... that quite frankly, pissed me off on my post on Tuesday.
AnonymousAugust 16, 2022 at 9:03 AM
I'm sorry but I thought this was a knitting blog, not a political blog. However, I realize you crazy dems can get away with anything. Fun's over in November dear knitter!
ReplyDeleteI was initially tempted to delete this comment but have decided to leave it. Thank you for the blog fodder, Anonymous. I'll be responding in a post I'm writing for Thursday since I have no other way to enter into a reasonable discussion with you due to your anonymity.
I reply to almost every comment on my blog, directly by email if I can, or in the body of the comments if I'm not able to respond by email. I have enjoyed many direct discussions this way, and not surprisingly, sometimes people have even expressed opinions that differ from mine. I respect differing opinions and have often learned something from them. I have Comcast to thank for not immediately deleting the comment since we didn't have internet for a few hours on Tuesday morning. That gave me some time to think about a reasonable way to respond. (I am Highly Reasonable after all!) Since I can't reply to Anonymous by email, and I have too much to say to do it in a comment, I thought I'd express my feelings here in a post.
Nine years ago, I did start this mainly as a knitting blog, but as possibly one of the slowest knitters around, anyone that has read my ramblings for even a few days knows that there is not enough knitting going on here to support a whole blog only about knitting. So I certainly do write about other things - books, the garden, recipes, not winning the lottery, the drought in NJ, cutting cable, life in general, and sometimes even politics. Knitters are complex and multifaceted people, able to hold more than one thought in their heads at a time so they think and do many, many different things.
I have written about politics on quite a few occasions before, and I'm pretty sure I will continue to do so after the November 2022 elections (even if the "fun's over", whatever that means). Just because I am a registered Democrat doesn't mean that I'm having fun now in this political climate, and I don't agree with every Democratic idea that comes down the pike.
Back in January of 2020, this "crazy Dem" even got away with combining politics and knitting! I don't feel the need to apologize for it, will most likely write about politics in the future, and may even break that mug out again if it's needed.
What I hope I don't ever do is call people names, belittle their ideas, and offer vague threats about the fun being over in November. I am inviting people into my "virtual living room" here to read my thoughts and express their own. Just like I wouldn't invite an unknown stranger into my real living room to insult me, that shouldn't be happening here. People are free to offer their thoughts, ideas, and opinions about my knitting, book reviews, or any other thing I've written about, and I welcome the idea of carrying on a reasonable and civil discussion. I'm sorry you didn't give me the ability to discuss this with you directly, Anonymous. While I doubt that either one of us would have changed our minds, we both could have learned something from it, even if it was simply respect for another human being.
So I've changed my comment settings to no longer allow anonymous comments. It pains me to do this because I haven't had a problem in nine years, but it was probably just a matter of time. If this becomes cumbersome or unworkable for my regular and much-appreciated commenters, I may change my mind and go back to allowing anonymous comments, or I might have to moderate comments. We'll see.
This comment was left later in the day, and I'm assuming that it was from the same person, now with a Google account:
My main purpose for even responding to your comments regarding Cheney and Trump was to remind you that this is not the proper place for a political discussion.
I respect your right to hold this opinion, Iwill, but I happen to think this is a fine place for a political discussion. If you disagree, you are free to not read and participate in that discussion, just as I am free to determine my own blog content and whether it is proper or not.
Now that I've had my say, I do hope that other readers will feel free to keep commenting and offering their opinions. Republican, Democrat, Independent, or no political affiliation at all - I don't care one single bit about someone's political registration and leaning; I care about whether they do the right thing and are kind to others.
If you can't be political on your own blog, where can you? I applaud your response; I would have deleted the comment right away.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I can respect that people will have opinions that are different from mine and that not everyone will agree with me (heck, even some people in my family don't agree with me, even though we're all registered Democrats!). What I can't respect, though, is when people come into my space to call me names or threaten me or to try to shame me for expressing my views. I'm fairly certain that I lost a reader who used to comment regularly after I posted in response to the SCOTUS decision that struck down Roe, but as no comments were left about it, I can't be sure. And I don't really care. Anyone who thinks that we should "keep politics out of knitting" is either speaking from a place of extreme privilege or is oblivious. Everything is political, and we can't separate our interest in yarn from our interest in having basic human rights.
How does this anonymous person think it is her right to tell you what should and should not be on YOUR blog? Typical of people hiding behind their computers. I agree with you - I have lots of family and friends who have different political (and religious and life) views than me. Yet we respect each other enough to agree to disagree. And where is it written that knitting and politics don't belong together? Keep posting Bonnie - about everything. People who disagree with you can stop reading - easy as that. PS. Somehow I missed the knitting and political mug post.
ReplyDeleteAnd sorry I spelled your name wrong!!!!
