Jul 11 2009
Presidential Remarks on the Banning of Dsent v1 n63
I have to watch what I say here. There are those with itchy trigger fingers banning political bloggers who criticize them, though despite my treading lightly, this post and myself could wind up following my friend Dsent down the memory hole. So first let me point out the dreadfully obvious: this comic is not a threat of violence in any way. It’s a parody of our president as if he were portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in a Quentin Tarantino movie. It’s not the slightest bit politically correct, but I haven’t given a fuck about being politically correct since I realized that political correctness is what kept me from getting laid in the early 90’s. I was terrified of being accused of sexual harassment. But anyway…
Let’s get to the real meat and potatoes of what’s going on here. A blogger was seriously mistreated by people who don’t seem to understand the first thing about what makes political bloggers tick. First, the blogging network censors one of his posts. He was complaining about how an influx of hardcore right wing religious extremists seem to have flocked to our blogging site as of late, posting some annoying and factually challenged shit. It seemed that our host’s main issue was that he called the host out by name, but they also told him that his post was offensive and that courtesy is more important than free speech. HELLO? That kind of shit might fly with mommy bloggers (though I’ve even seen some of them be far less than courteous when somebody says something they don’t like), but political blogging is a different beast altogether. So he posts about their email to him about it and *POOF* that post is gone and he’s banned not only from his blog but he can’t even leave a comment on other blogs in the network. What the fuck kind of bullshit is that?
See, here’s the deal. Dsent’s provocative nature and passion for what he believed in may have been what made him some enemies, but that’s also what made him a whole hell of a lot more interesting to read than a lot of other blogs. You can continue following him here where he is in no danger of ever being censored again.
To the unnamed blogging network who pulled this Orwellian move, your actions leave a bad taste in the mouths of many of us in the political section. I think you were rather heavy handed and probably should have just backed the fuck off. I fully expect you to disagree with this. I don’t expect you to reinstate Dsent nor would I expect him to accept reinstatement even if you put it out there to him. But I think the right thing to do would be to allow him to leave comments on other blogs. I’ve sat by and watched your attitudes toward this stuff become more and more authoritarian in the forums and I’ve kept my mouth shut because I didn’t want to lose my blog, but I cannot keep it to myself anymore. I call bullshit. The next time you see something you don’t like, try looking deeper into it, maybe even talking to a few people, and putting the situation into context. Behind the ad dollars these blogs make for you are actual people. Don’t you ever forget that.
Welcome to the thin ice buddy. In all fairness to today.com-they have been pretty fair regarding our right to express our feelings toward the mistreatment of our friend, dsent. As always, you have displayed your uncanny ability to combine levity with seriousness (sorry to hear about the 90s). I must have been PC because the 90s were a virtual feast for me. LOL. I better not let the Mrs. read this comment even though we weren’t married then.
I think your proposed compromise is a great idea although I think complete amnesty is far better, however unrealistic that may be. As far as dsent returning given the opportunity; I believe he would come back. He is a very proud man but I can attest to the fact that he will miss the daily debates as well as the friends he has made-you being one of them. Along with being proud; he is also very forgiving and understanding. These our qualities many have overlooked given his combative nature. I have been on the receiving end of a number of his assaults and have held my own (also got my ass kicked) but dsent always comes at you well armed. I believe the fact that he usually ends up on top has contributed to his demise; sad but true.
I have always found your comics to be extremely entertaining and anyone that doesn’t either lacks a sense of humor or simply doesn’t understand that they are just that-entertaining. I believe that is the underlying reason for dsent’s expulsion. Many people ignore all the good he has done and all the humanitarian views he has. I made the mistake of doing that but was man enough to apologize to him both publicly (meaning here) and privately via e-mail. I made some accusations that could only be construed as discourteous yet no one censored me. One particular punk has gone so far as to insult my wife yet he or she (it doesn’t matter because I’d still slap the piss out of whoever given the opportunity) just posted the other day. I think we both know who I’m referring to.
