Good morning. Apologies for not being with the late night browsers yesterday night but after a day of work I was absolutely knackered. Seems like I missed a bit of a kerfuffle as the latest blogger on the scene made a quick provocative appearance to announce that the blog that resembles a Manuel Cuschieri programme in writing is now accepting comments that are in disagreement with the main line. It will be difficult not to be labelled an elf if you do but if you wish to try your luck to engage in the yelling game going on in that quarter (where you can either yell against the wind, applaud loudly or be an elf or robot according to your tendency…) go ahead… it’s all happening elsewhere.
Sandro Vella the ever Vigilant of the Non-Invigilators came up with some slick geek-analysis about the posters on that particular blog. It’s a pity(and I say this with good intention Sandro) that he might lose some of us along the way with his manner of explaining the technical details which leaves a lot of gaps to be filled by the reader. But let me explain some implications of what Sandro said, I am sure he will correct me if I am wrong. Basically many of the hand-clappers on the Blue-Manuel Blog turn out to have the same IP address but different names. That could normally indicate that they are one and the same person or a group of persons commenting from the same place. There is a more complicated explanation regarding You Tube the significance of which I have not yet grasped but judging by the levels of Sandro’s excitement it must mean something big (at least to Sandro).
Having said all that I would add in David style – nothing new under the sun. I’ve seen pro-Labour comments on this blog with the poster IP address remaining the same but the nickname changed conveniently. Same applies for pro-PN comments. It’s part of the game isn’t it? As long as the duality goes on it becomes part of the daily goings on in an election (and for some time before). Elves and robots. And now, thanks to Daphne we also have the “bitches”, the “prick-teasers”, the potential “objects of hate” … shall I continue? As I said, nothing new. In the words of a slogan of a famous software company: Elections…”if it’s in the game… it’s in the game”. Common good? Hardly. Common stupid more like it.
In the meantime, in case you were wondering – and I regret to have been forced back on the subject but I promise this is the last time – I chose to stop debating with Daphne because no matter how many times I have tried (the last being the Open Letter) I have not got straight answers or an approach to a normal discussion. Answers are normally full of sweeping generalisations, unasked-for psychological assessments and assumptions of intent that border on the ridiculous. Daphne has gone on record that this election has sadly, forced her to reevaluate her opinion about some people. Hear, hear. I too have to note that, sadly, her entry into the arena of interactive media has exposed a very very unpalatable side of her approach. It was easy to keep it moderate (or acceptable) in twenty years of column writing, but she has shown that once faced with open debate some spark just goes off and we get the Sliema equivalent of the monti-shopping ever-yelling housewife or gold encrusted partitarju.
Daphne too has proven that she forms an integral part of old style politics and consciously or unconsciously will fight tooth and nail for its presevation. Good luck to you Daphne – as you say, we’ll have to agree to disagree on that one (and quite a big one that is). I wish that readers on this blog would stop falling so easily for the taunts she rapidly dispenses on her late night blitzes In case some of you out there still give weight to the words of what they seem to consider some kind of oracle here’s a quote from the horse’s mouth:
“You’re like a clutch of classroom bitches. In case you haven’t noticed, there’s an election campaign on, and people are not interested in reading your views about a newspaper columnist.“
– her words not mine (incidentally confirming my claim that most times it’s schoolground talk) of course… I’m busy being Bitch Number One – a sort of Primabitch. I wonder if comments using the word “BITCH” are censored elsewhere?
Censorship is happening elsewhere. It is in a covert form, one that makes accusers sound like those eejit “conspiracy theorists”. First the di-ve.com newsroom was silenced. Now we have the streaming media section going through “maintenance” three days before the election. No Sant vs Gonzi debate for us expats… we’ll have to rely on unbiased reporting in the Times I guess. Speaking of which The Times couold be about to be winning particular Brownie “Muffled Censorship” Points with this blog… more to come later this week. While a potential Minister can flaunt simple press rules and become a journalist for a day, real journalism is being eroded by the hour.
Illustration: “The Golden Age of Censorship”, Paul Hoffman (Black Swan Publishers, 2008)
ADDENDUM: This comment was posted on the Blog Post entitled “Engaged” after this current post “Uncensored” had been posted:
Daphne: Carry on without me, folks – you obviously think I’m the hot topic in this electoral campaign. Bore on. If you want to know what I have to say from now on, just visit http://www.daphnecaruanagalizia.com.
Never, in the history of Maltese politics has an “if” been so pertinent, so understated and so incredibly laden with meaning. Up to you then.
j'accuse 
As the prime target of her 2am blitz, I have to say it took me a few minutes to realize (I was sleepy) that fundumantally all she wanted to do was paste a link to her website. That would have looked spammy, so she launched an attack on the undersigned for no reason whatsoever. For all I know it was her son posting comments/adverts in her name.
