Thursday, February 10, 2011

Real Goddamned Mail - For Strelly!

During a several hour period, many CM readers were under the impression that Strelnikov has become the moderator of the page. (We don't know how they got that impression, but perhaps the map of Leningrad in the background helped seal the fantasy.)

Anyway, here's some of the mail that came in:

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  • What, are you cracked or something? I hate that motherfucking bastard. He's always just on the edge of needing psychotropic meds or a visit from the CIA. I won't read the page once he takes over.
  • Of all the people you could have asked, you asked Strelnikov? Why not Stella or Motor City Mitch, who are clearly the wisest people on here, or even Yaro, who would class the joint up. But not Strelnikov. If I hear one more of his bullshit riffs on Cold War politics or his thoughts on Russian rifles, I'll just die.
  • I posted something about you on your first post and you've already deleted it. I figured as much. You're an asshole like the other assholes who run the page. Your censorship shows how frightened you really are of real ideas and intellect.
  • I hate that this happens. I just gave this blog's address to some colleagues of mine. I know it's always been a little scandalous, but now with you in charge I'm sure it's going to get meaner and more ridiculous. Do the right thing, Strelnikov, and don't change the place. Don't use your sledgehammer style to ruin it. How did you get the gig, by the way? Did they ask you? Un-fucking-real.
  • I predict that the rampant censorship already on the page is going to skyrocket. One of the "in crowd" is in charge and that's exactly what will drive most of the remaining readers away.
  • You're kidding, right? I hope.
  • This is the end of the blog. I hope you're happy.
  • You're a jerk. If you delete one of my comments I'm never coming back.
  • Can this be thought over some more? Is Leslie K still reading this mail? Please don't let Strelnikov take over. He's been openly hostile to certain people and groups in the comments and I fear that he will completely ruin the page. You've shown tremendous restraint and intelligence in handling trolls and nasty comments. I suspect - I know - that Strelnikov will not. He'll fight fire with fire (and attribute it to a great Russian general (like they ever had one). Please stop this before it goes any further.

31 comments:

  1. What I really liked about it was that the first "comment" to be removed was from anonymous.

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  2. Am I the only one that thinks that "Strelnikov's" avatar looks like Barney Stinson?
    Being pranked yesterday was fun, but seeing these emails makes the prank all the more legen. . .

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  3. Le sigh. When it comes to things like tone, irony, persona, satire, etc., many CM readers could use an introductory literature class.

    I'm betting Strelnikov is a middle-aged fundamentalist Christian children's librarian in Normal, IL, laughing her head off while she types.

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  4. Frankly, I am disappointed that Strelnikov is not going to be CM moderator. Stuff would fly if he did! ;-)

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  5. @ Pat -- Neh. The avatar is Rand Paul, fersure.

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  6. As always, my first reaction is: who the fuck is so self-important as to write this kind of shit to the moderator? I know that's the point of the "real g-d-damned mail" feature, but still... Who the fuck are you people? Get over yourselves.

    My second reaction in this case, however, is deep disappointment that Strel couldn't have taken over for a couple of days, just to make the gag really stick. That would have been the best ever. Even better than Wicked Walter's Academic Pornucopia.

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  7. "Am I the only one that thinks that "Strelnikov's" avatar looks like Barney Stinson?"

    No, that's what I said yesterday (actually, I said Neil Patrick Harris). Mine was the second comment that was deleted.

    The rest of my comment was that I had always imagined him as looking like Alan Arkin in "The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!" and I'm sticking with that until someone meets him in a bar at a conference, verifies that he's our Strelnikov, and posts a photo proving me wrong.

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  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. (earlier one removed after undergraduate grammar error)

    Seriously folks? Archie, as he so often does, sums up most of my opinion. I would add only that I like Strelnikov, perhaps for the same reasons that I enjoy riding in the back of a truck with a bunch of child soldiers whilst waving around an AK-47 and singing along to Kanye West's "Stronger." Viva la revolucion!

