Close comments on the Pansy Thread?

I won't vote.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

The midnight bloggers carry the day, so to speak. Case closed. For now.

You closed it just in time James: Blogtalk: ‘Pansy’ Power

But for the most part, the wars waged on the blogs look a lot like this one at BlueNC, where people basically bickered about whether or not they should have recognized the sexual connotation in the schoolyard taunt.
But if half the people don’t even recognize the word as a slur, does that diminish its potential resonance – or make it a finely-honed line of political code? We’ll leave that one to our colleague William Safire, and to you.

I agree - some of the stuff was getting trivial. But I liked my comment on the definition of bigotry -- right as you closed the thread -- because the use of the word "bigot" to describe the Governor is one of the reasons I got riled up about the thread in the first place. And now that ugly word is sitting on the front-page describing someone who is NOT a bigot.

I never got to toss in my two cents earlier, but here are my last minute thoughts.

First, I have never heard the term pansy used as anti-gay. I actually called several of my gay friends and they agreed.

Second, because I am not gay, I wouldn't know. Andrew Sullivan was offended, but he is pro-Obama (as am I), so his opinion should be taken with a grain.

Finally, on closing a thread, that is a big step. I have taken down my own posts because things got ugly, but as a moderator, unless the thread/comments became libelous or threatened the integrity of the community, I would be hard pressed to shut it down.

There aren't that many threads that come along where people are posting back and forth like that. Isn't this what the community is supposed to be about? And we made the NY Times, to boot! If you don't want to read the thread, just don't read it. But doesn't mean you should keep others from being able to read it.

I'm worried less about how our discussion appears to outsiders, but I do not like it when folks start attacking others and making judgments based on views or opinions expressed on a thread, so you are certainly in line then to close it off.

I know it's hard to monitor a message board, so keep up the great work!

... And why can't I view my responses?

"about what works and what may be out of line."

Who are you trying to protect?

... Herschel

"The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter." ... Winston Churchill

You guys have nothing on Karl Rove... I thought this would be a nicer forum. Good luck with everything.