Jacques, you have not got elaborate answers from me because I have made it amply clear that I am not the sort of person who wastes time discussing how many angels can dance on a pin-head. This is mainly due to the fact that (1) I am not on a salary and so, for me, time is money and (2) I am of a practical frame of mind.
You know what I think; I know what you think; end of story.
I’m not a big one for hanging around discussing the details while life moves on. I don’t see it as a form of entertainment, as you and others on this blog seem to do. If I want entertainment, I’ll watch Eastenders, not read endless navel-gazing posts.
You forgot to advertise your new website.
Oh, nevermind you did it 4 minutes ago here: https://jaccuse.wordpress.com/2008/02/29/engaged/#comment-8686
Good Morning,
Like many other net users, your blog obviously also attracted my attention, because it was made public. I don’t follow it closely but I do like to read the main article. I think I should know something about IP addresses since I have been seeing quite a few for the past four years. First of all, passing comments about members’ IP addresses is rather bad netiquette. Secondly, depending from where members are posting, your ip address could yes be the same. For example, users being MITTS tend to all be sharing the same. Some IP addresses change around. One day you find one user using it, the next day another. Naturally, you will find the multi-nicks and Sandro, you should know all about multi-nicks right? But the point, is it ethical for an administrator to point out..hey you… why are you using another nick, aren’t you usually so and so. Unless they break your rules and the rules are yours to make, they can. It might seem unfair to other users who think that they are now talking to someone else but that is something on their conscious and not yours.
Regarding the censorship. I’ve learnt that moderating is not easy but in time, you improve. Sometimes you make mistakes but you learn. Yet ultimately if you decide to post or comment, you have to respect rules. You are a guest. Here I am a guest. Jacques makes the rules. On her webpage Daphne makes the rules. On Sandro’s webpage, he makes the rules. You might disagree but you have to learn to respect them.
Just received an email from a Brit here in the EU parl. It’s a true-story joke – and it ends up with David Friggieri’s quote, which is its focus (and links to j’accuse):
“a motley crew of morons with an IQ hovering somewhere between 15 and 25. How else could such people vote for such a hopeless party, such an incompetent leader, such a pathetic deputat mexxej and so vulgar a secretary general? Indeed, how the hell?”
This description of Labour supporters is doing the rounds not because it’s smart, but because of its high grade prejudice.
Who do you think you are Friggieri?
Who do you think you are tal-PN?
All the old horrid stories my “Stricklandjan” grandfather used to tell me about the PN are essentially comparable today – PN NEVER change even if its voters do. You are a pitiful crowd. I never liked Sant, but hell, do I want to see him win! This intellectual fascism bugs me. Malta has 300,000 voters and they are not ALL PN fans. Try living with that fact.
(The leader of the PN “motley crew” is of course Daphne. Friggieri just imitates, hoping to emulate.)
The True story is here: http://confessionsofanatheist.blogspot.com/2008/03/true-story.html
“Naturally, you will find the multi-nicks and Sandro, you should know all about multi-nicks right?”
Wrong and out of point.
Why should I hide myself after a nick name vis a vis all my opinion’s exposure?
I challenge you Vamp to publish my multi-nick names. Harabank was just my short-term nick name and everybody knew that it was me.
Have a nice day.
So much for being ‘il-Partit tad-DemoKRISTJANI eh.
“First of all, passing comments about members’ IP addresses is rather bad netiquette.”
Ok, you are right here. I was not clear. I meant IP addresses as a paraventu of DNA. Metaphor.
Vamp,
you know how much I value your opinions, and I am not being sarcastic here, but will all due respect: you have learnt nothing about moderation.
I hope Jacques learnt something.
Moderating is escaping from reality.
Sandro, you sound just like Daphne, an attention-seeking junkie.
“There is a more complicated explanation regarding You Tube the significance of which I have not yet grasped but judging by the levels of Sandro’s excitement it must mean something big (at least to Sandro).”
Let me explain in few sentences.
1. I upload a Sandro Vella YouTube. For at least 20 – 24 hours, only the uploader will know the direct link. Yes, he may send it to others by e-mail. Afterwards the direct link will be exposed after searching for intended keywords such as “Sandro Vella Norman Lowell Charlon Gouder”.
2. By coincidence all fresh YouTubes are ending on the seven days’ blog. And by coincidence, all the YouTube uploaders joined the YouTube community just one day after the opening of that blog and are registered from foreign countries such as Germany.
That’s all Jacques.
Why is it out of point Sandro? Aren’t you the administrator of a website as well? That means you know all about multi-nicks because you can see them just as anyone can see them, it’s referring to them at all that is wrong. And you actually did refer to them in fact. Why should anyone point out that people have similar IP’s? Why should you want to install doubt in people’s minds during an online discussion. Metaphor or not, it isn’t right. An administrator has a certain amount of responsibility and IP addresses are part of that responsibility.
