Blogging etiquette - We're taking con-troll

So you'll be deleting antisemitic posts then. Good.

I will be deleting posts that the JC editors deem to be antisemitic. We will not be taking advice from bloggers on what they deem to be antisemitic.

Can't you just give out detentions to the guilty few?

See you down Brisbane Road tomorrow.

Stay clear of Leyton High Street everyone.

About time already! Just lately, there've been a number of examples in which a post inspired what began as intelligent and interesting debate but then - after a few comments - descended into mud-slinging, name-calling and general childishness. I tried to just ignore it at first, but it's an unfortunate fact that once a conversation goes that way the intelligent participants tend to back away. I know that other contributors who want to use the blog feature to discuss issues in an adult manner will welcome this as much as I do.

Allowing mobbing by antisemites and by those who play fast and loose with the truth will be the kiss of death for the site.

How about limiting the amount of posts (per week per blogger)?

We just see the name names because the same people are posting ad infinitum. I think that the quality would improve if everybody was restricted to three posts per week.

Jessica,
Why is anti-semitism worse than anti-zionism?

And is not extreme ant-zionism inherently antisemitic?

JH

Take note "But the terms ‘liar’, ‘troll’ and ‘antisemite’ are being bandied about all too frequently on the blogs. And it’s time we put a stop to it."

I don't agree with the suggestion above that the number of posts be restricted, but there might be a case for restricting the number of blogs per person per week. At least, that is arguable. But so often a current news story inspires a blog, and surely restriction might impede spontaneity.
There are one or two people who appear to be on here purely in order to bait Jewish posters; I don't make this accusation lightly, and I think it is evident who they are, because they have resorted to antisemitic - and I do really mean antisemitic - sterotyping in their blogs/rejoinders.

Yvetta,
The number of blog articles that any one person can write should be restricted to about three per week. No restrictions on the number of comments.

If people want to write loads of articles per week they should set up their own blogs and see if they can attract a readership. However from what, I have read I doubt whether they will be able to.

I've just noticed Jessica's double entendre in her headline. Clever that.

Moshe, got any recommendations for a cafe that does a wicked omelette and chips near the ground seeing as you know it so well?

Jessica

All well and good but then I suggest you take a long hard look at your vetting procedures for above the line bloggers.
There are several regular bloggers who tend to tone down or mask their animus towards Israel and Jews in general when writing above the line. Their true views are often revealed in unguarded below the line comments.
I realise that a Jewish username is no guarantee of a fair and unprejudiced comment on the subject of Israel but I do wonder if some of the names are simply 'plants' in order to provide a comfort zone for the majority of your readers. In other words trolls which I promise not to use again.

These individuals would be better off blogging at CIF ,Electronic Intifada,MPAC,Lenins Tomb etc.where their comments are well received. It is as if I as a staunch supporter of Israel were to be given a regular blog spot at MPAC just by using a Muslim name.It simply would not happen.

In summary and without wishing to stifle fair criticism of some of Israels' policies ,I do suggest you take a more robust vetting policy as to who may post above the line . That is your starting point if you wish to reduce the slanging matches.

Harvey.
Most of the anti-zionist comments are repetitive and off topic.I would not delete them but I would not repond to them.

Not responding - yes, that might be the Gold-en rule!
;~)

This isn't an 'objective' group of blogs, What unites the blogs here is the name JEWISH Chronicle.
JEWISH.

I think that people who consistently post anti-Israeli comments, or try to disseminate Christian Missionary propaganda, should be banned as unfitting for this group.

The other guy's right to swing his fist around, ends where my nose begins.

We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats’ feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar
Shape without form, shade without colour,
Paralysed force, gesture without motion;
Those who have crossed
With direct eyes, to death’s other Kingdom
Remember us - if at all - not as lost
Violent souls, but only
As the hollow men
The stuffed men.

— T. S. Eliot, “The Hollow Men”

I like the posts from the anti-Zionists. Especially the likes of tomeisner, whoever he or she is. It reminds you of the prejudice at large. Viewing it stops people becoming complacent. Banning these people won't make thier views disappear. They are all over British Universities. People shouldn't want to isolate themselves from this sort of rhetoric. Posting it on the JC website is the least of people's worries.

It is best viewed as they are wasting their time when they could be posting their messages in less desirable arenas.

But i do think posts should be limited to say two a week to stop any individual clogging up the site and watering down intelligent debate and ideas.

richmillett,
I agree.

That said, I think Leeds United supporters should have special permission to blog without limits.

Rich

I would take a much firmer stance .
Antizionist or anti semitic bloggers should not be given the opportunity of submitting pieces in the first place . If I wanted to read Palestinian propoganda I can simply visit MPAC etc . As I commented earlier some of the blogs from Gold ,Eisner whoever they are would find a welcome home on those sites. The JC should not be seen as an allbeit unwitting mouthpiece for anti Israel propoganda.

I realise some of the blogs are quite subtle especially when compared to the same individuals below the line commentary .A clever ploy in order to gain and maintain access to the UKs foremost Jewish and Israel commentary.

I am not one to shout antisemitism at every criticism of Israel but it strikes me that the JC on line team may be a little naive when it comes to all the tricks used by both sides in the electronic propoganda war.

To sum up ,it is essential that premoderation is used before allowing blogs to be posted and previous below the line comments should be used as an indication as to whether a blog should be posted.

A little draconian but no different from most othe websites involved in the compexities of the I/P situation.

On a seperate note . In a post by Jenni Frazer Feb 10th ' Don't it warm the cockles , there is a surprising comment from Marian Lebor 15.58 which appears totally out of keeping with previous posts and comments. I just wonder whether this was indeed Marian or whether she had been cloned . I hope she is aware .Apologies and surprise if they are her words

Rich,
Are you saying that blogging on The JC is preferable to watching Leeds Utd play?

Harvey,
I think that one of the inherent strengths of a "zionist" site like the JC's, is its ability to tolerate anti-zionist views.

Now I know that much of this anti-zionism is not really furthering intellectual debate but on balance it has to be tolerated. I think that most of their blogs are being ignored. I, by the way, don't bother reading them as they are repetitive and boring propaganda.

BD, having just seen all the blogs from the same hand that just been posted since this afternoon , I take your point re a ration on blogs per week per poster!

Tvetta,
The JC should consider changing the format so all his/her blogs don't clog up the opening page.

I tend to agree with Rich about the anti-Zionist posts, though I appreciate Harvey's stance. I think it is instructive and useful to be reminded of the views /tactics of the anti-Israel brigade. It's where naked antisemitism enters the picture that I have a problem.
I really tend to think that where a person has shown repeated antisemitic tendencies (for instance, to give a recent example, by taunting Jewish posters with the comment - to this effect - that it is high time Jews re-entered the human race and showed mercy, and repeated comments about "bloodthirsty" Jews ) they should be banned, for why should they be allowed to get their antisemitic rocks off ot our expense. (They remind me a little of flashers!) At the same time, their comments are also revealing. So it's a dilemma.

Yvetta,
You write: "At the same time, their comments are also revealing. So it's a dilemma."

I agree with you. I am also ambivalent about banning such comments.

Jon,
I agree with you. Jessica hasn't taken con-troll.
At the moment, she is powerless. The JC need to have another meeting with their IT guys and discuss what can be done.

The other main problem about limiting bloggers to 2 or 3 posts a week is that they could just open up new blogs under different names. For all we know the anti-Zionist rants on here are all the work of just one person. How would the JC stop that? It seems an impossible task. The anti-Zionists have such weak arguments that they have to resort to sabotage.