Dear Reader,
I write this because some allegations that this blog has deleted comments and moderated comments.
This blog has been founded on the belief to raise the discourse and discussion of our time to a higher level. It is out of frustration at the shallowness of our national discourse that we congregate in these pages. In the beginning, this blog was a free for all brawl. Many of you reading this who were at the beginning would remember the toxicity of our comment threads. Quite often the discussion would degenerate into mindless discussion, off topic.
To be honest, I myself avoid our comment threads past a certain point.
Many of you of course don’t know the discussions between Nick and his writers. We’ve lost some good people in these pages, and gained new ones, but our colleagues who have chosen to move on, are still missed. We’ve had numerous disagreements behind the scenes and we’ve all have our differences. You’ve no idea how much we’ve all gone to that dark place to choose not to participate in this blog. You’ve no idea how quite often how exhausting Filipino Voices is.
Yet, here we are. Here we remain.
Where once we were a free for all blog, we have had to institute changes. Not everyone will agree to it but with our Comment Policy, and our User Agreement, the discussion has now focused on the real issues and not personal attacks. That’s what we’re here for. It is understandable that in the heat of discussion, we quite often lose our cool. That’s why we moderate. Because we’ve had to. We’ve had to have moderators, when we would have preferred not to.
If you’ve noticed that we are less toxic now.
Quite often, I get to read comments that say, we take too long to approve. In those days, how I wish I could tell you that it must be one of those days that each moderator was busy. This blog? This isn’t our day job. We’re all volunteers here. Believe it or not, we have other things to do that doesn’t involve blogging or politics. While we believe in the ethos by which this blog was founded upon, we have our bread and cheese to make our priority. This blog is free. We don’t even have advertising to support it. No writer has gotten as single centavo for writing for Filipino Voices. None. Nada. We don’t ask donations at all. We do this out of fun, out of our sense of purpose, and not about self-worth.
It feels weird that some people might feel some sort of entitlement.
Filipino Voices is a labor of love.
Lately, it has been joked that this blog is painted Yellow. It may seem that way when most of our writers have taken a stand and are quite vocal about it. As mentioned before by our Editor Not Chief, Filipino Voices does not and will not endorse a candidate. Each writer however is free to speak his or her mind. We believe that our Readers are smart enough to understand where we are coming from and decide on their own whether what we speak of, is bullshit or not.
It is such a marvelous thing this Internet that social discourse spreads far and wide and while we respect the opinion of others as they blog across the Internet, please be guided that this blog is moderated as per our user agreement and as per our comment policy. It was a matter of ensuring we stayed focus on the issues and not personal attacks. Our policy has existed for sometime and every writer who has blogged here is well aware of it. Filipino Voices reserves the right to moderate ourselves.
It is quite often sad that the disappointing state of debate in the Philippines exist.
We encourage you to speak your mind, but let us be civilized.
Filipino Voices is a labor of love both by our writers and by our readers. Whatever the disagreements we have internally here at Filipino Voices, we stand firm and we stand together in a pledge to raise the discussion to a higher level. We prefer Hope over Cynicism. We prefer to engage constructively rather than engage in negativity and minutia. We encourage you to participate in our threads. Let us stand on that common ground.
This is Filipino Voices.
Cocoy
Contributor and Moderator
Popularity: 1% [?]
Well put Coy, well put.
I’d stand to applaud, but I didn’t show up to work today.
Thank u, Coy. I would hardly call it yellow since the Perlas and Gordon people stand together far more firmly, it seems, than the Noynoy people do. Not a problem.
If u would like my final take on the Noynoy debate, it is posted as the last comment on Abe’s blog. Just wanting to set the record straight.
Thanks again.
Hi Lila,
of course, i shall read it! :D We highly value your opinion and your conviction. Your work and your comments are highly valued and insightful :D You are a breath of fresh air around here.
Cheers,
-C
Just finished reading. brilliant. just brilliant.
amen to civility! like conan, i too hate cynicism…
Coy,
You and I know the battles we’ve fought against such issues as the traitorous MoA-AD and that plot to extend GMA’s term extenation with Palace functionaries tagging FV writers as ‘destabilizer’ an other names.