Now whatever gave you the impression that I thought you were hiding behind some other nick I really do not know 🙂 why so defensive Sandro? Anyway.. here you and I are guests. You want to discuss something that might have or might have not occured on another website, this is not the place for it.
“Sandro, you sound just like Daphne, an attention-seeking junkie.”
So what? Shall I be ashamed of myself cutting the “sound just like Daphne” part?
keb, perhaps you should read the whole post here: https://jaccuse.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/status-quo/
it goes on to say:
‘Well, we’re not Martians and we happen to know flesh and blood MLP supporters from the proverbial « all walks of life ». And here’s the catch. Quite a number of them are intelligent, decent human beings with hopes, aspirations and personal ambitions. Some even have ideas on how Malta can be turned into a better place. They’re businessmen and students, lawyers and journalists, musicians, housewives and civil servants. Given that Sant’s party is depicted by some ‘independent’ journalists as something of an abomination, it is even more surprising to find several ‘educators’ (teachers, university lecturers and the like) among Sant’s voters. Hell, you even have three gentlemen who’re happily navigating the corridors of the European Parliament on Labour’s behalf, sipping champagne with the great and the good of European politics and scoffing caviar in the presence of stylish women. Are all these people delusional psychopaths? Are they all fools? Are they all vindictive maniacs with chips on their shoulders?
Far from it.’
Sandro referring to your 11.10am post (sorry I haven’t grasped the quoting method in here)
You said that I learnt nothing about moderation and that it’s an escape from reality. I respect your opinion and naturally I totally disagree. Moderation is about safeguarding what you are trying to create be it a blog/forum/website as well as protecting the others who think that just because it is only words that are being seen that they are protected from the law. That they can just sit down and say whatever takes their fancy simply because no one is facing you can can slap you right in the face. No Sandro, you cannot just enter and write what you want. There is a line that you cannot cross and the reason why you think I learnt nothing is because you keep crossing that line and till now everything has worked out fine.
I’ve amended the post; I took the part of the post because it highlights brilliantly the perceptions many have of MLP supporters. I amended the post which now includes the paragraph above.
I’m sorry for any misunderstanding.
Sandro: thank you for the explanation re: Youtube. I think we can get back to talking politics now.
Vamp: I appreciate yur intervention and make careful note about mention of IPs and nicks. I would like to know what difference there is between uncovering the agenda of so-called “elves” in the papers (false names used by people to send letters) and multi-nicks and IP issues in this particular context and if you have any answers I would be glad to listen.
Yes Justin BB, I have been told.
Yet he did give that description as a “fact” then went on to moderate that view by disparaging the Labour MEPs.
It wasn’t as if he’s quoting what the Nats say and rebutting it.
“Why is it out of point Sandro? Aren’t you the administrator of a website as well? That means you know all about multi-nicks because you can see them just as anyone can see them, it’s referring to them at all that is wrong.”
Ok, I did not understand you. Now I did.
“And you actually did refer to them in fact. Why should anyone point out that people have similar IP’s? Why should you want to install doubt in people’s minds during an online discussion. Metaphor or not, it isn’t right.”
I mentioned InSite people and non-InSite people through my list. People who really exist. I did not install any doubt. You should have done your research well.
If metaphors are not right, blame Virgilio not me.
“Now whatever gave you the impression that I thought you were hiding behind some other nick I really do not know 🙂 why so defensive Sandro? Anyway.. here you and I are guests. You want to discuss something that might have or might have not occured on another website, this is not the place for it.”
Let me tell you what I thought. And let me qoute you from an old x.com forum which obviously I cannot paste but I remember. Remember the “triscia” story? You told your guests that you are aware of my tactics. And a few months later, another prominent person came here and made the same accusations towards me being another person: Feckoff today known as Gamma.
Is it nof fair insalling doubt in people’s minds. Isn’t if Vamp?
“Anyway.. here you and I are guests. You want to discuss something that might have or might have not occured on another website, this is not the place for it.”
Jacques told me that after his virtual girlfriend left him as a banana in the middle of the street, I am a special guest here. So you can continue the discussion over here and under this topic since we are discussing issues Jacques pointed out.
Just a word of advice to anyone posting comments in DCG’s blog. If you are a dissenter, check your spelling at least three times, or the moderator will ridicule you for any spelling mistakes.
If you are not, however, it does not matter.
It all goes with freedom of speach (sic).
“No Sandro, you cannot just enter and write what you want. There is a line that you cannot cross and the reason why you think I learnt nothing is because you keep crossing that line and till now everything has worked out fine.”
I will moderate porn links on my blog. I will moderate insults to user’s families. I will moderate things like influencing a pending court case. But that’s it.