Jason-I will be sure to e-mail dsent to let him know about your posting. It will be much appreciated I’m sure. As I’ve said previously (as have you); this site will not be the same without him. In essence; we are all being punished by being deprived of his passionate nature and style. To those of you who may have gone crying to the principal; the political blogsphere is for those who are thick skinned. I like to think I take it as well as I dish it out, as do you Jas. If you’re not ready to accept an occasional ass kicking; you may want to post elsewhere.
Now just for the sake of ugliness I would say this is a “political blog” not a save dsent blog area - after all he is not God (he he ha ha)
@tailback - you are always trying to send someone away - what’s up with that - reality check you do not have the power LOL.
Jason - in terms of your comics, I’m just waiting…will it ever happen?
Aye, agreed with what you say Jason. Totally. All the time we put in trying to get a following here, all the while someone is making the big bux… Meanwhile have to be ever so careful to watch ones ps and qs, and the end reward for the diligence dsent expended is a canning. It ain’t right, I’m hearing you…
Oh so that’s the way you play it only keep those comments you like - well I will post mine again to see what happens.
This is a political/news blogging area, not a blog about save dsent - when the words are played back you do not want to hear them - why is that? I am just holding up the mirror to reflect back at you but just as I suspected you did not like what you saw there - hipocracy is very very ugly.
I’m left shaking my head at all of you who preach freedom of speech yet, that only includes the messages that confirm your belief. My message was there when I left but now it is gone - that is truly pitiful. I feel the coldness, in more ways than one, but I know how to turn up the heat :o}
A little bit of madness as soon as I sent the second message, my original message came back - I checked for it twice before I even wrote the second one because I could not believe it was not there - the screen did something different and then my first message appeared so if I falsely accused??? forgive my words.
@truth-I am always trying to send someone away? What the hell are you talking about? Here’s a little reality for you: censorship IS a political topic which is at the root of our speaking out regarding dsent’s expulsion.
Religion is a political topic - And God Bless The United States Of America - You would like to think it is not but like I said a lot of our laws are based on the Bible teachings. You can turn anything into politics if you try hard enough. There was another blog posted today about the Christian Republican’s… that is more real than your denials.
Censorship happens - get over it and the way some people talk, censorship should happen - obviously I am not the only one in the world who feels that way and if you had read my post earlier and faced the reality - this conversation would not even be going on because it is what it is - You can not make it different just because you want it different unless today.com decides to allow him back in.
Definition - the interrelationships between the people, groups, or organizations in a particular area of life especially insofar as they involve power and influence or conflict - Such as the politics of education.
I guess I just do not understand the obsession. Life is about choices dsent made his - it is just that simple.
@truth, I’m not sure how much you know of me as I’ve been way more focused on making music than making comics lately, but have I said anything to give you the impression that I’m so much of a douchebag that I’d censor your comment in a thread about censorship?
Also, in response to: “in terms of your comics, I’m just waiting…will it ever happen?” - Will what ever happen?
@dean - Don’t worry about me. The mid to late 90’s were a smorgasbord! Thank you, internet.
@truth-One of your more annoying attributes is making declarative statements without supporting them. Please be kind enough to cite one law that is based on Bible teachings. To even infer that contradictions in the Bible is in any way political is ludicrous. “Censorship happens-get over it.” Who the hell do you think you are? Your obsession with “keeping it real” is another little bothersome quirk of yours. You must think very high of yourself to make comments such as “if you had read my post earlier-and faced the reality (again with the reality)-this conversation would not even be going on because it is what it is.” LOL. Apparently you have deemed your baseless comments as the final word. I have found that people who rely on that ridiculous adage “it is what it is” use it because they are unable to support their argument with anything of substance and you certainly are further evidence of that. I think you really need to get over yourself. I recall you saying that you “counseled” dsent on his approach. I found it to be rather funny then and even funnier now. Did you honestly think that a person of dsent’s intellect was going to listen to a single word out of your mouth. I went through your archives and found the large majority of your postings to be baseless-completely devoid of supporting sources. Now I know why: You believe that your word is final. News flash-you’re not that bright! Can you feel the coldness now? Reply if you’d like but I have found that arguing with people who think so highly of themselves to be an exercise in futility. Ergo: I won’t be checking back. BTW-You never even answered my original question which just supports my argument that you really don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Just keeping it real sister!
