HD said “He should not assume he is anonymous - its an awfully small town - plenty of us know exactly who he is.” Is this not a veiled threat? HD likes to re-write history to suit his own needs. I understand that the UnTruth website is looking for a new owner. Might you apply HD? Admin
John, I never said TP should not contribute here, so that’s a misnomer. (Although you questioned the Cafe’s willingness to let TP speak. Admin)
The point directed to you was why, after stating that readers should judge comments for themselves, Admin intervened and headlined TP’s statements, re-stating them step-by-step, and wholly misrepresenting what TP said. You have not denied or responded to this point, and I think you should. (This of course is up for the readers to decide, not just you HD. Admin).
TP stated a few comments ago that he was anonymous, and as many contributors figured out here after Powers cracked your e-mail, they are not. That is when the large number of your contributors dropped off, and never returned. (Actually this event stimulated our readership. And our readership has continued to grow. Admin) Your lack of any editorial policy has pushed many others away (Take a look at our guidelines. If commenters don’t like the guidelines, so be it. Admin). Many people play guessing games to identify various contributors, its half the fun of it, as you pointed out when you started the Cafe and suggested a masquerade party after a time. So TP should not assume he is anonymous, that’s all. This is not a “threat” because you have chosen to mischaracterize it as such (Let the other readers judge for themselves. I believe one already has registered a negative view of your language. Admin). More accurate, loss of anonymity is certainly a “risk” of participating here, as many have learned. (There has been no loss of anonymity other than Admin. Many commenters reveal themselves by their own esoteric behavior; and the same is true for you HD. Admin)
But more important, you created this site and bear responsibility for the result (This is true. Admin). TP has not made a secret of his extreme, right-wing, anti-public education views. Providing a platform and megaphone for this individual, and allowing - often facilitating - his chameleon-like escape from serious debate, is disingenuous on the Cafe’s part (We’ll let others make their own decision on this point. Admin). Its as if you are determined to never allow the greyhound to catch the rabbit for fear that the crowds will stop coming to your racecourse. (You’re more like a miniature poodle than a greyhound, HD. Admin).
Perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not, this is not the first time you have been charmed by an anti-public education, right wing political extremist. Ernie Wetzel was a personal and public monster, and you helped him into office. (Actually I, John, had little to do with Ernie’s rise. I’m sure Ernie would verify this. When he first ran, Ernie was pro-education. He went to the darkside afterwards. We think it was the millennium bug. Admin). This town, as you are more than aware, needs another one like it needs a hole in the head (You mean another one like you, HD. Admin). And you will have to forgive me for questioning your judgment. (Anyone can question our judgement and of course this has been done many times. We do all the time also. Have you ever questioned your judgement, HD? Admin)
But as you have pointed out in the past, its your blog, so you can run it any way you want. (Actually the Cafe belongs to everyone who uses it. There are no dictators here accept for you HD. Admin)