Wow, drop out for a week and the whole world goes topsy-turvy. I just got the whole rundown from Paul the other night, and I have to say that on the one hand I'm incredibly shocked at some folks' vindictive behavior, and on the other hand, it's just like the Internet. While I don't discount the technical hassle of dealing with trolls (people out to start problems on a website or forum), I do wonder about the appropriate ways to deal with this. Of course, I'm not writing this to criticize anything, simply to engage the issue...

Andy Cline wrote this great essay that used to be available on his website ( ). Unfortunately, it looks like he's left that school and the document is unavailable.

I'll summarize based on an essay I wrote discussing his approach. He endorsed the Platonic (read: Socratic) approach to dealing with flames and inappropriate posts on class-based discussion groups. I think the same principles can work here. If (e:s) is a site based on building community and social interaction, then the Socratic method of questioning the offending poster could be of some use. The idea is that the group self-censures based on group desire. Rather than deleting or ignoring an inflammatory post, the poster is questioned by members of the group until they either give a legitimate explanation of their view (hard to do in cases of pure trolling) or else they will eventually recant in the face of group pressure.

I'm not saying that this approach can satisfy all situations. And there is the possibility that a more technically savvy attack could be executed against (e:s) in response to topics posted here, and then the Socratic method isn't going to be of much help. But I think it's useful to contemplate all forms of dealing with issues; not just technical restrictions, but group behaviors we could work to develop, too...

my $.02...

They're coming up -- woot! OK, Paul wanted me to post a link to Pleix (http://www.pleix.net), but then it was down when I checked it. Usually it's up, and these folks make super rad videos... Paul should check out the Futureshock video, which is a video for a song by Atmosphere. Has anyone else checked out Seven's Travels? It's good stuff...

"Ground control to Major Tom: We found a hole in your theory and we named it Shawn."

Must learn Unix better... But that's another story. I'm thinking about rebuilding a box into a media server using the ClarkConnect Linux ISO (http://www.clarkconnect.org). Anyone got any experience with this?

Man, what kind of moron could vote Sean Penn over Bill Murray?!? I think Lost in Translation was an amazing film, incredibly well-done on all parts, and Bill Murray deserved it. Did you see the look on his face just after they called Penn's name? He was crushed. You could see it from the longshots... The man did good.

I love that my affections this year were split between the cheapest film in the Awards and the most expensive. I'm very glad Peter Jackson got his due recognition, although I'm also sad that Coppola didn't get Director - sure, it's a dynasty, but how can you argue with Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation? The woman is doing good things. I guess we haven't seen the last of either of these two.

OK, back to being pissed about Bush...

happier and calmer means ignorant and repressed
honest and truthful means naive and mute

when people say that the world used to be less violent, they really mean that the world used to not view violence as a bad thing.

Tradition ain't nothing but a great song in a musical. That's it. I want little to no part in tradition. Tradition is selling your daughter for a few cows. Tradition is putting in overtime at work. Tradition is punishment over rehabilitation, gaming the system, and believing in the good old days. There were no good old days. There are no eternal truths. Tradition is violence. Tradition is war as an institution. Tradition is hazing and initiation and bitter sexual encounters. Tradition is static.

AND

Non-Participation == DEATH

If you are not participating, then just don't bother. If you don't intend to help us oust Bush in 2004 by compromising on a candidate who would at least reverse the most damaging moves of the current regime, then don't bother protesting, complaining, moaning, or whimpering.

If we do not remove Bush from office, we cannot get on with the discussion of improvements to our system that could create more desire for participation. Like proportional representation in the congress to facilitate more involvement and voice for alternative party participants. Wouldn't that be a better ammendment to make?