I’d like to appeal the indefinite ban that moderator Obey handed down to me last week on the topic “Three Questions Angry Democrats Need to Answer….”
I feel that the topic was being discussed no more robustly than most others on BNR and submit that I had not, in fact, transgressed any of the BNR “personal insult” rules. My defence is as follows:
Instance 1 – The phrase “useful idiots” is a Cold War era historical reference (as explained in the post) rather than a personal insult. The comment is about a political and ideological stance.
Instance 2 – A post consisting of a single word “You” also is not a personal insult.
Instance 3 – I’m unable to review this one as the comment being replied to has been removed, however I’ve written similar things which state that the author consistently writes posts which are “dumb”, idiotic”, whatever. However criticism of a the content of a post is also not a personal insult.
Instance 4 – I will concede that telling a moderator to go fuck themselves is not the wisest of moves, however I would label it as spicy vernacular rather than an insult per-se. That one I’m happy to apologize for.
I will leave it with you.