It seems that last week Peoria Pundit had an incident which brought about the dreaded deleting of a post. It then led to the banning of a certain bloggist and the removal of his link. Since we still live in a free and open society, one which allows the exchange of ideas and comments, can have its good points and bad. Bill Dennis of Peoria Pundit is well within his rights to decide what is allowed or disallowed on his own blog, and I respect the right that Bill has exercised. I too have had to censure and remove some postings from a person that feels lewd and rude language is the way to present a point, well really not a point, it seemed rather to engage in childish insults.
The post in question seems to have started harmless in its nature over at the Peoria Pundit, but soon disintegrated into sharp exchanges between a few of the regular posters. While it wasn't a Red vs Blue state exchange, it did involve those that think on opposite sides of the street. While I didn't see the post in question that drove Bill's ire into play, and created the possible question of libel, I do know it was the typical exchange of why one won't allow comments and others do allow comments and the suggestion of our banned blogger being a small child (which the comments themselves smell of immature actions). Since the non-comment allowing blogger is also within his right to not take comments publicly, he is also within his right to post on others blogs that do allow comments. To say since he doesn't allow commenting means he shouldn't comment on their sites, is a pretty weak argument. If we live with that ideology, then I guess unless you run a blog, you shouldn't post a comment on another's blog.
Since I do feel Bill can ban, delete or unlink from anyone he wishes, even if it was for the fact that he doesn't like their screen name, I do feel that the matter that created this incident should have been more evenly handled. All parties that decided to exchange barbs, continue the exchanges should have received the same penalty that our banned blogger received. I also hope that Bill will reconsider the ban, and let the blogger return. I rather enjoy his comments as well as the "typical liberal" posters. Diversity is what makes the whole blogging world so fun, interesting and irritating all at the same time.
Cruise Control
No Agenda, Just A Thought…
