Cheers.

Can I reach you by email? I want to chat about setting up a blog.

because I can see Sam’s little attempt at what some might call conversational terrorism, and what I would normally call the hypocrisy of the conservative (he pretends that he appreciates my “take” on imperialism in the meantime, which if it were true would mean that he understood the responses, which he did not).

The hypocrisy is this:
He could have taken my own responses as if they had been feedback that he had received on his own blog. His approach is to say: enough, I am going, I hate this. He obviously does not practice himself what he preaches so freely to others. Otherwise, by his own standards, he should have been cherishing, welcoming, and supporting my reply. Instead, he ran away, the equivalent of hitting delete. So much for his principles.

Don’t worry though, I don’t cater to those types, ever. This is not a classroom, this is not a meeting in a university, this is my blog, this is my time. Some of these dopes figure that all academics are some variety of eunuch, at all times and in all situations, and that even if not castrated then we must have some parent or legal guardian to hold our dicks while we piss.

I am glad that you appreciate this blog. Those who don’t can go elsewhere, right?

Anyway Mark, thanks again, and now that you have posted your first comment please feel very free to post again.

This is the first comment I am posting here because I was prompted by what “Sam” said. I actually do read your blog and I mean I really read it. Sam has ADD or just can’t read, because your treatment of guests has almost always been very positive, respectful, and gentlemanly.

Guests who abuse this blog or try to shut down opposing views, like they did with Mary, or who disrespect you personally don’t win the right to any respect in return. It’s simple, Sam should have figured this out on his own but was too lazy and one sided to bother.

Sam can go. I’m staying. Thanks for this blog and all the great posts.

Well, you’re wrong, so you have not been reading closely. When someone calls me an “asshole” I can react as I please, and if that displeases you then so be it.

I think you expect that dissent will be more than just welcomed, it will be applauded. I am not required to agree with anyone who posts on this blog, and I am absolutely not here to please any and everyone.

Goodbye.

So, given that I’ve said that I was bothered, you probably don’t want me reading or commenting either (given what you said about Mary), and you’re more than welcome to delete this. It’s more to you personally than intended as a public statement.

I could, of course, keep reading you anyway, but feeling like any dissenting opinion is unwelcome really poisoned my experience of your posts, so I’ve decided not to. I’m telling you because, were I in your place, I’d want to know. I hope this isn’t too unwelcome, but that’s what the delete button is for.