Comments on: Comments at the Episcopal Cafe

By: bls

bls — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:37:52 +0000

Following up on a previous comment, I think all of us have moments of disagreement with what others say here; I think we all have ideas and thoughts that are “outside the acceptable range” - and we all keep them to ourselves.

Which says, I’d think, that the “acceptable range” here is defined precisely BY “civility”; that’s why it’s a good place to be. So, thanks for that, Derek.

By: Derek

Derek — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:17:58 +0000

Derek (post 17), I don’t read T19 very often but I’ve definitely seen comments on T19 removed, particularly when things get nasty and someone posts something that crosses a line. One post where that happened *began* with a comment about the poster wanting to wipe his rear end with the NRSV, so I can understand why one of his comments got axed. Interestingly, the reason for deletion (I’m speculating) involved profanity or sheer vileness of language–not theological view, as the poster seemed quite conservative (and was quite upset to have been censored!).

Nevertheless, if more liberal voices drop out fairly quickly under the sheer volume of hostile responses, and no one speaks up or does anything about it, isn’t that a form of corporate censorship? Ditto in the other direction.

As several people have already mentioned, one of the reasons I like this blog is the level of civility and openmindedness that I’ve seen among all the people who post here.

By: Anastasia

Anastasia — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:35:24 +0000

I mean they don’t always fall within the acceptable range. sorry.

By: Anastasia

Anastasia — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:34:24 +0000

No, Fr. Jake’s is not better.

my experience is that things stay pretty civil as long as everyone stays within a certain range of positions. there can be some disagreement and debate but it takes place within an agreed upon framework (the “house” as it were). at T19 or standfirm or any of the right leaning blogs, calling attention to sexist language is outside of that range and I’m not at all surprised you were met with hostility.

I don’t comment on that many of your posts, derek, especially when they’re on liturgical issues because I either agree with you or I’m neutral on the issue. It’s usually the former. I usually agree. In any case, I don’t feel like I have anything much to add.

If I do happen to disagree with you on something, well…my ideas always falls within the acceptable range here, so I keep it to myself.

By: Fr Chris

Fr Chris — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:07:52 +0000

Not to get too culture-warry or uncharitable, but my experiences on T19 agree with Rev Dr Mom’s. I remember responding to a thread about two “policemen” who were married — in fact it was a female police officer and a male one. My folks encountered ridiculous sexism from “firemen” when my mother joined the volunteers, so I’m sensitive about sexist language of that sort. I brought it up and was attacked not only by the commenters, but by Canon Harmon himself.

Not a nice place.

(Not that Fr Jake’s is much better, on the left. YF and I have talked about that in the past — I don’t read it anymore because of the tone there.)

By: Rev Dr Mom

Rev Dr Mom — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 02:18:40 +0000

But T19’s constituency is for the most part a bunch of malcontents, and the most comments come on posts where they can tear down TEC or +KJS or popular culture or feminism. To Kendall+’s credit he posts a lot of thoughtful news pieces, but they get far fewer comments. Also to his credit he tries to monitor the nastiness, but it does get ugly over there (but not as ugly as it does at Stand Firm).

I think Fr. Chris’ reasons fit with my own experience…something serious is far less likely to get comments than something frivolous or trivial. I read the Cafe every day but I only comment occasionally myself.

By: Derek the Ænglican

Derek the Ænglican — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:15:20 +0000

True. And it’s com-boxes can get very ugly which the Cafe’s don’t.

I think a major influence on both is allowing psuedonymity.

You are right to the degree that I think part of T19’s original purpose was to provide a place for voices of dissent and that’s not one of the Cafe’s purposes. Though, to the best of my knowledge, dissent is not suppressed there.

By: The young fogey

The young fogey — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:25:34 +0000

Good point. But its com-boxes are jumpin’. EC’s aren’t.

By: Derek the Ænglican

Derek the Ænglican — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:13:20 +0000

YF, you don’t think T19’s a house organ? I do–it’s just for a different house…

As I understanded it, Fr. Harmon was a central figure in the Network’s creation and T19 was a major organ for its growth, development, and promotion.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:48:07 +0000

I always forget my password.