@tailback thou shall not kill is one that immediately comes to mind but there is a Biblical explanation on debt as well - thou shall not steal is another - read the Bible for yourself why should I have to do your reseach for you - I know what’s in there. Thou shalt not bear false witness (lie)
the proof is in the law as well as the phrase “politically correct/incorrect” - and censorship does happen why do you have a problem with me saying it - I’m beginning to wonder about you!!! In that article I referred you to were discussions on censorship both here and abroad - it is what it is - I don’t live in denial but see things for what they are regardless to the way I want them to be.
I know what I know because I have taken the time to research on my own and I have not simply followed what other have interpreted to be true.
You talk about me twisting words I said I tried to tell desent - which I did I did not “counsel him” - I told him my opinion of trying to change the rules in someone else’s space. I did not counsel him into changing what he was doing.
What was your original question - you have been on a mission to discredit me with your rants rather than to do the research for yourself you want prove - do your own research - like I said I know what I know because I’ve done my research - I’m not attempting to prove anything just give a different point of view on things I see in the world.
@truth - I realize you’re wrapped up in blog drama with tailback, but would you mind doing me the courtesy of answering the question I asked 3 comments up? Thanks.
@truth2u-Great examples-we certainly needed the Bible to help us determine that murder should be outlawed. How do you explain cultures and societies who have outlawed murder and stealing without any attention to the Bible? Hummmm-I got it-COMMON SENSE! Now try answering Jason’s question without lying or contradicting yourself-if possible.
Truth2u I enjoyed your post on racism. I would like to know why your biblical writers didn’t include anything to protect the children in their shitty ten commandments. I will tell you why because MOSES wrote them and gave God credit for them. the true supreme being is not or could not be that damn stupid! Try looking out the window and you will see the truth the truth comes in a universal language that all can understand not just a select few that happen to be born in North America after the Christians came over and killed the Indian men and raped the women and forced the children to accept their book. Sound familiar? The Spanish inquisition was especially troubling and then you people continue to broadcast this bullshit. If Jesus is alive where the fuck is he? Don’t say with the father because that shit don’t fly with me if he physically raised from the dead WHERE THE FUCK IS HE? Damn right dead like all the rest of us will be. Even Jefferson said that the Jesus myth would end up like the mythology of Zeus and Osiris. Unfortunately he gave the people to much credit it takes much longer than he thought for people to evolve beyond the thinking of a cave man. So simple even a cave man could figure it out. Yea right! Just shows you how stupid the majority of this country really is or was for a long time. I think the tide is turning but when someone gets banned for statements against religion then it makes me wonder.
D-diddleyightful comic Jason,
Interesting debate. When religion finds its way into politics the nature of politics is changed, politics involves compromise. Religion is about submission to authority. The interpretation of what is “gods will” is where the authority “LIE”s. And since it is “gods” will there is no more compromise, people wind up shooting doctors, strapping bombs on their chest or flying planes into buildings. People who think they know ‘gods will’ can be dangerous to others.
Since nothing could be more personal than a consept of god, no one has the same god. When men use politics to control other men, religion is quite utilitarian to the state, but when citizens use politics to build more harmonious societys religion is most destructive. There was time when religion had great utility it is an evolutionary development in consciousness that helped to insure our survival. A sort of mental software on which to run our program for socialization. But we can outgrow software and re-write programs in consciousness to better serve our growing needs. Just as we have built in software that tells us to dodge a flying rock we can overwrite that program and learn to catch.
R.Dawkins and D. Dennett have written much about meme of religion and how it effects society they are always a good read. “The Mind Virus” an essay by Scott Bidstrup is also very instructive. http://www.bidstrup.com/virus.htm
Maybe we can outgrow our collective desire to join gangs claiming god supports their aggenda… Maybe.