Yesterday, I posted a link to our “FtB Customer Service Department”. This was intended as a joke — we don’t have such a thing — to mock the idea that we do have such a thing. We don’t. Unfortunately, it backfired on me: some of you saw it was in fun and sent in very complimentary messages about FtB as a whole (thank you very much), and some people sent in serious technical concerns which I’ll have to forward to the appropriate parties (note that we already have a link for that sort of thing, Technical Support), and a few people sent in wacky demands and apparently didn’t understand that we don’t have a central authority.
Here’s the full story on authorities at FtB.
There ain’t any.
There are people with some limited responsibilities, but you have to understand how this group was founded. Ed Brayton and I were on Scienceblogs.com, which was going through a transition — it was being taken over by National Geographic, and they had Standards and Practices, and were going to put some constraints on us (which they had every right to do, and I understand thoroughly why they wanted to do it). We didn’t like it. So Ed suggested we go our own way, set up our own network, and be as anarchic as we want. He put all the legwork into getting it done.
I said one goal would be to promote greater diversity — here we were, to middle-aged white guys, and we were both fully aware of the fact that we were part of a dominant majority…we recognized our own privilege. So we were determined to set up a network that consciously promoted a variety of different voices.
What all that means is that in this network, we were going to give the individual bloggers as much autonomy as we could — recruiting women and minorities and then having a pair of white guys behind the scenes monitoring and regulating them would defeat the purpose, besides violating the whole reason we wanted our own network anyway.
So once someone is in here, they are completely independent — no one tells them when to blog or what to blog or what words to use. Ed doesn’t police anyone else’s blog, I’m not telling anyone else what to write, and no one is ordering us around. We figure once someone is let in, they get a bit of space and are free to write what they want, or not write, or even leave. There aren’t any contracts. This is an Interessengemeinschaft, a community linked by common goals (you know what they are: godlessness, social justice, diversity…) but otherwise having only the loosest of ties. Which means that if you write to me and complain about Greta, or write to Ophelia and complain about Ed, or otherwise try to find some higher authority that you can call down upon one of the bloggers here, it doesn’t exist. We really are equals.
We do have some rules, but they’re very general. We have an admissions committee that screens people before we give them a blog — we learned a lesson from Thunderf00t, that the time to regulate bloggers is before they get a space and begin to shit all over the network. We also formed an executive committee to deal with network wide crises…like a deranged blogger who is shitting all over the network. But otherwise, nope, no one here meddles in anyone else’s blog.
That’s why my joke doesn’t work. You have to understand that there is no central authority here first, then you get it. But unfortunately, there are way too many people with an authoritarian mindset who can’t even imagine a simple non-hierarchical network, and my joke feeds into their delusions. So just forget it! If you want to complain bitterly about Dana’s blog, you’ll have to write to Dana, not me or anyone else on FtB.
Of course, I can’t even imagine anyone complaining about my blog. As innocent and inoffensive as a kitten, I am.
But then how am I supposed to show the big, powerful guys that they should let me in their club because I’m like a rabid bulldog whenever somebody criticizes them?
/runs away to write 15,000 word blog post on same subject he’s written 23 15,000 word blog posts on
I had thought the idea was to provide a place for MRA asshats to reveal themselves. I didn’t check to see if the googlegroup in question was publicly readable, I just assumed it was.
However, I do have a question: I know of at least two bloggers who got kicked out (thunderf00t and the recent plagiarist who’s name escapes me since I didn’t read his blog anyway). How is that decision made? What’s the executive authority to do so?
I do think you should respond once to Michael Nugent.
Wait, what are the complaints about Dana’s blog? No wonder I missed the joke, though I did realize something was a bit off. (Uncharacteristic allusions to authority figures with a demure tone should have been all the proof I needed. PZ bows before no non-cephalopod)
Thank you for the recognizing the pain of us clean-shaven folks. I figured thunderf00t was untouchable since he was a member of Big Beard but you showed me that change is possible!
Quoting dshetty (28 January 2015 at 5:45 pm),
What, this didn’t count?
Dshetty, why?
Seriously, why?
NO ONE ever complains about Dana. That’s the joke.
@6 Xanthe , @7 Janine
Because if we are supposed to be the rational/reasonable side then accusing someone of supporting rapists needs a more nuanced explanation (than what was provided at the link provided by Xanthe).
After reading yesterday’s post my first thought was that it was a joke, but after reading the thread, I began to think my first reaction was wrong. Guess my second reaction was wrong, and the first one was correct.
