The Editor is Dead! Long Live the Editor!

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bahmani
by bahmani
30-Oct-2007
 

There is a saying, "the mob rules". I am afraid that with the new policy of anything by anyone goes, on the comments section offered for each post, in the new Iranian.com, I am sad to say that the job of carefully crafting, researching, and writing pieces that are thought out, well timed, poignant, spell and grammar checked, simply doesn't pay enough to warrant the beatings I get for it. Certainly not by buffoons. I'll gladly take a spanking by a superior now and then when I deserve it, but I'll be damned if I'm going to go through the 3-4 day mental exercise and trouble of thinking about something that usually needs to be said, only to have some juvenile complex-ridden degenerate graffiti on it for pure sick sadistic fun and games, specifically to spoil it for others. The new system has attracted a troubling element, the common trait is that they can't live with themselves or offer a counter point that is equal or relevant to the article, or serve to make the dialog richer. At first I thought it would be a healthy release and it would settle down once people got the angst off their chests, but it's getting worse. For me it has simply become far too exhausting emotionally. As the National Guardsman said, "I didn't sign up for this!"

I have in effect been censored not by "the editor", but rather the mob that is increasingly ruling this site and running amok in it. Don't get me wrong, a certain amount of punk rock anarchy is a wonderful thing. But clearly either I am not evolved enough to take the lashings I am dealt daily behind my back, or there is something very wrong with having profanities screamed at you constantly, whether you defend yourself or not. And I'm tired of checking to see if I've addressed an incorrect accusation or corrected a language barrier misinterpretation, or if I have had the last word on the pettiest of arguments over what usually ends up being merely ego. Usually macho ego.

SO, to all the cowardly, faceless, spoiler, pissant "Goozidam beh rishet"s out there, enjoy your victory, you win! You have managed to sour something that was quite sweet and dear to me these past 10 wonderful years I have been writing for Iranian.com. Judging from the many positive responses I have received from gracious, thoughtful, and intelligent (and thankfully not necessarily always agreeing) readers, I think frankly (and I'm sure you will crudely disagree), I will be missed. Certainly one can say, the many good, outweigh the few bad apples, but honestly, I'd rather stop writing than give you the satisfaction of having even one more place to publicly urinate anonymously, then run to another writer's article and do the same to them. You certainly deserve your prize, namely nothing! For that is precisely what you will now get from me.

I also always thought that putting my real name down was a key requirement for an honorable discourse. Clearly it isn't. Clearly: Anonymity is Sacred.

But seriously, congrats once again, you've merely managed to successfully reinforce the stereotype!

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Great article and point

by EDS (not verified) on

This issue is not just iranian.com's. It is everyone's. For example, yahoo removed its commenting section after its articles. It is yet to come up with a new formula.

Bahmani is very much on the point. The mob does indeed rule.

The issue is this. Freedom from a single authority that can by force choose is excellent. However that is only 1/2 of the story. The second half is that there must be a system of social pressure that sets back the aggressive obnoxious mob in the favor of decent moral and just behavior.

It can never eliminate it but it should set it back so that the mob does not disproportionately hijack everyone else's rights.

Without the latter then we have mob rule.

On the internet, people are still developing systems for the latter. For example, the reason that sites such myspace.com worked is that they had a system for the latter.

iranian.com should experiment with such systems. It is hard work but once established it will pay for itself like a charm.


Sasha

Anoymous56: Everyone relocated

by Sasha on

Everyone relocated to the article written by Ben Madadi about not trashing people's articles.  Go to his new article and you will find everyone there.

Natasha


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we never got to the end of

by Anonymous56 (not verified) on

we never got to the end of the line here....what happened...


caspianseamermaid

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by caspianseamermaid on

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Sasha

caspianseamermaid: Totally right

by Sasha on

I have to agree on having the sickos out on the open. I wrote two articles and one blog under my real name and I am still getting email from sickos. Trying to either sell me stuff, telling me I need to pay for something I ordered on ebay (which I have never used), and telling me how they can help me collect on the estate of my dear departed brother to name a few (By the way my only brother is very much alive).   Did I mention one kept emailing about being single?

Now, under the new format and with my new name Sasha (nickname) I can deal with the sickos in public and I am not alone. My buddies on this website can also take them on. Of course, I hope to have many comments by intelligent people, which I am also happy to say, I am recieving.

Natasha


Sasha

Napar invar oonvar: Get a grip

by Sasha on

Kaveh was on target. Which is censorship or no censorship and why so many writers are leaving. Haji also contributed. We are all trying to get an understanding of what is going on.