Yellow? Never.
hahaha. yeah. *nods* “destabilizer” jester had a lot of jokes about that!
Why a public lynching of Villar with a one sided narrative. Why????
I doubt this will pass muster. you guys are full of it…
Strategic Perspective — By René B. Azurin
By
It’s politics, not ethics
More credibility, probably, would attach to the Senate committee report on its so-called “investigations” into the C-5 road project controversy if senators — most politicos, actually — were not widely perceived as being distinctly unshy, brazen even, about using their considerable power to influence government decisions on public works and procurement. That said, I would certainly give great weight to the C-5 allegations being leveled at Senator Villar if I were satisfied that they were true. I am not.
[Edited by cocoy: i removed the bulk of the article on grounds that to copy it verbatim may be in violation of someone's copyright.]
——————–
Story Location: http: // www [dot] bworldonline [dot] com / main/ content [dot] php?id=5291
[edited by cocoy - i edited the link as per our comment policy. keeping it here because it is in reference to J_AG's comment and is pertinent to the issue at hand]
J_AG,
With regard to Manny Villar, I wrote a piece for blogwatch.ph the other day, “C5 at Tiaga?”
In the article, i tried to balance the point of view of manny villar. he gave out a pdf with regard to his stand on the issue. I have attempted to be fair to him. I also included the charges against him and some slides and some additional data and added my commentary in the end.
so i hope, you can see that it isn’t a one sided narrative. I hope readers can judge for themselves.
Cheers.
Jag,
you and rene azurin should read the entire SCOW draft report.
Or just click on the interactive map showing what happened when the C5 extension changed course. C5
Check the legislative records of the two clowns Noynoy and Mar and you will find them signing on to all liberalization emasures icnluding the repeal of the retail trade nationalization act plus the full tax incentives for landowners to convert their lands to industrial estates all in the hope of luring foreign tenants with tax breaks and tax incentives. All hidden susidies paid for the the formal and informal domestic taxpayers of the country.
Mar lobbied hard for the repeal of the retail trade nationalization act so his family would benefit.
They pretend to be for a level playing field but they push for measures that distort market mechanisms with taxpayer support for their narrow sectoral interests.
They talk of free trade and free markets but insist on getting tax breaks for special economic zones in their areas.
If the BPO sector is all that hot and there is strong investor demand why the need to entice them with tax breaks and a different tax structure from the domestic market. The local guys foot the bill and the government keeps running deficits.
What kind of nonsense polciy is this?
Is that what Abe calls industrial democracy?
J_AG,
This is what I mean when I say that Noynoy and LP seem poised to experiment with industrial democracy.
The programs of the Liberal Party on the matter in industrial relations are the following:
I just don’t buy it when you argue that you support Manny Villar’s bid to be the nation’s next leader because his “wickedness” and “self-interest” (your words) and his phenomenal success of conning his way to power and wealth (your own account) would allow the country a better chance of moving forward than Noynoy and Mar’s supposed pursuit of a primitive economy (your allegation).
Abe where are the policy or plans to make this happen. All you keep doing is putting motherhood statements and goals that they publish.
What for instance is their policy palns for changing the basic monetary ssytem that has taken away the poltical power of the state to create its own credit?
You need a functionsing and effective state to do that as there is no functioning market mechanism in the Philippines.
As to wickedness or animal spirits that is the one human aspect that serves as the basis for a functioning market economy. Adam Smiths invisible hand or animal spirits or self interest balanced by the aribitrating instituions placed by an effective state.
The two bright boys (Noynoy and Mar) are products of the entitlement system in the county and they so far have made no policy suggestions to change the status quo that has governed the country for generations.
At a time when the world is looking (long term) to end the unipolar financial system of the world you continue to mouth the same platitudes.
Breaking that neo colonial cutlture is going to be tough and it will eventually lead to the break up of the aritificial state known as the Philippine Republic.
Oh by the way Abe the use of the word competitiveness in todays culture is actually a misnomer for productivity.
The word productivity is based on the use of engineering, science and technology to multiply the labor value added process of creating wealth. That is th heart of capitalism.
The rent seeking cutlure of our fuedal/colonial socal format will have to go through a process of destruction. You cannot reform a decadent system.