I think you cross the line on the other way I do.
Yes, it has worked out fine since the law said that I did not cross the line.
Jacques,
uncovering IPs is illegal. Vamp knows that I know that. That is why she should understood it was a metaphor.
Sandro, I remember no triscia. Are you referring to the incident some time in December when we were using a temporary website? If so, may I point out that I did not have admin rights on that site and during that time I was extremely busy with my own work that my time to moderate was limited. I am however aware that my fellow moderator had sent you an apology regarding that incident and confessed it was his mistake.
Regarding users on this blog, all I am aware of is that because they share similar nicks, there are some people who post here who also post on the forum. I cannot speak for other persons.
Yes, uncovering IPs is illegal unless we are presented with a warrant from the police to do so and yes, once the owner of the website that I moderate was presented with a warrant to supply an IP number of a user.
So to answer Jacques question, even if we are aware of multi-nicks we cannot go out and say so. We might privately point out to said multi-users that we have realised and that we would prefer them not to continue. But sometimes even we can have doubts that a multi-nick really exists. On the forum I moderate I have families, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, sons and fathers so technically those are not multi-nicks. Those are actually different people. So please do not ever be so harsh to judge a person simply because the IP is the same.
However, with experience you do learn to read styles and that is something that no one can hide from you. And yes, there have been cases when I recognise a style of a person even before hitting that IP button to confirm that nick A is the same person behind nick B. Why they do it I cannot understand but I do not question them unless they break rules.
Jacques, you also asked me my opinion regarding the ‘elves’ on newspapers visavis the multi-nicks. First of all let me make it clear, moderating is just a hobby for me. I find it relaxing..just as some other people might find watching a soap relaxing. Yet I believe that even newspapers have ethics and are bound by a certain amount of confidentiality. If they are aware that someone is writing a letter and that might not be really that person, it is their choice and their conscious you could say whether they choose to print that letter or not. Same as it is on my conscious if I choose to let something go by unmoderated that should have been. And believe me, there have been occasions when I wished I took steps earlier..it prevents a lot of bad blood in the end.
I have been contact via email by both J’accuse and Daivd Friggieri in that the quote being circulated was taken out of context and that Friggieri’s argument was the opposite in that he is against such descriptions.
My apologies to David Friggieri.
I have asked Jacques to remove the sentence, but it seems J’accuse is happy not to censor when specifically asked.
“Sandro, I remember no triscia. Are you referring to the incident some time in December when we were using a temporary website?”
Le, is-site ma kinitx temporanja Vamp. Ha nfakkrek. Jiena kont ippostjajt xi haga fuq kuginuwi Musumeci fil-blog tieghi u din triscia mal-ewwel dahlet f’nofs ta’ lejl tillinkja mas-site tieghi u tiftahar kemm tixxarrab ghal Musumeci.
U inti assumejt u frixt l-opinjoni li Triscia kont jien jew imqabbda minni.
Jekk ma tiftakarx, ma jimpurtax. Pero’ biex infehmek l-ghaliex imxejt fuq id-difensiva mieghek.
“I am however aware that my fellow moderator had sent you an apology regarding that incident and confessed it was his mistake.”
Iva vera u apprezzajt hafna. Apprezzajt ghax qal li kien zball tieghu. Mentri mhux zball tieghu kien imma ta’ xi hadd iehor li prova jhammigni.
“In the meantime, in case you were wondering – and I regret to have been forced back on the subject but I promise this is the last time – I chose to stop debating with Daphne because no matter how many times I have tried (the last being the Open Letter) I have not got straight answers or an approach to a normal discussion.”
I bet my fifth ball li malli tidhol hawn gew, jew tikteb xi haga (hija) fl-Indipendent: inti se terga’ taqa ghat-tentazzjoni.
Sandro, I just verified with Cristoforo, simply to make sure that I was getting the Triscia story right. If there is one thing we always admit it is mistakes but I will not allow erroneous details. The site was the temporary one that Cris had opened. I did not ever assume anything! So kindly take that back! I do not go around deliberately trying to vilify you or any of my members. That is what you are implying now aren’t you Sandro? That I tried to defame your reputation?
It was other members who raised the questions. Cris had a bug on that program and afterwards he realised that IPs were not registered properly, he thought it was you with a multi-nick and then realised his mistake. He apologised to you and that apology was made also public on the forum. I believe that if I look for it, I will even find it still there.
“The site was the temporary one that Cris had opened. ”
Le, Vamp.
Cert li qed nghidlek. Fil-kaz iftah topic u saqsi lil niesek. Kieku m’inix cert mhux se npeclaq. Ta’ Triscia ma kinitx fis-site ta’ Chris.
