my POV. There is of course the fact that posting with links is extra work, and no one wants to see the extra work disappear into nothing. The first time I said nothing, because I have a faint idea of the complications of running such a website. But what I find unacceptable, is the censoring of quality data. No rational discourse is possible after that.
This site has always been strong on ideology, but sometime, as in the case of the so-called pandemic, it does not have the means to sort things properly. I think your articles about it have been very weak. You were also trying to keep the lid on this thing but obviously people wanted to talk about it because this is what is happening right now and it is what it will have the biggest impact on the future. An eventual withdrawal from Syria, for example, depends on this much more than it depends on maneuvering on the ground.
We all flock to sites like this one to improve our chance of predicting the future. To do so sometimes we analyze the present and sometimes we analyze the past. In this particular case we need first and foremost to analyze the data. I thought I was doing good work by presenting the best data (as in, less biased) there is, and I insist that censoring data decrease our capability of predicting the future.
This said, if you think it could help I notice that one of your frequent contributors has a good technical background. Perhaps I could post some content vetted by him? Waiting a few weeks until the total mortality is declining (at least in Europe), will make the case for a media fabrication (my position) even stronger, although I think the case is clear cut now.
I second this reaction.
LOL. Good one. I’m not entitled, I’m just plain annoying. My wife says so and she is always right :)
But seriously if people want to spam, rant and spew go over to Zerohedge where you have unlimited trolls and spew away. It’s actually a fun site. The comments remind me of the old news group alt.jokes.tasteless as half the people posting are trying to be Henny Youngman in a crude, vulgar way.
Take care Saker and best wishes to your family. Stay safe.
”Please understand that when you leave, there is no need to send me a kind of ’divorce letter’ which the narcissists amongst you obviously feel compelled to send me.”
Well said! Just for the fun of it, I humbly suggest that a tiny few of these ”divorce letters” by the blog’s most atrocious contributors be published — the more outraged, the merrier!
I suspect that a significant part of these people resorts to posting as Anonymous, by the way.
Your wish is my command! This is what I got today:
——-
Frankly speaking, Saker, I am beginning to find your site somewhat silly and filled with wishful thinking/rose colored “articles”.
Ramin’s articles have become almost unreadable; but he has always been somewhat shaky.
your articles have always been rose colored wishful fantasies when it comes to russia.
so have been Pepe’s “articles” concerning BRI.
Honestly speaking, I have outgrown you, bud. Calling people ‘crybabies” is not how you win friends. I may drop by once a week for a quick check up, but your blog isnt gonna be my top priority in finding my news.
bye bye Saker, not gonna miss you much.
——-
Want another example?
How about this one:
——-
I am sick and tired to be under consideration on this thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In have treed to donate several$1000 but you have ignored my emails.
I am done with you two face Saker!
——-
I think you get the idea, right? :-)
Kind regards
The Saker
The first seems like the paid hasbara trolls. Thats how they sound. Its not just you, they troll EPL football blogs. Don’t let the lies of mercenaries get you down. If it was not for this forum and the posters within, I would have had a much more difficult time finding the facts in this current manufactured crisis.
Today was a troll-rich day, look what I got in my inbox tonight:
——-
Andrei Raevsky
Only a pathetic egoist surrounds himself with such butt licking groveling trained seals. It is the path of self destruction and eventual humiliation. I’m enjoying watch you self destruct (it’s the beginning of the cycle), it will do your soul good when later in the future you realize how much you screwed yourself by behaving like the emperor with no clothes.
You have completely skewered your credibility by betting on china and wishfully hoping for the destruction of the United States (how dishonorable, given that you live there like a parasite, try running your blog from China and see how you’ll keep your organs). Now that China is effectively finished as a serious rival to the United States, and is itself in a demographic and economic cycle of plateau, debt and decline, you feel like a fool and don’t want anyone to call you on it.
The amount of grovelling here by your conditioned sycophants should make you feel uncomfortable – if you had a conscience- but you don’t: the satanic ego has gotten the better of you. So much for your contemplation and faith.
I agree with Ezra Pound, your best was 2014-15, after that you allowed your carnal body, greed, hate and ego to get the better of your ever diminishing struggling guilt ridden soul.
——-
This is the kind of stuff which the moderators have to deal with and this is a pretty typical sample of the kind of “divorce letters” I can from these crybabies.
The most amazing thing is that they think they punish me, or anybody else, by leaving.
Tells you how narcissistic these crybabies are!
Enough for tonight I think :-)
Hugs and cheers
Saker, you really have to give that latest author cred for those 37 consecutive exclamation marks; that’s what it takes to express unrequited love — add still another two ”!” and you get the body temperature of that crybaby 😁
Well said, Saker, well said. I’ve not been too active on blog the last few weeks, we’re busy as heck, but I agree with stepping on the trolls. It is their right to express their opinion….but only in an erudite and polite manner and only if they have a constructive and informative opinion. If they don’t want to follow the rules, there’s plenty of other venues where they can vent their spleen to their heart’s content.
