That was fun. I think my bender is over. Of course, all it ever takes is a traumatic catalyst to trigger a relapse, so PLEASE, no lazy porn jokes.
I'm sorry if my write-ups lack their usual wordy brilliance for the next few days. Like all of you, I'm still reeling from the death of Ernest Borgnine. But it didn't stop you guys from coming out yesterday. It's like you have some sort of Popovian Pavlovian response to my appearance. Good show.
I'm sorry I've been so distant lately, but I feel so close to you right now. So close that I wouldn't dare punish you with that song. Here's a better one. And more importantly, an unlimited supply of functional space for you below it. It's open.
Look, I know today is a holiday, and no one is going to be coming by the old balog to comment on comments and commenters, but proper decorum insists on an open thread anyway. Manners!
So as way of enticement, TODAY ONLY I will be offering, FREE OF CHARGE, CJ SpillerYourGuts' EXCLUSIVE SECRET to MAXIMIZING your reading PLEASURE under the new Kinja regime. But in a shameful grab at increased page views*, the secret is after the jump.
Happy Fourth, everybody. If you don't end up at the emergency room, drunk, with a little bit of your pinky missing and deaf in your left ear from a joke you played on a buddy with a M-80, you're doing it wrong.
* I do not know how the internet works. This probably doesn't increase page views.
Fireworks last night! Let me try to address a few things in the laziest way possible, for it is the only way I know how.
First, I am struggling with the new trend of referring to our new troll-like visitor(s?) as "Guy Who". Haven't there been hundreds of "Guy Who"s in the last few months of this balog, virtually all of whom have brought more to the table than this one? Why should he be THE "Guy Who"? Just because he's recent and notably shitty? That's like saying Gosselin is THE "John". Don't. If we're going to continue to discuss this jagoff, which is entirely up to you all, I challenge you to come up with a better name.
Also, let me preemptively address any further accusations of hypocrisy and/or inconsistency. Those of you who have paid attention know that we have made it crystal clear that we have several different editors, with literally zero coordination between our efforts. That's the kind of steady ship we run around here. I have explained repeatedly that my editorial policy differs from CJ's or IMG's, and that just because I am the most active voice doesn't mean that I am the loudest. I won't always endorse what those guys do, but I can all but guarantee that I'll never step on their toes. I hope you find our public disagreements clumsily entertaining and readable. But they are not inconsistent with anything that's recently been said about our policy, so let me nip that in the bud right here.
As for the comment that I quasi-reprimanded and CJ removed last night, it was an attack on a commenter more so than a comment, which I have publicly declared to be where the line gets crossed. However, in recent weeks, I have allowed arguably similar comments to stand, so I (not CJ) addressed it with a reply rather than a removal. The reason for this is simple. You guys have shown a positive response (statistically) to controversy, and also, as I recently mentioned, an ability to police yourselves. My personal theory is that if it's interesting, fosters discussion, and won't turn off our readers, I'd rather let you guys handle this kind of shit in your own way. You seem to have fun with it. Unless it's racist or similar hate speech, because, you know, fuck that shit. Remember, I hold myself out to be little more than the provider of a forum. If I have one rule that trumps all others, it's that you guys dictate the content. If I could post a poll about "let it stand vs. remove", I would. I do what I think will keep you guys coming around. If I'm doing it wrong, or right, please weigh in in the comments.
The bottom line is this- we are what we say we are: a balog for you guys. And we're consistent in our inconsistency. As far as I go, my number one goal is to keep it interesting, and the method I choose is almost always going to be letting you guys do that organically. Other editors may take different approaches from time to time. That is fine. Nothing is hard and fast around here, except my erection when I see this kind of activity.
Well, I'll be damned. Pardon my Canadian, but fuckin' a, y'all. Good show yesterday. We like when the comments blow up, especially when it's not 90% "Guy Who"s. We like when Shitehawk stops by (within reason, you've got your own balog, pal), we like when cheese_newell shows up after famously declaring that he was done with this balog, we like when generally interesting discussions are had. Speaking for myself, I have always wanted you guys to drive the content of the site, all I try to do is write lazy self-indulgent blurbs with some good (or horrible) clips and provide you the forum. I hope you continue to use it.
With that, it's time to open 'er up. Now powwow below some guys from Glasgow.
From: MS
To: Baloggy Bunch
Subject: Yesterday's Performance
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