I hope I didn't offend anyone (this time), I was having trouble attracting attention to any posts not containing a flame war or what appears to me to be like a party after the battle where the opposing sides meet-up at their camps to praise their valiant efforts.

So I dropped some names in the hope of garnering some consideration on this topic.

Thank you for the compliment. They say if your writing reaches one reader you are successful. Jay, be true to your self. You, my friend, do that...

Thanks Arron and Mr. Mustard... we shall see.

The angriest or most explosive get the most attention... usually. Unless people take it upon themselves to drum up attention.

i'm flagging this post for not mentioning my name once:P

LOL... I thought about listing a lot of people... however, I thought better of it as I realized I'd have to give my opinion on knuckle-dragging neanderthals and all the other negatively charged descriptions of the people that add to the palate of OS.

And thanks nanahetay... that'll be my first flag!

That's a good line about chemicals. I love the variety of people on here. Some douchebags, some great writers, many in between.
Editors Picks are interesting. I just had one that did very well with views, etc. I didn;t expect it. I've had other pieces that I honestly expected to be EP's and they weren't. Some great pieces make the cover. Some lame stuff does too.
Great tags.

Although my goals are to be read and commented and make people think and sure... I'd like to popular. But I write what I'm feeling and that isn't always gonna make friends.

We have plenty of happy-makers on OS... I'll just be me.

And yes Roger... some stuff leaves me scratching my head and some stuff is really good... the thing I see lacking the most from EP's and covers is creative writing...

One can respond to horrible statements, or to personal attacks, in a deliberately dispassionate voice - my first husband used to call it (in its in-person manifestation) my 'snake-eyed look'. Being *cool* and *reasonable* is the best defense AND offense, I figure. Also keeps you out of trouble...

Honest, thoughtful, covered the waterfront -- good post and rated.

Very well said Jay. Rated

The key is being so unpopular that you are popular. monkey fingered.

About creative writing: I did my very best on a couple of short stories and one novel excerpt that I posted here and while I appreciate the one or two comments very much... I won't name names but they know who they were... I was disheartened and took the posts down. I could let hubris in and convince myself that everyone who read it except the one or two commenters were just JEALOUS of my fiction writing skills. Yeah, that's it! :)
You make some very good points as usual.

You know, the editors are going to do what they're going to do. I think they're sort of lazy, myself. But, then, I don't know what they are trying to achieve. I do like that they pretty much leave us alone to act out as we see fit.

You have a point about certain points of view being protected by the group and others villified. But that's true everywhere. If I have anything to say (which I haven't lately), then I'll say it. I'll wince when someone takes an unfair swipe at me, but it won't stop me from saying my peace.

I believe it is possible to make a strong argument without presenting it in an obnoxious way, but on the other hand sometimes obnoxiousness may be called for. If some asshole wants to rip me a new asshole, then let them take their best shot. As Rocky Balboa so famously remarked to Apollo Creed after the 14th round: "I'm standing here..."

Well said Myriad.

Thanks Emma, Brie.

Interesting BBE.

Brenda, the things I worked the hardest on have garnered the least interest. It's a bit dis-heartening, yes.

And yes Rich, there are times emotions dictate or wrongly dictate, verbal spewing.

I am of the mind to think we all could, and many do, practice forms of censorship just by choosing the words to get our messages across. Self censorship is admirable, it is just to what degree we differ.

We have a choice read, or not. It's pretty easy. Comments...well this is like coming to my house, and I hope you have manners. Civility takes some thought, and that alone diffuses.

Our tags are often more revealing than the post.

Rated.

Thanks Buffy... yes my tags are revealing.

When I first entered OS last fall I had no idea that I would be joining a community. I did learn very quickly that in order to attract any level of readership it was helpful to comment on other's posts. I didn't realize there were any "rules" other than the TOS.

Over the months a small number of bloggers have attempted to police others' behavior here. I am not certain who deputized them, and I find it to be mostly self-serving on their part. They rarely agree when their behavior is called out, and some just lash out at the commenter. And then there are the wackos and nutjobs/trolls that lurk around periodically. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why people get all wired up over these provocateurs. If you saw them in the street you would look away and walk around them.

And you have insulted my tribe - KDN - the Knuckle-Dragging Neanderethals.

grif... I'm in the KDN tribe just over the hill. Look, that's my smoke signal... damn, started myself on fire again... gotta go. Hot, HOt, HOT...

Damn, you guys have fire? Way more advanced than here.

Thanks Padraig.

