VN AfterTaste

BoingBoing has banned author Will Shetterly from commenting on its site over his views on the Violet Blue matter and a comment thread on Moderation.

Boingboing’s moderators have banned me from criticizing their moderation in the moderation discussion thread. You can’t make this stuff up. Mark Twain and Joseph Heller would have a field day.

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Disclosures and observations.

1. I haven’t read BB in years so on some level I don’t care what they do. I have no real animosity toward them, most of their posts just don’t interest me.

2. I do read Shetterly’s blog.

3. The Violet Blue matter was spectacularly misshandled. Not the unpublishing. By all means unpublish all posts about her (Mass internet opinion on this is WRONG). Don’t give her any positive press after her move to legally control the use of a color.
No, the problem is not the unpublishing- the problem is the fact that it was unexplained. Explicitly denounce her and explain why she is being unpublished. This is the proper way.

4. Shetterly is right about the Tibet hoax. Banning him for that comment is weak. It displays a hair trigger finger and an intolerance to constructive criticism.

5. Shetterly doesn’t need BB.