DeleteThank you, Bonny, for so eloquently writing your response to "Anonymous" or "Iwill" or whoever it was. I get similar comments on my blog from time to time -- always from "Anonymous" or from someone with a fake email address so I can't reply to them. (So cowardly.) I usually stew about it, but end up deleting the comment. I like your approach much better. I don't get the "knitting shouldn't be about politics" thing, and I certainly don't get the rude, threatening thing. My goodness! It's your blog. It's your "house." I just . . . don't understand people anymore.
ReplyDeleteVery well said, Bonny. I can't understand why anyone would tell you what you can and cannot write on your blog. You were very wise to contemplate your response, and I agree that people who are not willing to say who they are or are rude deserve no response. The comment seemed very immature and spiteful. Have a great Thursday.
ReplyDeleteFirst off - I didn't think your post about LC was political. You credited her for decent, patriotic behavior even though you disagree with her basic political stance. That is the kind of civil discourse that strengthens a democratic republic.
ReplyDeleteThe commenter was engaging in the opposite behavior: trying to squelch the speech of a person they don't agree with.
Thanks for letting me into your "living room". I don't just come for the knitting, the intelligent conversation is the draw. And I love your letters :)
Bonny ---------that is one of the BEST written responses I have ever read. YOU ROCK!
ReplyDeleteHear!! Hear!! Agreeing with everyone else who has commented so far. As Kym said, what an eloquent response. How polite and civil (and much nicer than I would have been). And, like others, I don't come to your blog just for knitting (though I do love your Hitchhikers!!), but for everything you write about. It's been a joy to get to know you.
ReplyDeleteYour responses were perfect. But I hope in the end you decide not to block anonymous posts. Let the ones who are anonymous come here and get a lesson in how conversations and polite differences of opinion are supposed to work. And I wonder where iwill thinks the "proper place for a political discussion" is anyway!
ReplyDeleteThank you, kayT! You make a good point about allowing anonymous comments, and I may go back to that when I'm feeling a little less tender. I also wonder where political discussion is meant to take place, and I think it's anywhere people are willing to carry on civil and respectful discussions!
DeleteThis is a well written and reasonable response to a very unreasonable comment. It's YOUR blog that YOU pay for and that means YOU get to decide the content. I'm here for all of it! XOXO
ReplyDeleteWhether or not people like it, politics is part of every aspect of our lives, some more than others. No one is being forced to read your blog or agree with anything you post. That's how life is too. But calling someone names says more about the commenter than it does about you.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is your living room. Would an anonymous stranger come into your living room with mildly veiled threats like "fun's over in November"?!?? You were astonishingly civil in your response - way to take the high road. Everything is political even if we're not talking about red vs blue. Anon can go elsewhere if they're looking for that type of discourse.
ReplyDeleteBonny, your response is excellent, especially the part about name calling and the general disrespect that seems to fuel the divisions we are currently experiencing in our country. This blog is your space where you can write about whatever you want and I hope you continue to do just that!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Debbie! I let myself get riled up from a couple of rude and immature comments, but I hope I won't let that happen again. I really wanted to ask what was behind their thinking, and I will probably never understand, but I feel better for responding. You are welcome in my living room anytime!
DeleteOMG. I almost choked when I saw that they'd left ANOTHER comment! And then approached apoplexy when I read the bit about "proper place." That's a lot of gall... on top of a crapload.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, your response is PERFECT. Thank you. And keep on being you, Bonny!
Well said Bonny!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Suzanne!
DeleteBonny, your response is very wise and thoughtful. I agree with Vicki - it is perfect. Why would anonymous think it is his/her job to police what anyone else writes in their posts? Your remarks about Liz Cheney are exactly the kind of political discussion we need in this country. Thank you so much for taking the time to formulate your response. I have had a comment or two from Anonymous that I have simply deleted. Your approach is kind and an example for all of us. Well Done!
ReplyDeleteThis post is Standing Ovation Worthy... and I am doing exactly that! Standing and applauding your eloquent and direct response to Cowardly Anonymous or Iwill.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I have some "preconceived notions" about Anonymous... notions that were proven back when Ravelry said that they were no longer allowing Trumpy posts on their platform. There was lots of Knitting and Politics Don't Mix Angst... which, to me, seemed a cover for their xenophobia, racism, and bigotry. If Knitting and Politics Don't Mix is your cover for your misguided beliefs, then shame on you. If it is not, then be HONEST and use your name and a real email address.
Bravo Bonny! I applaud your ability to take a deep breath and wait to respond. I thought your post re Liz Cheney was thoughtful, balanced and honest - and I am right with you in the sentiments shared! Taking a day to form your reply to anonymous (and their new iteration) shows that you are willing to discuss and be open to other points of view. I, for one, am happy to read ALL your posts (I also do other things besides knit!)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words and support, Julia! I really did mean it when I said that I enjoyed discussing things, even if people hold different opinions - politically or otherwise. That is the only way we're going to see each other as people worthy of respect and not just others that disagree with us. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment!
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