I would prefer the liberating feature of market forces to destroy and disrupts the poltical system. Starving the beast that is the corrupt state is one solution.
J_AG,
What I’m reading from Noynoy’s campaign is that a credible commitment to fiscal discipline (e.g., improve revenue administration/collection, curtail corruption/smuggling at BIR and Customs, and control/manage the fiscal deficit) could lead to the stability of the exchange rate and the value of the peso and therefore the positive expectations of economic agents.
You know that the President is not the policymaking agency of the government and BSP, the sole and formulator and implementor of monetary policies, is constitutionally independent.
Is it your thinking that at this point of the political exercise Filipinos are raring for Noynoy to explain to them how specific monetary policies (e.g., inflation targeting and monetary supply forecast) will be during his watch? Don’t you find that benignOish?
Now, since you are a Manny Villar supporter, do you know if Villar has any answer to your question at all? Or, for instance, is the Villar campaign promising to kick out all the multilateral lending agencies in the Philippines to “(break up) our neo colonial culture”?
i had a bad experience commenting in antipinoy.
i have no problems with diverse opinions. but, i do feel the need to point out to people the implications of their beliefs. after commenting on a string of topics about wholesale generalization of filipinos, i was verbally abused and threatened.
i dont really care/mind about that — words are just words. i’ve been called “stupid” or “a f_king ___” by others. (but being called ugly bothered me! he found my picture online and said i was ugly! no! :) my tita said i’m not ugly!!! :) hahaha…
but i did find interesting that the moderators and long-time commenters over there DID not tell that guy to stop using cuss words and attacking me personally.
i thought they were straight shooters — they their CLAIM to substance had foundation.
alas, no one said anything.
again, i dont mind. i was just very disappointed.
Do u mean commenting on FV or on antipinoy, GabbyD? My understanding is that BenignO had apparently done the exact same thing to a lot of people here before me, so this was definitely not the first time. But of course it was wrong for anyone to call u any of those things on any site — definitely not productive either…
But if this site was so “yellow,” none of what transpired on Abe’s wall would’ve happened. As it was, it was just Abe, Ben (not sure where he stand, actually), Norman and me on the Yellow side. Other Yellows were pretty quiet, unlike the Perlas/Gordon crowd. One Erap guy was also pretty vocal.
Btw, please tell your buddy Benigs that I have no desire to answer him on his sites because I feel no need to help him out by getting him more blog hits (people like conflict). Tataas lang ang Alexa rating niya, no? If he’s interested in my views (which he’s not), he knows where to find me. I can always write about him on my blog and generate as many hits as I can… :D
Altho he should be careful about slandering me excessively because he’s not only confirming my point about hate-mongering; he’s also strengthening a possible slander case against him…
Lila, dear friend,
Don’t bother to engage.
SEO tactic and ego trip lang yung attack sa iyo.
Never go down to their level.
Same here, Lila.
Thanks, guys — much appreciated. :-) Yeah, notice the silent treatment I’m getting from Phil and Brian B too. :D Pero okay lang — I see it’s remained pretty partisan despite Cocoy’s beautiful note (already featured on UFW, btw). Thanks, btw, Cocoy. And, no, I won’t make the mistake of engaging ever again. Welcome to the nature of public discourse in the Philippines.
Lila, thanks.
i don’t open their site. i only checked this morning after that i don’t think i’ll visit. thou shall not feed trolls on the Internet.
Huh, silent treatment. Ha ha…
I’ve noticed you were pretty much engaged in a fracas with Benign0, UP n Grad, Chino et.al., I didn’t want to give you more troubles.
Ask Bert and Ding, I give generally fair comments here at FV (wink, wink).
:-)
Phil is always fair, he’s my friend :-D.
I am curious as to why Miriam on Gibo hasn’t been heckled: interesting, no? The group feels Gibo has no chance? Or they have a irrational preoccupation with Noynoy?
Gabby, you are not alone, but it is mainly one guy who troubles me there. It is a different philosophy on editorial discipline, and with that you have the personal attacks in lieu of discussion. I can go with either, and give either. I go there to get Benign0′s viewpoints, mainly, as he comes at things at a slant which causes the brain to work, and sometimes the skin to thicken. There is enough commentary around for both sites to thrive, and I like FV and its community a lot.