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Tonya, It didn't work! VOLUNTARY MODERATION

by Rosie Tudeh (not verified) on

Can't find your e-mail there. Had tried to before as well. Just write to me at rjgoldsmit@aim.com and we'll hook up there to talk about Haji, etc. Don't want to clutter this discussion with any more trash than is necessary to prove my point.
VOLUNTARY MODERATION
Rosie Toilet Bowl Mouth


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LOL

by Tonya (not verified) on

Love it!


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Will do, Tonya

by Rosie Tonya'stushy (not verified) on

Thanx, will do, but first a note here because it is my policy to answer publicly to ALL posts directed to me, so I can have some fun thinking up more silly last name for Rose T.
VOLUNTARY MODERATION!

Rosie Transparency


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to Rosie

by Tonya (not verified) on

Please click on my name and send me an email.  I wrote a nice chatty email and then it wouldnt go through!  Errrrrrrr.  I'd love to hear from you.


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Censorship/Kaveh Feminist-joon

by Rosie Takhteh Jamshid (not verified) on

IF JJ has been deleting posts maybe he wants to teach a lesson about censorship. JJavid, the Didactic Anarchist? Hmmmm....Oxymoron-a-go-go...
VOLUNTARY MODERATION is such a simple solution I can't really see what the problem is unless I'm missing something, then someone please tell me, or unless you need to exercise your fingers typing.
THe only question is, would JJ go for it? And if not, HE MIGHT BE RIGHT!
Maybe the only censorship Iranians should have right now is not being permitted to censor themselves.

RJG Kaveh Haji has always been right about EVERYTHING. "If the fool persists in his folly he will become wise."


caspianseamermaid

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by caspianseamermaid on

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Caspianseacunt Negotiator Khanom VOLUNTARY MODERATION

by Rosie Titsandass (not verified) on

Irony upon irony upon irony. The medium is the message.
VOLUNTARY MODERATION! I will DEFINITELY choose unmoderated!
Rosie JG


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Kool-Aid

by A1 (not verified) on

JJ says:

"He [Bush] is trashed in the media in his own country and made fun of in the most embarrassing way and yet no one is arrested or taken to jail or run out of business or DELETED for mocking the President of the United States.
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Looks like JJ has drank the American Kool-Aid. Is he not aware that a 15 year old white boy has been arrested by Secret Service for simply wearing a T shirt that say "Bush is a terrorist". There are numerous example like this. JJ just because you don't hear about this stuff doesn't mean it ain't happening. Insulting comments to Bush don't need to get deleted because they never get posted in the first place. Nor should they. Respectable site only allow civilized criticism not insults.
.
I suggest you go to Pennsylvania Ave in DC, stand by Bush's motorcade and call him a "mother fucker terrorist" and see what happens. You will get a one way ticket to that posh resort in Cuba called Gitmo Bay never to be heard from again.


caspianseamermaid

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by caspianseamermaid on

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Caspianseamermaid

by Rosie Twat (not verified) on

As Shakespeare said, a seachange into something rich and strange.
PS Pussy smells like fish. Or is it fish eggs? You need to negotiate with Putin.


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Re: SHAHHANJAHANSHAHHAHAHA (is a loser!)

by Rosie Tapurestaani (not verified) on

VOLUNTARY MODERATION1 VOLUNTARY MODERATION!

JJisaloser, how do I know you are not JJ himself posing as JJisaloser to get us off his back and/or to unite us all under a single cause! HOW DO I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT A PAID AGENT OF YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????

HOW DO I KNOW YOU ARE NOT JAHNASHAH? AND THE COLONEL! AND HAJIAGHA!

HOW DO I KNOW YOU ARE NOT ROSIE TAPURESTAANI?

Ohhahahhahahohohohohahahahajahanshaha I'm laughing so hard I'm going to have a Caesarian!

Robin Jayne


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"Leaving" - Scare and threat tactics are cheap.

by * (not verified) on

Scare and threat tactics are cheap. The real writers with solid characters males and females will show up.