Id-data kienet ftit qabel il-15 ta’ Ottubru: – http://sandrovella.org/2007/10/storja-ta-libert-ta-l-espressjoni.html . Kienet qabel ma jiena ktibt dak l-artiklu.
Meta Letty dahlet tippostja f’ismi ghax mix-xoghol ma nistax nirregistra fil-forums. U qaltilkom: “Sandro says he does not know who Triscia is but he thanks her for the publicity. Sandro says: if you (vamp) do not believe is not him, just check the IP and confirm.” U mbaghad ftit wara qaltlilkom: “Sandro is going to post an article tonight regarding x.com for it is his favourite forum.” U jiena ma zammejtx kelmti ghax kien dahal xoghol iehor u ppostjajt xi 4t ijiem wara.
Le, mhux se nirtira li inti ghedt hekk u assumejt hekk ghax il-verita’ mhix hekk.
Pero’ l-anqas ghedtlek li inti ghamiltha b’intenzjoni hazina jigifieri. Ghaliex did-difensiva?
L-incident ta’ Triscia m’ghandu x’jaqsam xejn mas-site temporanja ta’ Chris.
Qed tixjieh Vamp……..
ma rridx niggieled mieghek ras pero’ l-fatti kif qed nghid jiena huma. U nifhmek li ghandek hafna fuq mohhok, u li l-moderating mhux daqsek relaxing kif ghedt inti, u nifhmek li forsi nsejt.
Pero’ jiddispjacini did-darba mort zball inti. Ibzax, darb’ohra naghmel zball jien ha nikkaverjak.
This Triscia incident means so little to me that I barely even remember Letty writing about it. Woww…you actually keep stuff like that. Shame you didn’t keep the part where you said that I’m the one who is saying you are Triscia…..because it doesn’t exist. That is why you don’t have it. Knowing Letty, she addressed me because I would have been one of the only persons who can match like with like and therefore Sandro, since as you are saying this happened in October (jezzzz some people expect me to remember 5 years of x.com offhand) and I had mod rights, wouldn’t it be extremely stupid of me to think you were Triscia and come out and say so when at the click of a button (because around that time you were posting) I can immediately know if this Triscia is you or not.
I don’t even go around saying who brothers, wives and sons are if they don’t admit it themselves, ahsebwara how much I am going to say something that I would know is not true.
Taf x inti tghid jew ma tafx? Jekk jien inkun ga naf li mhux int..kif iz zikk immur nghid li int!!!!
I know exactly what I am saying.
Now my apologies to Jacques, my initial intention was to clarify some points about IP addresses but it seems that Sandro made it his goal to attack me and the forum I moderate. Why he did it? Maybe cause he read a comment I wrote this morning? Maybe because there have been clashes between him and the admin team in the past? maybe because he is afraid to confront me on my ‘home turf’? I never chucked you out of x.com did I Sandro?
No Sandro, I don’t forget that easily and you are twisting the facts to suit your own purposes and if you think you are going to gain something you are wrong.
And like I keep saying, you know nothing about moderating..it really is extremely relaxing.
“This Triscia incident means so little to me that I barely even remember Letty writing about it. Woww…you actually keep stuff like that. Shame you didn’t keep the part where you said that I’m the one who is saying you are Triscia…..because it doesn’t exist. That is why you don’t have it.”
I do not have it because the forum went destroyed. Just open a topic on x.com.mt and ask the users about Triscia and the Musumeci issue. If everybody is against me, I will apologise publicly. Kindly consider this as a challenge.
“Knowing Letty, she addressed me because I would have been one of the only persons who can match like with like and therefore Sandro, since as you are saying this happened in October (jezzzz some people expect me to remember 5 years of x.com offhand) and I had mod rights, wouldn’t it be extremely stupid of me to think you were Triscia and come out and say so when at the click of a button (because around that time you were posting) I can immediately know if this Triscia is you or not.”
I addressed you, not Letty. I told her to address you. I was not posting during that time. I was not even registered with x.com.mt in October.
I do not expect from you to remember but do not expect from me to forget.
You said sound and clearly: “That you know my tactics.” And you assumed that Triscia was sent by myself.
“I don’t even go around saying who brothers, wives and sons are if they don’t admit it themselves, ahsebwara how much I am going to say something that I would know is not true.”
You wrote it and I took it with a pinch of salt. You are being too defensive. More than I was a few hours ago.
“Now my apologies to Jacques, my initial intention was to clarify some points about IP addresses but it seems that Sandro made it his goal to attack me and the forum I moderate. Why he did it? Maybe cause he read a comment I wrote this morning? Maybe because there have been clashes between him and the admin team in the past? maybe because he is afraid to confront me on my ‘home turf’? I never chucked you out of x.com did I Sandro?”
I told you. I cannot register from the work place. I am not attacking you. You are attacking yourself. No need to apologise Jacques. He is used to it now. (joking Jacques).