The complaint of the day at AP was that Karl and UP n have been “banned” on FV, which I would find disheartening if true. Karl has good real-world insights, and UP n is wise and practical, a rare combination. Neither uses untoward language, so I feel maybe some distortions have entered the dialogue. A time warp perhaps.
Joe
Take it from a pro blogger FV. If you keep banning people you will only make your rival site popular.
Also, based on your Alexa you probably have less than 500 unique visitors daily. A very small fraction make comments, who we all know are regulars. That means the size of the audience is too small and audience participation (in political blogs, non-participation can also be taken to mean non-attention) too limited to be of any value to vote-hungry pols. It’s still useful in spreading information, though. Better than word of mouth, anyway.
I agree, Joe. Karl makes excellent points and has always been polite with everyone, as far as I can see. Up n is less respectful in general, but he definitely has some useful insights (altho he has now resorted to misquoting me in other sites). But I certainly hope they haven’t been banned.
GabbyD,
Di ko nakita nag comment na may umatake sayo sa AP, sa mlq3 binanatan ka din nung doctor rizal whoever,kaya lang sa tingin ko kaya mo naman sya eh. at pag pinatulan ko baka mkakuha ako ng lecture sa kanya araw araw gabi gabi and I do stupid things pag napikon ako.On AP,I just started commenting there,I voiced out my disagreemnt on some measures espoused by noynoy,but i also told them that I will still wait for the Noynoy campaign to get better.
About the paid hack issue, I emphatize a bit with them, dahil Kahit noon pa,panahon pa ni bencard at ni Cat ,umaangal na ako sa paid hack accusations, nakuyog na din kasi ako many years ago.(i was almost accused of being a paid hack)
As UPn says different strokes for different folks.
I will still continue to visit AP,when the time comes that I can no longer take the heat I will get out of the kitchen,so far wala pa namang traumatic experience na nagyayari.
Benign0 me atraso ako dyan buti minsan sinasagot nya comment ko dito remember when he was outed nagulat ako dahil kilala ko pala ang tao so I confirmed it and I got the keep on guessing lecture and the stop speculating on my personal circumstances.
Naulit ko nga sa b7 eh,kaya ko nasabi na buti pinagcomment ako sa AP and I have to tell benigz and BongV that I could not register to their site,it was bongV who allowed me ot have to register there.
@lila,
I know you already told me once to stop apologizing, so i won’t apologize about what i said about the paid hack thing,iba kasi ang dating sa akin eh.
@Joe,
I quoted upn and the transcript was this:
UP n grad
January 28, 2010 • 5:43 am
FilipnoVoices have banned me, too it looks like. Either because I’ve posted into antiPinoy or because Nick and FilipnoVoices moderators like the Lila Shahani a lot or both. Cool!!!
[Reply]
karl Reply:
January 28th, 2010 at 11:00 am
“FilipnoVoices have banned me, too”
Say,what?
http[colon][backslash] [backslash] antipinoy[period]com/noynoy-supporters-are-getting-fed-up/
I used “” since html commands is an issue now in comment threads
I did not bother to blockquote, then you know the rest of the story.(i was misinterpreted)
You have seen it yourself.
I am just clarifying things.
I also attempted to clarify it over there at AP
Karl, what did u say ba? I don’t remember. Dunno about anybody else, but you’ve always been very straightforward and decent to me (valid points too). R u sure you’ve been banned? But you’re here, aren’t u?
Karl, please read my reply to Chino above.
I have been very vague( can’t think of a word for confusing )
I was talking about my comment here (jan 29 5:50 pm)where I said “I empathized with them a bit”.(i spelled the word wrong in the comment).
It is not about talking behind your back.
antipinoy is benigno’s blog
MB,
It is BongV’s
Alhough benign0 is the most outspoken there, bongV started the blog.
But We can say,it is benign0′s blog too, like before I call this Nick’s blog, Now I will call it Cocoy’s blog.
ps
I don’t know the allegations if ben—ct igna–o(who is an offline aquaintance)really has multiple personalities (I’ll just keep on guessing),but he is not BongV. BongV is a friend of my cousin in Davao.
you mean renato pacifico now owns a blog? nag-level up na siya?!?