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  10. I'll post this under a fake ID in the hope that the moderator will not delete it. This joke would have
    been a lot funnier if it was not for the fact that the moderator frequently deletes posts that he/she does not approve. Your "rule" seem in place to keep the number of posters to a small select group (who seem to email each other behind the scenes). This makes this site less a forum for all academics and more a forum for a small select group.

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  11. @honest-prof.

    Your claim is complete bullshit. It's wrong on every level.

    You have a belief about the blog that you are certainly welcome to, but it is not based on the actual events that have gone on here.

    There are so few comments deleted. I go weeks without having to take one down. In most cases, the rule that is broken is this one: "Comments and posts that seem designed purely to attack others and/or drive away readers will be deleted."

    I'm sick of the sniping that I've had to take through comments like "mother deleted me again," or the direct emails that call me something worse.

    When I see the same language in an email and in an "anonymous" quote, it leads me think that the person writing those comments is not actually visiting here to enjoy the interplay. That person, in most cases - in my experience running this blog and another - is just acting like an asshole. Some folks find it gives them a great thrill. All right. But as long as this is a blog that I moderate, I will attempt to lessen that effect for all of the readers of the page.

    CM Moderator

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  12. When you login to post for the first time, the default ID is anonymous. Which makes sense, as that is a clear signature, i.e. I do not wish to make up a funny nick, I wish to be unknown.

    So by deleting all anonymous posts, you effectively restrict the posts to a small select group. A select group that you allow to attack others, why, cause you know them. This is bias pure and simple and poor behavior for a moderator.

    So before you reject my claim as bullshit, think a small amount about your behavior.

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  13. Well said, moderator!

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  14. @honest prof:

    I do not delete all anonymous posts. That is completely incorrect.

    If my behavior as a moderator causes you consternation, then there are tons of other academic blogs where you may find it easier to make your comments. If you don't enjoy it here, I'd encourage you to spend your time someplace where it's more fun.

    I've broken my own rule of not getting personally involved in debates like this. And I'm sure I'll appear weak to you when I admit that you have ruined my fucking day with your claims of bias. I do this entirely for fun, and I've let this incident sour me entirely.

    I've thought more than a small amount about my behavior, and I've always acted with the enjoyment of the entire CM community as a goal. I'm confident in that.

    CM Moderator

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  15. It is the role of a moderator to *encourage* discussion, not request a poster go "find another blog". You do seem to act for the enjoyment of your small community, but certainly not to encourage an exchange of ideas. Once an idea becomes unpleasant, you squash the discussion (mostly on the demands of others, as I understand it).

    My apologies for disturbing your group, however, you might want to redesign your mission statement to reflect that you do *not* represent the views of a large portion of academics, rather a very small group.

    And I suggest that you not let these discussions effect your emotions, this is a professional task. Treat these discussions are you would any profession comments on your research etc. Never let something like this ruin your day, that's nonsense, it's just a blog.

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  16. This blog is remarkably free of the crap that "anonymous" and others like him/her seems to spew every now and again. The truth is, for me, calling yourself anonymous in a forum of academics is sort of like saying, "I don't give a shit about being a part of this. I'm just coming by to shit on you."

    And the comments I've seen of that type, that occasionally evaporate into space, do nothing more than minimize what we're talking about.

    There's no secret fucking club. Where did that idea even come from, because we call each other by name sometimes?

    Listen, if you read the page for more than a day, you begin to recognize folks. There are some strong personalities. But because I may shout out to Stella or Strelnikov or even - dare I - Yaro, doesn't mean I know them, or have backchannel communiques with them. How would I even do that?

    Shit, I come here for fun, too, and when it's not fun, I leave.

    I have already confessed to being a bit of an asshole when I first started commenting here, but I got smacked by a couple of people who showed me that I was being an immature pissant, and I've tried to be better about it. (I troll the damn sports blogs, I have to admit, and that sort of schtick is just second nature to me because of that.)

