13 April 2006

Commenting Rules


There are rules for the Commenting Road at Dumb Looks Still Free. They are simple and easy to understand, and anyone wishing to comment shall keep them in mind.

1) No Personal Attacks - Do that elsewhere.

2) The Mommy Rule - If you would not say something about a person in a public place with listeners and one of those was your mother (or other person who taught you manners) then: Don't Say It.

3) Civility - Civility is the heart of Civilization. A Civil Society is one in which people get along and agree to disagree. If you disagree out of spite and to disrupt things you are: Disagreeable and unwanted.

4) Actions not Intent - Many individuals are in the habit of applying labels saying: 'The intent of this action is....' and then apply a label. Labels via intent is an attempt to perform thought control and is NOT permitted. Labels applied to actions or described actions that an individual favors may gain a label. If one is applying a label to an action or intended action, it SHALL BE BACKED UP and demonstrated how that label fits the overall schema of the action or intended action.

5) Any proposed actions must: Constitutional, do-able in the engineering or scientific sense, within fiscal boundaries, and have clear and stated goals that conform to the Constitution and Treaties with Foreign Nations (unless such Treaties need to be altered as seen by the one doing the posting).

6) Moderation - Do not expect me to attempt to respond to anything and everything. My energies and concentration abilities are limited. If I see something blatently not in accord to the above I will simply DELETE IT.

Now I will bring in part of my article from The Jacksonian Party:

The Jacksonian PartyWell, first thing is identify if any of the writings on the Jacksonian Party or other things referenced make any sense at all to you. Being a Jacksonian means that you do keep your temper, give people a chance to have their say, and ask for the same in return. If you cannot marshal your own emotions and thoughts, then you will have a hard time making yourself heard above the cacophony of people doing just that. Being a Jacksonian means that you will give honor where it is due and support those who give you their honor. Even if you *disagree* with them, if others can find the openness to speak freely and openly and be willing to disagree but not stage personal or other low attacks, then you have *no* cause to do so. Save your powder for those that need shooting.

Every good citizen makes his country's honor his own, and cherishes it not only as precious but as sacred. He is willing to risk his life in its defense and is conscious that he gains protection while he gives it. - Andrew Jackson
Jacksonianism is not Small Government Conservatism. Jacksonianism is about the leanest government necessary to govern and not one thing more than that. Individuals are to shoulder the burden of making decisions in society. If you, personally, do not think about topics or vote according to your beliefs, then why do you think that complaining about what gets done is valid? The emotional display of such is ruining the public square and meeting place in society today. Personally I cannot honor everything done by every Agency in the name of the People. In point of fact there are only a few Agencies and Departments within the government that I actually respect and see as necessary for governing. By making our government poke its nose into anything that seems necessary, it becomes diffuse and difficult to hold accountable. Government *must* be accountable for its activities for it to gain my honoring of it. That is currently not the case in these United States for this individual, at least.
Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error. - Andrew Jackson
And if you are wrong, then own up to it immediately and apologize! If you unknowingly disparage someone's character or their person without full thought as to what you did, then do the adult thing: APOLOGIZE. That is what adults DO.

Children throw temper tantrums, scream at the top of their lungs and use their feelings to try and twist others to their will to get their way. Adults recognizes this and do *not* accept it. And when someone tries to brand YOU with a label, you must realize that they are doing the exact same thing as a child: they are tagging you with emotions to try and twist you to their will. Keep your temper and even head and you will always be on firm ground. Do NOT let opponents change the debate on *anything* to a side-issue. That must be called out immediately and either ask to show how the issue relates or put it aside for another discussion. Wronging someone unintentionally is NOT the same thing as calling an activity by its proper name. If the name fits the activity, then it is applied. Do not disparage thought or goals by applying labels, as that is an attempt at thought control and despicable .
Peace, above all things, is to be desired, but blood must sometimes be spilled to obtain it on equable and lasting terms. - Andrew Jackson
As it goes within the Nation, so does a Jacksonian see it amongst Nations. Honor and Friendship where it is given, live and let live for the rest, save those that are your declared enemy or hostile. They need to be kept at bay and fought if they leave no other recourse. Again, a simple concept, but in the enaction one that enriches friends and ensures that there is commonality with them.


So those are my thoughts on Jacksonianism and this place. A Jacksonian party can be started here, but it would be one of disorganization, chaos and no small amount of back-and-forthing. Truthfully as a moderator of such my abilities are limited. I would seek for individuals to act as Adults and Citizens and open up their minds to finding ways to keep the Republic whole and enrich it. Denouncing something without showing *why* it would not work and then offering something that *will* is not allowed.

That is the 'Put up or shut up rule'. Vituperate but only if you can think of something better or a better approach. You do have freedom of speech, but responsibility to the Republic, also.

Personal attacks are to be taken by those wanting them off-site. You do not air dirty laundry in public. If you cannot take care of something between yourself and one that you feel has slighted you, then do *not* seek the support of others in your quest for justice. Because if you do otherwise you will be seen as children unable to control your temper and act reasonably. Agreeing to disagree is one thing. Villifying someone because they don't agree with you is something totally other and best left for the schoolyard bullies.