“That’s why we moderate…”
Sure indeed, Cocoy!
Not to fuel the fire, but I think the Antipatiko-kay-Noy dudes feel that they are moderated MORE than the pro-NoyNoy chaps like the likes of Manuel Buencamino.
Noynoy may be the best reasonable candidate in 2010, the lesser evil if you will, but I’m worried about the fascistic, daydreaming, anti-masa, pro-minority, camelot-daw elements in his inner circle.
That’s fair, BrianB.
Is Manuel rude?
I had lunch. Though I don’t get replies through my email so sometimes I don’t reply. Anyway, are you and Cocoy getting closer or is it just my imagination?
I was actually asking Phil about Manuel because he referred to him…
@Lila,
Let’s just say that MB also becomes pretty passionate in his politics.
B, as in Bibo.
That was from the reply above, I think.
January 29, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Manuel is direct and to the point. He can be considered rude by those who disagree with him, but so can you or I. I like the guy’s candor, myself, and often it comes attached to humor.
Joe
Manuel is a good guy, as far as i know.
My experience with MB is, after he elicits my opinions, he suddenly attacks and disses them. Like when I mentioned what candidates I considered, he dissed them. Nuff said.
Come on, Chino — surely that’s the pot calling the kettle black? You’ve been routinely dissing me in other sites but don’t appear to have the courage to do it to my face — like here. I have no interest in registering in BenignO’s sites (where he morphs into several personas) because I don’t want to give him more traffic and I do not wish to have my e-mail address known.
But last I heard u were now an expert on my relationship with my uncle as well. FYI, he may have been mad at me for a period but we’ve now made peace. There’s a long relationship there. And I don’t need him or my Mom to slap u people with a lawsuit: I can easily do it on my own. So I suggest u take care to remain very, very accurate about what u say about me in other sites because u r now being monitored. I don’t believe in censorship either, as long as u stick to the issues, don’t get personal and know what the hell you’re talking about.
This applies to Benigs and to Up n as well.
U don’t like Noynoy and wanna critique him? Knock yourself out. U wanna knock our ideas? Go ahead: be my guest. But stick to the issues and stick to the facts. Because if u think I was imprecise about Benigs on Villar, u are way off on any number of things about me. So I would suggest u develop a little self-reflexivity here or u will lose credibility altogether.
P.S. Nicki Perlas has been informed about how u people “campaign” for him, and I gather he didn’t appreciate it. Will discuss this with him further. Don’t be surprised if he distances from u altogether. Nuff said, Chino.
It’s just last I heard, Ms. Shahani, so if I heard wrong, please pardon me. It’s just my opinion. I guess it’s the same on how you heard of Perlas “not appreciating” us. We vote for whose platform we like regardless of reaction at this point, because the important reaction is their doing it once elected to office. I beg your pardon if you find me dissing you in other sites, but aside from what I heard, you could say I don’t insult you, right? I’m still within the realm of acceptable behavior in this blog, and I’m not a namecaller. But besides that, thank you for your reaction to me, I’m quite honored, and I appreciate being monitored. I hope it means more and more people monitor me so that my opinions may be heard – same as you I guess.
Thanks, Chino. Let me be clear, once and for all: the only person I have a beef against is BenignO because he was unnecessarily rude. I DO NOT believe that anyone else should be banned, not even Up n, who has misquoted me elsewhere. But I do not control the FV editors so they will do as they see fit.
But, for those who remain members of FV, I would thank u kindly to direct whatever lingering issues u might have with me here rather than in other sites. I am not so unreasonable that I can’t take criticism (as long as it’s made respectfully) or question my own position. For me, a lot depends on what happens after the campaign ban lifts: if my candidate is not up to snuff, I have no problem shifting. I’m not in this to be popular or to be in power. Yes, your posts about me have remained in the realm of acceptable behavior and I certainly hope you’ll keep it that way.