****
dshetty @3:
I think PZ shouldn’t give that asshole the time of day (and it’s not like PZ and Nugent haven’t spoken over the years). Nugent is sleeping with the Pitters (that’s metaphorical). Fuck him.
****
buddhabuck @2:
You’re thinking of Avicenna.
Reads dshetty@3, reads Xanthe’s link @6, reads dshetty @9, wonders what the heck more dshetty wants…
dshetty: Apologizing for the Apologizer of the rape apologists is really a Thunderdome kinda topic, I would say.
dshetty @9:
PZ’s post that Xanthe linked to is more than nuanced enough. Michael Nugent provides a haven for some of the shittiest behaving people on the Internet, and he defends Michael the rapist Shermer.
anteprepro @12:
Dammit. I fell into that trap.
::move it to the Thunderdome shoop::
@tony
is more than nuanced enough
ok we disagree then .
“You have to understand that there is no central authority here first, then you get it. But unfortunately, there are way too many people with an authoritarian mindset who can’t even imagine a simple non-hierarchical network, and my joke feeds into their delusions.”
Or folks who just follow your RSS feeds for news and commentary without ever bothering to learn anything about the site. I’ve been reading you for years but my eyes glaze over whenever you go in for meta or administrative posts and I thought you were for realz.
It is pointless, dshetty, and here is one example. One of the pitters pointed Nugent to the feud that Ed Brayton and PZ had years ago. And, yes, there were harsh words fired off by both men. And now this is a new talking point for Micheal Nugent; that it is hypocritical that those two had a very public and very loud argument but have since reconciled and started FtB together but that PZ will not answer to the now months long calling out of Nugent.
Do this and you might as well take the time and answer to every bullshit claim that the pit has to say.
This is not worth anyone’s time.
So I’m not going to get my refund. Hmph.
So, no cyberpistol.
Again.
Janine:
I’m not sure if they understand how hypocrisy works. Or reconciliation.
Also, for some reason the following came to mind: Billy Lane Craig constantly pestering Richard Dawkins to come debate him, which Dawkins consistently refused, and Billy Lane then thumped his chest, called Dawkins a coward for it, and proceeded to argue against a chair instead. Similar dynamics here.
This joke is interesting in light of how much of the problems in these associated movements are caused by a top-down approach that leads to abuses of power and worship of authority that leads to rank-and-file pitter-type to heap abuse on those who dare criticize those self-appointed leaders.
Take it to the thunderdome cricket.
Thunderdome link
I got the joke, but I can see how it wouldn’t necessarily trip people’s sarcasm detectors. Perhaps a reference to the ol’ “circular file” would’ve helped.
Of course, when there have been real problems (Thunderf00t or Avicenna, for example), FtB has moved quickly to take care of them. So the post was both deeply sarcastic AND ironic (one wouldn’t expect a group that has been able to resolve problems quickly to need a special complaint line.)
I got it.
And I’m laughing.
So you’re saying my wacky demands aren’t going to be met?
I wish to register a complaint.
Whew, that’s a relief. I thought for a moment I was going to have to aim my catapult at their house and fling pumpkins at them. Letting Dana pull the trigger, of course. Which she’s done before.
I actually got the joke but, on a serious note, I think it would be a good idea if you had some sort of About page that explained a little of what you’re saying in this post—even just two or three sentences. (If there is an About page, my apologies—but it’s pretty carefully hidden in that case.)
Obviously, there is something called “Free Thought Blogs” (that’s, after all, what the logo on the upper left says) but if readers form some theories of what that is or what the relationship among the various bloggers is (as I did—some of them a bit wrong), they have no way of checking their theories against FtB says. It’s a form of feedback that allows the readers to confirm or disconfirm whether their ideas are correct.
NO ONE ever complains about Dana. That’s the joke.
She hasn’t posted anything about volcanoes in months!!!!
Oh, that was a “whine” not a “complaint” …
Never mind.
I missed it completely I thought it was some reference to technical issues or something like I was having a while back with popup video adds. Since I fixed them I did not even read farther than the “head Line”
uncle frogy
My feet still hurt.
So does my right hip.
I got the joke … but now I want to see a best-of of the emails you got.
That’s because her name sparkles *nods vigorously*
I thought the “central comitee” was a give away, but, does that mean I won’t get my pony?
Giliell @33:
Dana’s name sparkles? I told her she needed to quit hanging out with Twilight vamps.
Wait, did you promise Giliell a pony?!
I feel betrayed
Here is the About page:
http://freethoughtblogs.com/about
So you’re saying that FtB is a blatant and unashamed anarchy? (Anarachy, I say!!)