And I am not attacking your forum. I did not have clashes with admin team of x.com.mt . I had with xarabank.com . Which is not the same.
I am not afraid to confront you at all. My mobile number is 79460527 . Feel free to call me.
No, you never chucked me out. It’s true. There was no need. We (were or are?) good friends.
A little humour, or maybe not!
I am not an expert in Maltese. Is there something wrong in the spelling of the word ‘noqghod’ in the picture shown on the following link?
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=65989
The illustrissimi Doctors here may perhaps enlighten me.
It’s ok Sandro… old x.com is not destroyed, it’s just on a hard drive and Anson has been too busy to set it up. God knows I’ve been begging for it for weeks. But generally when I beg enough Anson gives me what I need for the forum and I will have that thread. Then I will put it up for all to see.
You see…you have some blog here about misquoting and so putting up that statement about ‘your tactics’ is very much being taken out of context right now. Multi-nicks was not the tactic I was probably, note probably, referring to. Anzi, it probably more meant that multi-nick is not the tactic you usually use. As you said somewhere up there, you generally like us to know when you are around.
You accused me of something Sandro that I did not do, and I don’t take accusations lightly so yes, I should be able to defend myself.
“No Sandro, I don’t forget that easily and you are twisting the facts to suit your own purposes and if you think you are going to gain something you are wrong.”
Jiddispjacini m’ghandekx ragun. Se jigrilek bhal Ultralemony jekk tibqa’ sejra hekk.
Dwar dak il-kumment, issa rajtu u se nwiegbek ibzax.
I’d like to point out that something that may seem trivial to a moderator who’s seen it all, something like a mild accusation that someone is posting using 2 accounts or 2 nicknames or whatnot, might be easily forgotten by the average poster. However, when someone is a blogger, he has somewhat of a reputation to defend. I know Sandro has put a lot of hard work into his blog and if his name gets tainted, so does his blog. Which is why he remembers the incident vividly.
Just my 2 cents.
One thing you forget about me Sandro, is that unlike Ultralemony, when I make a mistake I admit it and I apologise. When the admin team made a mistake in your confront, there was an apology and it was also made public. In fact that apology is still public.
In my opinion, apologising makes the bigger person. Like I said, I will get that thread and I will review it and even put it up online. That way, this misunderstanding cleared up.
Keith, I can assure you that I never treat anything regarding moderation as trivial. Members, as Sandro has shown us, can remember many details, details that can ruin our reputation and not only his. You might not know me, but Sandro does. I have a 4 year reputation to retain and not even I want to see either my name or the name of my forum get tainted by claims which are untrue.
But I always appreciate 2 cents 🙂
“It’s ok Sandro… old x.com is not destroyed, it’s just on a hard drive and Anson has been too busy to set it up. God knows I’ve been begging for it for weeks. But generally when I beg enough Anson gives me what I need for the forum and I will have that thread. Then I will put it up for all to see.”
Ok. Jekk ghandek ragun inti lest li niskuza ruhi. Imma jekk ghandi ragun jien ma rridx apologiji, ghax nafek bizzejjed li m’intix ta hekk. Imma inti ghandek id-dubji fuqi milli jidher.
“You see…you have some blog here about misquoting and so putting up that statement about ‘your tactics’ is very much being taken out of context right now.”
Le, qalbi niftakrek tghid hekk. Cara daqs il-kristall. Ma kienx hemm sentenzi partikolari wara u quddiem. Imma kif ghedtlek jiena hadtek bic-cajt, jigifieri li inti kont qeghda tigbidli saqajja.
“Multi-nicks was not the tactic I was probably, note probably, referring to. Anzi, it probably more meant that multi-nick is not the tactic you usually use. As you said somewhere up there, you generally like us to know when you are around.”
Jekk hu vera hekk li ridt tghid, mela skuzani. Fhimtek hazin bhal ma inti wkoll fhimtni hazin fuq affarijiet ohra. Skuzani, ghax m’intix tigdeb. Jiena meta nkun x’imkien irrid naghmel hoss ghax jiena attention seeker. Dik vera. Imma ttinix tort li qlibt fuq id-difensiva. Tipo ghax imbaghad insir famuz ghal hekk ghax kien hawn xi hadd hawn gew li qal l-istess haga.
Pero’ ma tistax tghid li inti dak il-kliem m’ghedtux. Issa jekk fhimtekx hazin jien, mod iehor u jekk inti tammetti li hekk ridt tghid mela ibzax jiena hekk se nghid: se nikkwotak bl-ezatt.
“You accused me of something Sandro that I did not do, and I don’t take accusations lightly so yes, I should be able to defend myself.”