    Anyway, moderator whoever, do what you do. I support it. I love coming here.

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  17. honest prof, what is it that you're hoping to win with this line of comments?

    I mean, I just want to know what the endgame is.

    who told you the role of the moderator is to encourage discussion? the blogger fairy? what on earth are you even talking about?

    there are a WIDE variety of academics here. put Black Dog up against Yaro up against Southern Bubba for instance. They could not BE more different. I don't want to waste space with a debate, but I just reject 100% your notion that this is somehow a cliquish spot.

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  18. @honest_prof:

    I suggest that you not let these discussions effect your emotions, this is a professional task. Treat these discussions are you would any profession comments on your research etc. Never let something like this ruin your day, that's nonsense, it's just a blog.

    Can you just like totally get over yourself? I am so offended by your condescension that I'm praying Strelnikov left behind one of his cool Kalishnikovs in the secret CM clubhouse where we all gather to minimize 95% of the profession.

    Because I'd use it on the last remaining nerve I have for honest prof's bullshit.

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  19. jesus, why bother, return to your regular programming, kill the thread

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  20. What can the moderator ADMIT that would please honest prof?

    We're a tiny group of cranks who all know each other?

    We don't represent all academics on the planet?

    We slap down anyone who's not like us (although how do you explain the tremendous differences in many of the people who post regularly)?

    Our moderator isn't professional enough?

    I'm baffled. I've seen some comments disappear as well. They were all blatant attacks, often at the moderator. What do you expect?

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  21. Best. Thread. Ever.

    honest_prof, you are my brother. you've nailed the saps where they are weakest, in their flinty intellect.

    you asked some tough questions, and all you got was scorn. they're a bunch of fuckers...

    Delete that, "mother," and prove you protect the FEW over the...well...righteous.

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  22. I love these complaints, even though people think I'm a Fundamentalist female librarian (wrong on all counts.) I'd never want the job of moderator because I'd have to deal with 500 complaints about the background, things anonymous and T(nJ) wrote, whining about the Vidshizzels, etc. Also, I find it interesting that there is this residual Cold War vibe, so that if a commenter has a Russian name and is outspoken, people hope the CIA or the FBI might get involved. It's no longer 1958, people; get better stereotypes.

    Finally I would like to point out that, like a bad Philly houseguest, Hosni Mubarak has stated that he isn't going to go, even though the Egyptian Army won't carry out his orders and his goons and police can't scare people from protesting (which is illegal under Egyptian law.) I know he doesn't want to wind up like Idi Amin, living in some nice house in Saudi Arabia (which is now the Argentina of failed Afro-Arabic dictators), but if he stays it'll get even more interesting in Cairo. My message: get out now Hosni, or it's your head.

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  23. Most boring. Commenters. Ever.:

    anonymous
    honest_prof
    Tim (Not Jim)

    Why? They are obsessed with themselves. They never offer one insight about the topic on hand. They have persecution complexes. They hang around just to pee on the carpet rather than going to a party they like better. In real life, people flee from people like this. So they have to hang around here.

    CM Moderator, do your thing. Delete 'em if you wish; they add nothing.

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  24. T(NotJ) is the best example of this, I think. He's been around forever, and only now seems to pop up to say the same thing. I don't know what his goal is at all, and F&T is right about him. He's never actually engaged in any actual discussion of the issues.

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  25. Tim (not Jim)'s deal is that he doesn't like the place, so he shows up, badmouths it, and leaves. Pretty much this is like the jocks from the high school the next town over coming to your town, dragracing past your highschool, and generally acting like jackasses until the police roll up.

    It's all negative attention getting.

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  26. Strel - the dragracing sounds like personal experience but somehow, I just can't see it in a couple of Ladas.....

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  27. I never had that, but when I was going to a tiny Christian high school a senior was suspended and the next day he drove into a parking lot below the school and played his music loud and gave up the middle finger before peeling out. I think he was expelled for that.

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