In truth I have no conception on how to even run a 'blogroll' or 'webring' or any other such thing. I am not a leader nor even a good representative, all I am capable of is finding solutions to problems... I am *good* at that. Beyond that, I am absolutely horrible at running social concerns. So perhaps this can be put to use, or perhaps not. And my health will always be up and down over time and undependable even hour to hour. So the energy needed for doing more is also beyond me.
I do not forget that I am a mechanic. I am proud to own it. Neither do I forget that... the apostle Paul was a tentmaker; Socrates was a sculptor; and Archimedes was a mechanic. - Andrew Jackson
I am open to suggestions, articles or anything of that nature...

Do remember that if you point your finger in accusation, three more point to you as accuser and one to the ground. If you do nothing to build you will be seen as one who could only vituperate and never give and that last finger should remind you of your place once gone. If you offer nothing better, then perhaps it is time to be quiet and think upon what disquiets you... and find a way that will work for it to stop. A way that Builds a Republic and keeps the Union whole under the compact between us known as the Constitution.

That is what it means to be a Citizen.

And a Jacksonian.

6 comments:

TexasFred said...

As La Shawn Barber
so aptly put it:

"You have no First Amendment rights on this blog. My right to free speech is protected on this site, not yours.

Mini-civics lesson: The First Amendment restricts government, not private citizens, from infringing on your right to free speech. On this blog, your speech is a privilege. On your blog, your speech is a right. Learn the distinction."

As TexasFred so bluntly put it:

"It's my ball and my bat, we play by MY rules... Or I'll ram the bat up your ***..."

I love blogging... :)

A Jacksonian said...

Fred - I have seen speech online deteriorate from my days in the Usenet groups back in the '80s...

I should probably add in Godwin's Law and extend it to any application of a Totalitarian Leader to a person instead of in historical context.

Also I know I will be traveling for a bit in the future and hate to see things stagnate while gone... at least I should be able to get *some* net access while away.

Assorted Babble by Suzie said...

What a great way to put things in order. (smiling) Now if only....(smiling)

"That is what it means to be a Citizen." and a respectful person too.

A Jacksonian said...

Suzie - By forgetting civility in conversation we lose the Civilization our predecessors fought so hard to gain. I do not mind *reasoned* disagreement since that is honorable and still allows for friendship through that understanding.

That is why I like the 1632 series (out of many) a Catholic Priest and a Methodist Minister disagree about much, but share in their joy of fixing cars. And they learn to ease up on their disagreements until it becomes a means of jest and easing tension. Civility and understanding are the ties that bind society together. We fray them at our peril.

Free Agency Rules said...

Great Blog! I am going to link you.

You are so right. I especially like your Priest and Minister example.

Now if only we could get Christian Religions to quit bashing each other. The Methodist hates the Catholic, The Cathloic hates the Mormon, and so on.

The true Christians should only contend against one church, and that is the Church of the Devil.

In this case that happens to be Wahabism. It is the only completely intolerant religion in the world that I am aware of, and therefore deserves no honor.

Hate is evil, but fighting for the right is not. We all should fight against an idology/Religion like Wahabism that is bent on destroying freedom and tolerance.


JMHO.


FAR.

A Jacksonian said...

FAR - My thanks to you! You are welcome to steal any ideas you like so long as credit is given for the originator, beyond that build upon them and do the work of the Republic.

I see much that is good and bad in all religions, and as what I see is a totality behind them all that none of them describes they all lack for me to believe in any of them, and yet I give honor to all of them for what they attempt to describe. The Wahabbi's have really jumped the rail, however, and their strange attempt to totally distort Islam into something it never was is giving much harm and no good to the world. Totalitarianism via religion is just as bad as via economics or any other justification or excuse used for same. Personally, I detest all such attempts.

And for my strange position on religion and where my mind and body have left me, I have had to resort to the concept of the Land of Grey. Behind me is the light of all, that totality, and in front of me is the darkness which hides those things and beings wishing to prey upon those blinded by the Light. Given my place, I stand and turn from the Light to know it is there and allows me to see into Darkness and the lands of Shadow. And my Grey is cross-roads between waking and sleeping, no longer fully in either realm at any time. Reality softens at its edges and things that should be solid no longer have that feel... and the chaotic dreams start to gain a reality to them, a strange feel of substance of the waking world. It is not where I would have chosen to be in life, but it is what I have left and so I stand here firmly until will gives out.

We that build and protect those seeking only light are Grey. We watch the shadows to see what they hide and give rise to ways of stopping them from destroying what has been built. And keep such Light safe.

As individuals of all kinds and methods of thought we can find common ground against those that would bring us All down and destroy Our freedoms, liberties and selves. We need a Nation to do that, so as to come together in Common Cause and keep safe those things given to Us by those that have come before.

And I adhere to all of those things I am told to do in the Preamble to the Constitution. For We the People are given many responsibilities as individuals before we get a single, solitary right. We forget this at Our peril. It is a heavy load handed to Us and a gift beyond any price. I hope to add my small piece to keep it safe and make it a little *better* so as to hand this gift on after my time.

That is how I see it, even if my thoughts be scattered.

Honor where it is due so that those giving it may be built up and strengthened so We may stand together.

Regard and respect, but no else to those that are neutral for as they give, so shall they get.

And to the enemies of the Nation: hounded until they stop being so.

Simple.

Not simplistic.