Mini sitrep later today, and for those who care, we are good…and our city is closed tight, and more tight in about another hour or so.
Auslander
Keep them coming, Auslander. Always enjoy your posts.
The Saker and John Micheal Greer should sit down and have a chat one day. The video would make fascinating viewing. Greer’s moderation policy was similarly blunt and effective.
Well Done, good sir.
One of the reasons I frequent this site is that it gives me hope for a better world. I don’t wish to enforce my views onto others. That does not seem reasonable.
I have my own views which sometimes align with thoughts of other commenters. When I disagree with a commenter or article, I appreciate that my ‘opinion’ can be heard on this site. That’s all it is, an opinion. However I try at all times to back up my opinion with some substance.
I have previously disagreed with Sakers opinions, as have others. However, Saker has been gracious enough to post my opinions without issue. My feeling is that if commenters stick to the rules, there should be no problems getting heard.
If you really want to experience heavy handed censorship, try the MSM.
I agree that the trolls should be dealt with quickly. I have seen blogs get swamped with lengthy, nonsensical gibberish to ruin good discussion.
My gratitude to the Saker and the Mods for keeping this blog strong.
2014-15 was the best era for The Saker blog. No ideology, all objective analysis. Once all the other writers came on amd it became a “community” the focus was lost and a lot of the articles now are just ideological missives.
Really? And what was the ideology thus promoted?
Christianity?
Islam?
Hinduism?
Marxism?
Monarchism?
Bolivarian Socialism?
Paleo-Conservatism?
Paleo-Liberalism?
Atheism?
Anti-Nazism?
Anti-Zionism?
Anti-Imperialism?
Pacifism?
National Liberation?
or…
…or maybe all of them at the same time?
or maybe I should ask you which one was *missing*?
or maybe you prefer an ideologically “pure” forum, where only ideologies which you approve of are represented?
if so, then indeed the Saker blog is not for you.
I like pluralism. REAL pluralism.
Yeah, me too, and of course just a bit of sex, women and rock&roll. ;-)
I thought these were all basically the same thing! (:-))
I have come to appreciate the value of a moderated comments section here at The Saker blog.
I see how at certain other blogs perfectly intelligent or even just nice and anodyne comments often may elicit really unpleasant responses, often from commenters who otherwise seem to have reasonable ideas and be intelligent. I guess it is called getting flamed. Why do they do this? It is such a waste of everyone’s energy and of column inches. Often these unpleasant people actually misread what one says and pick a quarrel for no good reason, spiced liberally with bullying putdowns. Often they actually misquote what one wrote, just to craft a target for a putdown (as opposed to actually debating the ideas), often expletive-loaded. It’s like they are “locked and loaded” when they arrive at the blog’s front door. These verbal bombs actually are quite upsetting.
In fact, I think a “No swearing” rule, a la Mom, is an excellent idea.
Katherine
Saker, there’s an old Americanus idiom, ‘there’s no such thing as bad press’, so being slagged off on other web sites is actually a good thing. That should increase the traffic here although that has it’s own set of problems……………hopefully a revenue bump at worst.
Cheers, M
Well said, Saker. I think it may have got you a good feeling to burst out. Frankly said, I have been lying under my table from laughter. Still, if I’m allowed, I want to highlight a sentence:
“Please believe me when I say that, if/when, needed, I will do that again, if only because I do not want to swamp my moderators (who already work very hard and get no gratitude!) with a first wave of stupid comments followed buy a second wave of complaints and demands.”
Dear moderating colleagues, I have been doing this work myself, on another site, but cannot do it anymore due to a very unregular working scheme. I want to thank you, my gratitude to you. Keep up the good work!
Cheers, Rob
“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
― George Orwell
In order for you to maintain the integrity and the order of your blog, you must continue to act as the ultimate arbiter of what is acceptable (to you) and what is not.
Personally, I recall being censored three times. I have never questioned your right to do this and never expected to get any explanation why. (There was one which I especially wish that you had posted however.)
The general quality of the comments posted here are the best among the websites that I regularly visit.
Arthur, so have I. But as they say we are guests here therefore we must accept host’s decisions. His “house” his rules.
thank you both for your understanding!
I agree. The times I’ve been censored, the moderators were doing me a favor. I am capable of making myself look silly on certain days.
Even if they were to censor something I feel passionate about, I would consider it as their judgement call to keep the blog on track and perhaps even to avoid censorship from beyond, if that seems a possibility. I like this blog very much and am grateful for being allowed to participate to the degree that I have. (Really, it is high time I found a way to donate.)
I have had a few posts censored, I think a total of one edited and two that never posted for whatever reason but – as the Saker said – this is >his< domain and I am a guest. It is my choice to accept the rules and post with whatever the results are, or not post.
Keep up the good work, I don't post often but often frequent the site to see what's new.
Excellent response and I fully support your site.
One of the best articles I’ve read! Well said.
Truth & honesty, whether it hurts or not, is always respected.
You just gained a new reader.