Critical Mess, the anonymous OS user (who likely also writes under another handle on this site) has grown quite popular over the past few months with his/her "Daily Scrawl" blog.

For those who haven't read it, CM touts it as "the people's choice"--an alternative to the Editor's Pick system.

It works like this: CM thinks the editors do a lousy job, so he/she rounds up the "gems" that get passed over for Editor's Picks.  People read the Daily Scrawl and appreciate the links to others' blogs.  But that's not enough for CM. He/she apparently wants more influence over the OS community.

The following is a quote from the largely absurd CM post called "Daily Scrawl Open Mic: Editorial Picks,Policies,Performance," which currently hovers near the top of the "most read" and "most rated" lists.

"I find mystifying this apparent disregard of members' efforts. In the almost two months of the Scrawl's existence and over thirty posts, not a single visit or comment, appreciative or otherwise, has been made by any of The Powers That Be (TPTB). This shows either appalling discourtesy or severe insecurity."

(CM used the red font--so the emphasis is his/hers)

In the rest of that post, CM invites people to engage in a discussion about "editorial issues" (the more critical, the better), something that clearly greatly concerns him/her.  I like to criticize the editors as much as the next guy (I still find no humor in Jocelyn Testes-Harder's posts), but CM's above quote struck me as outlandish and incredibly egotistical.

CM already has a large audience and runs his/her own daily Editor's Pick alternative. Yet, CM is outraged when the actual OS editors leave him/her alone? Isn't that what you wanted in the first place, CM? You now have your (in your opinion) better form of editing. You've got your loyal audience. Yet you complain because the editors don't give you any attention. Your ridiculous outrage makes it sound like what you really want is Kerry's job.

Writing and editing the Daily Scrawl is clearly not satisfying enough for CM.

I called out CM on the above quote in the comments section of that thread. I did it with civility. And CM deleted my comment (hence, this post).

CM also deleted a second comment in which I tried to thoughtfully participate in the "People's Forum."--without criticizing CM in any way.

With a penchant for silencing criticism, CM obviously wants to be THE editor around here. That job is already taken. CM, perhaps you should start your own "best of blog" elsewhere--or better yet, you can create your own open user content forum like OS. There you can be the head boss.