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Tonya, Not off Topic

by Rosie THX1138 (not verified) on

Tonya re your questions to me elsewhere about Haji (who really is at the crux of this debate),contact me at rjgoldsmt@aim.com and I will give you my phone number.
Robin Jayne


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Fire Fire!

by JJ is a loser (not verified) on

I suggest JJ to go to a crowded and dark movie theater, falsely yell out loud "Fire, Fire" and then see how his "its just words" argument plays out in a court room.
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For those of you who think JJ has a noble mandate to provide a forum for Iranians, guess again. This clown is after a quick buck. He will do anything to increase traffic on his site and to that end, the format he has works the best.
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Why else would he allow commentators to advocate bombing of Iran left, right and center. For all I know, he is the one that is posting those comments to bomb Iran to get others to reply hence increase traffic. This guy would sell his soul to the devil for a buck let alone his country.
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If he really wanted to have a respectable site which allows people to post, he does not need to re-invent the wheel. Many, many sites are out there that allow anonymity while not curbing free speech. All he has to do is replicate any of them. He refuses to do so and that should be telling you something.


Q

I disagree Caspianmermaid,

by Q on

if you have something to say ONLY to the writer, you should email them directly. If what you say has a community benefit, only then should it be published in a public place. Personal ego-battles do not need audience participation and are a wast of time for everyone.

 

 

By the way, we should continue this over at Ben Madadi's article before this blog disappears from the front page.

//iranian.com/main/2007/foul-language


caspianseamermaid

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by caspianseamermaid on

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SOLUTION: Voluntary moderation.

by Rosie THX1138 (not verified) on

That's my suggestion for a solution. Moderation will be voluntary for all blogs and submissions.
Hajiagha is a brilliant cartoonist and the most valuable member of this entire site. I have trying to help him get his stuff published in Playboy. IRANIAN sexual/political cartoonist-so timely! Haji and Heff! A match made in heaven. Plus he will get all the koss he needs and then some.

Khaneh-e-dust, kojaaeh?
Nazdik, shaayad injaa...

DON'T GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Robin Jayne


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"When the wind of changes shift....."

by Tonya (not verified) on

There is a change comin' people...maybe for the  better.   Someone... I assume JJ... deleting posts.  As Anonymouse said... the subject of censorship itself is a dead horse beaten down down down and is never going to get resolved.  I think this is probably more emotional!!!  To see a old friend... a compadre...a mentor if you will... become frustrated and want to give up is what everyone is responding to.  There are few enough voices of reason, Bahmani is one of them.  I hope you reconsider.  Like Sasha said, how are we going to learn without you!


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Asian is right

by Zanamrikai (not verified) on

Asian, your "TRUTH" comment was succinct (something I fail at miserably!) and very well put. Thank you.

When I read other comments about some people "outing" personal information that is not theirs to publish, I was sad AND angry. God, we all have enough to worry about in life without having to be afraid of someone stalking us! Should I not have written my name on the letter I just wrote to Roozbeh?

People write in to newspapers and HAVE to give their real name, even if they then request to be listed as "anonymous." With the internet, that is no longer possible to even verify, as many have already said. I guess that is why the internet can be heaven or hell.

We are all only human. Imperfect, prone to egocentricity and ethnocentricity. It isn't easy to overcome either.

I, too, am sorry that respected authors are now leaving iranian.com. Anyone who draws enough attention--regardless of their political leanings--is fodder for the masses. It just shows how popular you really are that people take the time to send you a hateful comment! ;^}

Try to rise above it and stay true to yourself.

Zanamrikai/Nancy


Kaveh Nouraee

It's related to this....

by Kaveh Nouraee on

It's showing how pervasive this is becoming, as far as what is acceptable and what isn't and the lack of consistency. It's all tied together. That was merely an example. Relax. No harm was meant.


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Sitck to...

by Napar invar oonvar (not verified) on

Kaveh, stick to the subject discussed.


Kaveh Nouraee

Wait A Sec.....Time Out!!

by Kaveh Nouraee on

Am I understanding this correctly? Hajiagha made a comment about a grown man being stark naked in public in front of women and children, and the comment was deleted for being homophobic?

 

 

For once, that psycho was right!! I'm sure his choice of words left a lot to be desired, as does his command of English, but he's right to say something against that photo.

 

 

Why was that picture published to begin with? Can someone tell me what possible purpose did it serve? On what level was publishing that picture appropriate? As much as I have trashed Hajiagha (not as much as some, more so than others) how can what he said be any worse than posting pictures of a naked man walking amongst the men, women and children who are assembled? 


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Censorship

by Khafe Shid (not verified) on

JJ or who ever is monitoring these comments.

Why is there so much deleting of comments going on here? Not only on this thread but on others????

My comments on this thread were deleted.

Please reiterate what is and is not sacred. This is getting confusing.


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Raasti keh az maast keh bar

by HY (not verified) on

Raasti keh az maast keh bar maast!
Chi fekr mikardim, chi shod!