Accusing you is a strong word, imma jekk trid tehodha hekk, affarik. “I should be able to defend myself” – issa min qieghed fuq id-difensiva?
“When the admin team made a mistake in your confront, there was an apology and it was also made public. In fact that apology is still public.”
Where is my name?
“You might not know me, but Sandro does. I have a 4 year reputation to retain and not even I want to see either my name or the name of my forum get tainted by claims which are untrue.”
Keith, I vouch for Vamp.
Il-punt huwa semplici Vamp pero’. Il-punt huwa, at this stage, ghax inti rriducejtu hekk, huwa jekk inti ghedtx : “Li Triscia hija parti mitt-tattika tieghi jew le?”
Issa x’fhimtek jien u x’ridt tfiehem inti ma tantx ghada rilevanti. Ghax jiena ghedtlek mill-bidu li hadtha bhala pinch of salt, imma inti hadtha personali…..mela gib dik it-thread.
By the way, ghedtilhom min jibza’ jikkonfronta lil min? Tajtek il-mobile number. Ma cempiltlix.
M’intix obbligata ccempel ovvjament. Daqstant jien iehor nigi fil-forum tieghek.
Jekk trid cempel insomma.
“In my opinion, apologising makes the bigger person.”
Ghalhekk ma rridekx tapologizza jien, ghax ma rridekx tikber izjed.
Lovely. Another discussion completely unrelated to the blog. What can I say? 8th March is round the corner for everybody.
I’m going to keep a close look on those 9,000 uncollected documents , most of which originate from pro-PN strongholds. If the great majority of those documents are not collected by closing day, it’s clear that its shades of 1996 all over again.
In that case, everyone can draw his own conclusions as he deems fit – and decide accordingly how to act.
Sorry Jacques, take this as a little lesson – when you start having an active commentary website, topics will deviate. It’s normal.
But my question to you is this? Have you ever felt that there was something in the comments of your own blog that you wish you could remove or are you adhereing to the strict rule of non-moderating/no censorship?
“Lovely. Another discussion completely unrelated to the blog. What can I say? 8th March is round the corner for everybody.”
Habib isma’ minni. Hallih unmoderated. Issirx prima donna. Isma’ minni.
Gbidt hafna simpatija ghax fl-ahhar urejt x’inti. Il-karattru tieghek ta’ vera. Mhux dak li ma tistax titkellem ghax huwa jhossu izjed intelligenti minnek.
Ovvjament, hehe prosit ghall-messa in scena eh.
Ejja Jacques, gejja l-elezzjoni. Ejja nnehhu t-tensjoni billi nzidu wahda fittizja.
Hahahahahahahaha………Vamp.
Se nghidilhom jien jew se tghidilhom inti?
Imma twahhalx f’Vamp, Jacques. Kollu tort tieghi u kollox jiena bdejt.
Vamp anzi kienet vera edukatissima. hehehe
Ejja nidhqu dahqa nies madonna….hawn tensjoni!
JACQUES,
Jekk tigi Malta biex tivvota u ma tiltaqax mieghi ghal drink, se niehu ghalija ta’ vera.
Ghandi hafna xi nghidlek u x’insaqsik hehehe
Issa f’idejk.
I am always very polite Sandro 😛 It turned out to be just a misunderstanding, I wrote one thing and Sandro interpreted it one way, then he wrote another and I interpreted it another way…insomma…now it’s all settled.
We faced each other (ok via the phone) and sorted it all out. Maybe some people should take up that example, right Sandro…instead of letting things get all tense and creating a lot of doubts, it is best to tackle them when the time is right.
Politicians should be more like us 😉
Vamp: Re your question. Many times. I have been tempted many times to cut a discussion short by removing all offending/deviating posts. I have rarely removed comments except for example when the person concerned, not being a regular internet user, believed that the comment would privately reach me and would not be public. In that case I removed it as soon as I removed the error. Also when Comment Moderation was still on I would receive comments with the explicit request that they are not published. Apart from that I still cannot decide whether a post-election J’accuse would be better off without free posting. After all Comment is Free was introduced with the aim of having faster discussions unhindered by having to wait for my moderation (and by moderation I mean clicking on approve for 99.9% of the cases). The only problem remains those uncouth fools and those who abuse of a forum/blog discussion for their own agenda… how do you deal with them? Still no definite answer… in some cases letting them post exposes them for what they are but then it means time and space wasted as more and more fools get caught in their net.
Qed nimmagina lil Daphne ccempel lis-Cyber Crime Unit.
“Qed tara hi mhux lili biss jiehherrisjja Sandro Vella imma anke lil Vamp” Idhlu fis-site ta’ Jakkuza ha tindunaw.
X’ma jitilghux il-hits Jacques.
Ha nghidlek haga habib u din tghallimtha bl-esperjenza li kelli ma’ siehbek Norman Lowell.
