Two days ago comment moderators started their dismal work on Lara Whyte’s hit piece for 50.50 (a website owned by the laughingly-named Open Democracy). The moderation has become more onerous and ridiculous with every passing hour, though a number of people have remarked that they’re continuing to save the comments stream regularly (as we are).
Four days ago I commented:
I’m reported as saying “young men should be furious”, and it’s in the headline. Ms Whyte recorded our telephone discussion, so this may be accurate. Maybe we were talking about young men at the time, so this was in context. But of course men of ALL ages – not just young men – should be furious at the state’s assaults on their human rights, almost all of which are designed to privilege women and girls.
Yesterday “Omina Incedent” posted the following comment, in response to mine:
How often are men told they need to be in touch with their emotions, but not anger of course.
I replied:
Indeed. If more men got in touch with their anger – their JUSTIFIABLE anger – the MRM would make much faster progress.
He replied:
It seems my comment was removed, I don’t know why.
I replied:
Wow. The comment moderation is getting more ridiculous by the day, though we and others have said we’re copying the comments screen. Could you please repeat your comment, I’ll screen save and publish on https://j4mb.org.uk. Thanks.
He replied:
Certainly. The comment simply said:
“How often are men told they need to be in touch with their emotions, but not anger of course.”
If it was deleted for its poor punctuation then I completely understand their decision. 🙂
I took a simple screensave of the exchange, here, and will now link to this blog piece on the comments stream.
What a farce. A hit piece, then comment deletions on a scale even the Guardian would be reluctant to engage in.
“Open Democracy” my a***.