In the last four days I have been inundated by number of time-consuming and deliberately vexing comments (bordering on the trollish) from right-wing blogggers and so, once I can work out how to do it, I am going to close down comments for a while.
This is a matter of some regret to me since I have firmly believed that, even with the most bone-headed conservative, it is always possible to find a way of holding a conversation. I have always believed that, if only the manner of engagement could be got right, that that conversation could be had. I still believe it, but I am now more cautious about engagement. Today I have responded to 15 comments, but have not published them. Yesterday, I responded to 20 comments and on Friday I responded to 40 comments. The comments were spread all over my blog - attached to any number of differently themed posts and infuriatingly oblique, glib or down-right offensive.
Part of me is thrilled, of course, to feel under attack - gosh they think I'm important enough... but I don't really think that vision of me as martyr here is sustainable.
I think what has happened is that a few conservative mates from literature lovey redneckville got together and decided to waste my time.
Fine, but it stops here and now.
I wonder what they hoped to achieve by this? What precisely is it about my blog that they find so objectionable. If only I knew, I would do it more...
I know that some of these are the theory-hating me-creatures that stalk the dark and dismal edges of the blogosphere; knowing it and experiencing it are two different things...
I look forward to the time again when I can just write and get feedback from readers who really read...
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