I hope I was clear about my inspiration: I was frustrated (yes, like a little kid) that I was posting into the vapors and when I looked around OS I found everyone commenting and arguing and warring all around me.

All the energy of OS was sucked into the blackhole of finger pointing and no one posting anything not relating to said arguing was getting any reads or comments.

It just seemed like a waste of all of our time who were not in the fray. Further, many of those in the fray chastise people for provocative headlines or swearing or doing whatever we have to get reads. Which is what they were all doing... it just seemed like kindergarten.

And yes, I did want to get some comments... So, I thought I'd see if I could present an argument against arguing.

I've been pre-occupied for the past month and missed this in a comment thread, so thanks for posting it. The blog is well-suited for dialogue, but to be used this way, it requires a thoughtful post (whatever else it might also be), and comments that engage the thought. That rarely comes together.

I'm still trying to figure out what to write on/for OS, but one rule has emerged over the months: whatever won't suit another form. Geez, I'd never post novel chapters here (forgot which comment mentioned that). ::shudder::

It depends on what you're trying to achieve.

I write to get reactions, for that I'm grateful to OS. I also like to see what and how others write.

At times I felt as though I was the only one thinking some thoughts... and here I found others that think the same. Also, it's been very enlightening to see those that don't think like me.

In case you didn't return to my post to see my response to your comment, I have copied and pasted it here:

"Jay: I'm not offended at all. I think you missed a slight nuance to my post. The name calling that comes from people in comments when they don't agree does nothing to elevate the discourse or reach a place where people agree to disagree. It simply escalates emotions and causes people to react to their emotions instead of using their intellect and writing talent. I stay away from these kinds of exchanges for that reason. My prerogative and choice. When I see people writing blatant lies that cannot be substantiated with facts, I feel a sense of responsibility to call the liar out. But picking four letter words or names is not nearly as effective (in my mind) as poking holes in the story. Blatant racism, bigotry, homophobia, anti-semitism and the like, will always get my attention. Always."

I'd simply like to add that I am not asking for people to write about the same things or in the same writing style. I love the variety here. What I am hoping for or seeking here, as in real life, is respectful behavior between people. I would not call that censorship at all. But maybe, I'm mistaken?

I don't think asking civility is censorship. Trying to think like the cool kids or writing to avoid being smacked by the cool kids does cause people to not post things that might be controversial, yet good and invite a verbal thrashing by the more popular group.

That is a subtle form of censorship.

Are you implying that I am doing that? Because, quite frankly, I write whatever I feel like and read whatever I feel like reading. And if I feel like commenting I do, if not, I don't. I think everyone does, so I'm not sure I understand your point.

Us pseudo-intellectual court jesters have to stick together.

I agree we all do to a certain extent. There are those that use this duplicity as a weapon. Nice on their blog and mean when they comment.

You have proven yourself to be very generous and thoughtful. Even you couldn't resist calling the holocaust denier names (eloquently).

What I have witnessed is the flogging of lesser known people for the same offenses that better known people claim the right to do.

I'm actually sorry it was your post that spawned this, as there are far better examples.

Comments can drive new people to your blog. Some people have attained a level of readership that they just don't give shit what they say in their comments, they still have loyal friends that will defend their right to be as big of an ass they choose, all while crying foul when someone does unto them what they do unto others.

Again, I wish this had been brought up on a different blog.

Anyway, my point is sometimes the police do bad things but don't get called out for it because they have the power.

I think we're all a mix. We can choose what we want to be.

-Thanks Blackflon

Oh, and I stand by the right to say what you think. We can all choose to ignore it or debate it or lash out...

Lastly, as I must trudge off to work, there are people here that consider OS the last stop for their writing... an EP or Cover is the highest honor. Granted, it's be cool.

But I view OS as a workshop, I practice and try out different styles and subject matter. Writing has flopped as a topic several times. Nice can work but is trumped by angry provocative posts.

I have been trying to faithfully do the reddit and digg thing for others. Yet I find myself wondering if the outside internet is going think we're a bunch loons for putting some of this pointless drivel out for the masses.

Most disappointing, a lot pointless drivel receives the most points. So I'm left to consider the audience and what they want.

Bill O'Reilly isn't on the air because no one watches/believes him. So if one wanted to they could garner a huge audience by giving the people what they want.

In any case, we wonder why people do such atrocious things and appear to be so stupid. It's always the other guy that's stupid, we rarely look in the mirror.

I certainly include myself in this group...I'm going to the mirror right now.

wow, a year ago.
sigh...