Well, actually that is open for debate, but the point I want to make is that I feel about my blog the same way I do about my house. I see OS as a virtual neighborhood (most of the time a marvelous one), and my blog here is my house. Just as in real life, sometimes it is neglected, and it is not the biggest or best blog on the block, but I am happy enough with it, and grateful to be here.
I see the comments section of OS kind of like a conversation taking place on the porch of my house. Everyone can see it, and people walking by are welcome to join in. So far I have not had any trouble on my virtual porch, but I haven't started any controversial discussions there either. I believe that just as in real life, if someone picks a fight on my blog's "porch", I should have the right to kick them off - permanently if I so desire. I don't let assholes like the guy down the street who screams at his kids on my real life porch. Why should I be expected to suffer abuse on my virtual porch?
As for the PM function - that is comparable to inviting someone into my house for a private conversation. Or giving them my cell number and chatting with them on the phone. In the real world, I can choose who I take calls from and I can lock my doors. Unfortunately, on OS I can't do that. I have no way of locking anyone out. I can call the police - the editors - but just as in real life, there is a limit to what they can do. I believe many calls to the cops/editors could be avoided if I could just lock my doors here.
Okay, I feel better. Maybe I can actually concentrate on my studying now that I have this off my chest. I hate to post and run, but I must go. The conversation can continue on the porch until I get back this afternoon.
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I think of my blog in the same way. I do like the description you give of the comment line like a converstation. I do too.
He sits on the porch in a interview.
He's a brewmaster, poet, musician,
guitar maker, artist extraordinaire.
He saves seed, and agrarian stories.
He's pictured on the front porch playing the slide guitar, and consuming great quantities of Lake Erie Walleyes, a mythical
fish.
The fish (mythical) is cooked to perfection by Freda Miller. He invest Not in stocks and bonds, but in fruit trees, and sticks and bones ~ stories. The portfolio he maintains is a collective of old
farming memories.
A beautiful review.
by Lynn Miller, (?).
Maybe it's googled?
I thought of her, and
loved what you wrote.
A work of continuance.
'Um sitting on the porch.
How would that work exactly, people post their blogs, allow fan mail, but block anyone who disagrees with them? The internet standard is to report abuse so the moderator can be warned. With Myspace blocking is more about spam which is nonexistent in blog comments here.
Suzyishere - thank you for your kind words. Love the hat;) Hope to be around when you drop by next time. Or maybe I'll step over to your place for a spell.
Token Tarheel - howdy! And come on back now, ya hear?
Lea - you know I have several great chairs on my porch - you are welcome to settle in any time. I would love to hear some of the steamier details of your Antarctic adventure!
Arthur James - what a delight to find such fine verse waiting for me. I love the poem/review by Lynn Miller, and yours as well. I don't get enough poetry in my life, and that's my own fault. Thanks for sharing and think I will google Paul Hunter's book shortly. Sounds like something I would enjoy.
Laurel - we can scoot over - there are plenty of chairs, and school is going all right - thank you for asking. Much of the time I am feeling completely overwhelmed by the vast amount of information thrown at me each day, but I decided I will just keep showing up until I either graduate or someone tells me to go home.
1_irritated mother - (what a great name) - I love my porch too. Both of them actually. It's been far too cold to hang out on the real one, though, so here I sit. Make yourself at home, too.
Sandra - thanks for the vote of support. I think that feature would prevent a world of trouble.
Laurel, I will try to find some Nyquil. Very sorry to hear your sinuses are bothering you. Regarding anatomy - one of the little know facts about me is that I work part-time at the moment doing dissection in our school's anatomy lab. I got to see the sinus cavities up close last semester when I was allowed to use the bone saw for the first time. Maybe I'll post about my job sometime.
When they "improved" the PM system, they also screwed up the drop down list of the file folders we make, so now nothing is in alphabetical order, and you still can't remove, change, edit or rename a folder. How hard can doing that be????
I share your need and add my massive frustration with the tech side of OS.
Monte
Life use to be so hard
Now everything is easy
'Cause of you"
Would greatly entertain us porch sitters.
*produces some fresh shortbread and offers them to all on the porch. enjoy!
Cap'n Parrothead - I like the way you think - maybe needles in the eye could be an option on Extreme OS.
Shiral - shortbread? Mmmmm I love shortbread. And thank you for the lovely compliments. The place needs a bit of work - I am going to be putting in some bright red geraniums as soon as things warm up.