Well… since this whole thing was merely an elaborate ruse, clearly designed to force dissenters to make themselves known to you so you could draw up a hit list, I clearly have no choice but to air my grievance publicly!
It has come to my attention that several of your contributors have engaged in visits to what is euphemistically referred to as “the little blogger’s room.” I have names, and if you don’t take steps to remove these perverts, I will be forced to go public with my findings. This is no idle threat!
#peegate
dshetty,
Professor Myers doesn’t owe anyone anything. He’s under no obligation to respond to the sea-lioning douchecanoe Mick Nugent and he’s certainly under no obligation to a tone policing shit stirring slimepit wannabe like you.
We have seen you leaving little turds over there like these two recent quotes. With “friends” like you Professor Myers doesn’t need enemies.
Damn. Really thought I was going to get that pony this time.
Couldn’t you have at least fixed the British weather, before letting on you were only kidding?
(I too would like to see some of the best emails. Without identifying details, of course, assuming they weren’t over the threat threshold)
I still want a puppy.
Tony! @34 and Giliell @33 and @35,
Vampires don’t sparkle. But considering all this talk of ponies, isn’t there an MLP character named Twilight Sparkle?
It all ties together a little too closely.
————–
Marcus Ranum @29,
The Complaints Department is on the top floor. Please note that the elevator is out of order.
The Whine Department is in the cellar.
beatrice
Well, this means that unlike you, I have the promise of a pony.
Yes, it’s true: Freethoughtblogs might give everyone a pony, if we became many orders of magnitude more profitable.
Many like in 1-2-3-many?
Should be doable….
Puppies are less expensive than ponies.
You can’t ride a puppy on to high adventure! Apparently you can ride a pig, though…
I don’t have room for a pony! PZ is clearly a would-be Oppressor of all not-having-enough-room-for-a-pony-people! It’s Oppressive Ponyism!
It might even be crony-ponyism. La! ::half-inches pearls, clutching, for the purpose of::
@26 Lady Mondegreen (aka Stacy)
No, that’s next door. It’s being hit on the head lessons in here.
@Janine
Responding to you on Thunderdome as requested by others
Just don’t send one to Ken White of Popehat!
Professor Myers! Professor Myers! (waving little hand frantically)- Please, oh please, please, PLEASE let this be a running feature on FtB! Under “Frequently Read Threads” for instance. Or its own blog heading. Somewhere!
The hilarious tongue-in-cheek responses from all these wonderful, highly respected commenters truly made my day! As for “Best of” emails? YES! As a slymepitter exposure trap? Absolutely! Sea lions? (Dear Sir, I respectfully wish to discuss…)? Great! Requests for refunds, cyber pistols and ponies? Yeah, Especiamully ponies (thank you Chigau, Giliell)? Okay!
Scr…Archivist @ 41:
Screw the complaints department! Who wants to join me in the cellar for some WhINE?
Arnie @ 36
Thanks—I knew it had to be somewhere.
By the by, now that we’re talking about this hive site: does anyone know what happened to A veil and a dark place? It’s not mentioned in the blog roll anymore, and nearly everything there is gone. All I can find internet-wide is a WordPress blog with that name that is private.
As I sort of had an idea that there’s no Central Committee here, I did not know where to ask, but maybe someone here has an inkling.
I for one am amazed that the e-mail went to a legitimate address.
M’thew,
Was this the blog you were looking for….
http://www.exmuslimblogs.com/betweenaveilandadarkplace/
It looks like it is now a network of ex-Muslim blogs.
Dear Squidly Overlord,
I wish to register a complaint.
It appears that I and many others am and are being threatened with the non-consensual gift of a Pony. I must protest! The illegal quartering of Ponies upon the unwilling public risks kicking the world beyond that point past which lies the Equine Revolution becomes inevitable. Will no one think of the children?
What next—whirled peas? A chicken in every pot hole? Forfeiture of all cheeses?!?!? I beg you, sir, to intervene!
M’thew @54:
Stephanie Zvan answered the question of what happened to Hiba’s blog here.
That’s the joke.
@Tony!
Sorry what was the reason? Your link just redirects to her blog… :(
michaeld @60:
D’oh!
Sorry about that.
Here:
http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2015/01/27/our-complaints-department/comment-page-1/#comment-906529
Ah ok, Thanks Tony :)
@paylparnell, Tony and others,
Thanks very much. I had skipped the Complaints Department thread, or else I would have been enlightened earlier. I’m glad to know that she’s OK and hope to see her back when she’s up to it.