5 responses to “AOL BANNING”

1. 

   joy

   July 14, 2003 at 2:23 pm

   Heh. Not like the AOLers would be missing all that much if they were banned from his site. [cheap, snarky shot]

   I have to blog this, as I’m really not impressed with the guy’s logic at all.
2. 

   Anonymous

   July 14, 2003 at 3:54 pm

   JOY: Wait until your comments are filled with troll droppings, then tell me how logical I am.

   And FYI, I am not *currently* banning AOLers, but I am considering doing so if AOL does to blogging what it did to USENET.
3. 

   joy

   July 14, 2003 at 4:33 pm

   You know, I’ve been online long enough to have done the whole BBS/USENET thing myself, and one thing I’ve learned is that trolls usually beget trolls, if you know where I’m going with this.

   I’m sorry, it’s one thing to rail against the company or even a couple of jerks that might coincidentally use the service but quite another to insult (they’re not smart enough to be online!) a whole demographic of people, which is what you did.

   Oh, and why am I annoyed? Because I teach computer classes to adults from all walks of life. Many of these students (who range from seniors to working professionals to stay at home parents) are already too intimidated about the online experience. And you’ve just insulted them because they feel more comfortable using a different user interface.

   Also, to help you with your blocking, here’s a list of the netblocks you’ll need to ban. Your IP deny list will be impressive, I’m sure.
4. 

   Bill Dennis

   July 14, 2003 at 10:55 pm

   I’m being accused of saying something I didn’t say.

   I never accused all AOL users of being trolls. All I did was say was that AOL made the internet available to a lot of people who otherwise wouldn’t have the sophistication to get on it otherwise.

   It’s also undeniable that this group included imature people of all ages who proceded nearly ruin USENET. If AOL’s adventure into offering blogging creates another InstaPundit, more power to AOL.

   But if AOL makes addresses of Bloggers URL’s available on their propriatory AOL screens, there WILL be an increase in trolls in folk’ comments. Count on it.

   I’m sorry if this prediction conflicts with your egalitarian sensibilities.

   As far as trolls begetting other trolls, remember this: You are commenting on my original post, made on my Website. “Heh. Not like the AOLers would be missing all that much if they were banned from his site. [cheap, snarky shot]”

   I’ll let you have the last say on this, unless you want to bring it to my page, so we don’t polute this excellent site with an argument between two people.
5. 

   Paul

   July 15, 2003 at 2:29 pm

   After reading Bill’s comments, I only have one thing to add…

   “Me too.”

   Paul

   (And if you don’t get that joke, you are not qualified to have an opinion on this matter. )

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