Tghallimtha, ma tfissirx li rrid nghallmek, ok Jacques? Just nghidlek biss.
Norman Lowell illum jittiehed hafna bis-serjeta’, u kulhadd jaghti kaz kull kelma li jghid ghax QABEL kien jghidhom b’mod umoristiku. Tip ta’ one man show comedy.
Issa jekk inti trid tattira n-nies bis-sens go dal-blog, jigifieri zzid ma’ li ghandek, din ta’ Daphne li nitnejjku biha b’mod fattwali gietek vera tajba. Ghax ammetti man, dahlu 4 nies bis-sens, taqta’ lili barra. Jigifieri jigu 5.
Issa hemm hafna izjed nies li se jaqraw il-blog tieghek u jifhmu l-messagg differenti tieghek. u ta; l-ohrajn fejn jaghti lok biex dak li jkun jiftah mohhu.
Jiena kont se naghmel dan bil-blog tieghi, imma la kien hawn inti diga’, l-blog tieghi huwa useless at this stage. Mhux ghax hawn inti biss, imma ghax certu studji li ghamilt inti, jiena m’ghamilthomx.
Habib, zommha go mohhok u mhux ghax jiena biased qed inkellmek hekk. Daphne tilfet hi li telqet minn hawn. Inti gwadanjajt immens. Gwadanjajt li hemm hafna Cetta ta’ Bubaqri li wasslu sa l-A Levels qed jaqraw il-blogg tieghek u qed jifthu mohhhom. Bil-mod, imma xi darba jaslu.
Il-Hadd ixtri l-Gallarija ta’ l-Indipendent habib.
“t turned out to be just a misunderstanding”
Yes, but it was my fault. I apologise.
7,500 voting documents still to be collected. 1000 are expected to be collected today. Last time round about 2000 went uncollected. This is a record, ladies and gentlemen. This sort of thing happens when you have to choose between two evils.
Keith: these uncollected documents are the big story no-one is commenting about here. Voters have till tomorrow midnight to collect. Will be reading the Friday papers with interest.
“ADDENDUM: This comment was posted on the Blog Post entitled “Engaged” after this current post “Uncensored” had been posted:
Daphne: Carry on without me, folks – you obviously think I’m the hot topic in this electoral campaign. Bore on. If you want to know what I have to say from now on, just visit http://defnicient.blogspot.com/“
Fhimtek ghaliex specifikajt fejn hu t-topik habib. Am I smart enough eh?
Stajt tlestili l-link minn qabel pero’ hehe u mhux thallini nfittex.
Insomma qdejtek: http://defnicient.blogspot.com/
Jacques, all I can advise you is that you will learn to set your own guidelines. First of all you learn to be as unbiased as possible, then you ask the questions of is it offensive, is this a serious allegation (because those are the worst two that generally need moderating), will I get into trouble if I leave this post here…do I need that hassle? That is generally what it boils down to. Of course, Sandro, will probably disagree, cause he likes hassles (joking). The others you refer to those are like trolls. They come in, say something that makes no sense and then they leave. To reach the ideal, would be self-moderation. Everyone taking into account that what they are writing is their responsibility, yet that would be internetopia.
By the way Jacques, just as an addendum, people like Sandro know my true identity, I chose to use my nick because that is how I’m known in cyberworld.
@Keith Chircop
The hearsay is that most uncollected voting documents are from Sliema and Swieqi. Can anyone confirm that?
Chaps, prior to drawing any conclusions, it would be better to wait until tomorrow midnight.
Hearsay is hearsay!
“By the way Jacques, just as an addendum, people like Sandro know my true identity, I chose to use my nick because that is how I’m known in cyberworld.”
That is because we are good friends.
@Malcolm
You’re right … we’ll wait till the stroke of midnight!
Vamp – aren’t you a lady any more? Tsk, tsk!
🙂
Gold Roast, it seems that the uncollected votes are all published in the Gazzetta tal-Gvern.
Just a small comment. I think that one needs to decide whether a particular site is a forum, where people are usually allowed to post whatever they think even at the risk of going out of topic like what happens on our forum, and a blog where posts should be more moderated to avoid going out of topic like what happened in this blog post and in other blog posts.
Then there is a hybrid mix of forum/blog, ie what the Times are doing nowadays, a news item and a moderated set of readers’ replies STRICTLY related to that news item.
I believe Jacques already mentioned the problem with a strictly moderated blog. It would mean that posts do not appear until he is online, thus stopping the flow of the comments.
Every system has its flaws, and it is up to the site owner to choose the system he likes.
True, but he’s at (potential) legal risk… he could appoint of couple of trusted friends as moderators.
Victor… it’s been a few months now since I decided to rejoin the common plebs 😛 naturally I can never reach your status of champagne socialist 😉