This also applies to Ilda, who sadly still seems to think I see her as a hack when I have gone out of my way to explain that I only suspected this of BenignO (despite his ranting to the contrary, I am still considering this). If u have any doubts about my position, I suggest u read my final comment under Abe’s blog. I understand from Norman that he also took the liberty of posting it in UFW. So, Ilda, I strongly suggest u read it. I don’t about other Noynoy supporters u have been talking to, but I assure u that not everyone is the same. I am not “backing down” on the hack issue at all: I was surmising about the hostility here at FV (which Joe and Ilda chuckled about) but the fact is that the energy at FV is decidedly partisan and occasionally nasty. Let’s just call a spade a spade, shall we? This is not about my being thin-skinned: having seen Ding’s Scandalizing blog and the Darwinism one, it’s obvious that that’s how people with different viewpoints communicate around here, more’s the pity.
I have to say that I have any number of friends who r Republicans, Democrats, Marxists and anarchists — we all agree to differ in very civil ways. So, yes, there was a lack of civility here way before I joined, and the unhappiness with BenignO’s behavior cannot be laid at my feet alone. From what I understand, MANY people (including such thick-skinned people as DJB) found him difficult to deal with. So let’s drop the absurd notion that the editors r now “rubbing elbows with people they r used to writing about” (Ilda) or that Cocoy and I r getting unusually close (BrianB). It’s not because I’m a favored FV blogger either (BenignO). It’s because Benigs has been rude for a long, long time (to Reyna Elena, Buraot Delgaod, MLQ, etc, etc), and I happen to be the flavor of the month, that’s all.
Initially, i wondered if the ruder ones were hacks (shoot me: it’s not a shocking conclusion to come to, sorry). If it’s not true, why did Benigs and Ilda bother to write two whole blogs about it? If it’s not true, why not just shrug it off? There IS anger in many postings, and I maintain it is unnecessary. But, in the end, as I got to know people better, my focus on the hack issue was only on Benigs. But my opinion is by no means final: I am letting my decision depend on how things pan out.
U misunderstand: Nicki Perlas is a family friend. I cast my lot with Noynoy when he had not been allowed by COMELEC to run. Now I am waiting to see what happens after Feb 11. He has been busy, but I’m sure we’ll reach him at some point, so it’s not hearsay. But u also misunderstand the sort of human being he is if u think he would appreciate these attack methods. My Mom routinely consulted him on environmental issues and plants, and we greatly respect him. More importantly, he is on good terms with Noynoy and the other candidates. What some of u fail to understand is that these candidates r all generally quite CIVIL to one another: Perlas would NEVER be rude to Noynoy the way Benigs was with me; nor would it occur to Gordon to be disrespectful to anyone. Up n might also be surprised to know that even Erap is generally very courteous. The only ones I haven’t met r Gibo and Villar (and that’s fine with me). But I would suggest that u think about your communication style. There’s a reason why they r where they are, and we’re just a bunch of bloggers. And, at the rate we’re going, we certainly won’t convince any of outside our readers to support any of our respective candidates.
Among educated people and intellectuals, a difference in opinion doesn’t necessarily mean WAR.
So now Ilda has written yet another blog about me (“An Open Letter to Lila Shahani”) because she says she has been moderated and prevented from sharing it here. Let me be clear: I too have been moderated (three times, at least). When I asked Nick why, he said the site does it automatically. I gather it has to do with the length (I admit the posts were long) and certain key words. He didn’t even know what comment I had been referring to. After a few hours, it got approved. So the notion that there is an Orwellian horror here composed of the nefarious duo that is Nick and Cocoy might be slightly paranoid, guys. The sense I get is that they have a hard time keeping track of all the posts as it is.
Please do not hold me responsible for the moderation, Ilda, BenignO, Chino and all. I never once asked that BenignO be banned (I didn’t even know that was possible, but then I’m technically illiterate and quite new to blogging anyway). I was just annoyed that MY response to Benigs had been moderated, so I asked Nick why. He told me he would check. When he did, he saw for himself what happened in Abe’s blog and decisions were made. Honestly, I have no idea if Nick or Cocoy make those decisions in general. But I certainly don’t! I never asked for Up n to be banned either, altho I did say I didn’t appreciate his tone. So what? I didn’t expect it would lead to anything at all. And it’s certainly not a crime to express oneself. U all certainly do. And how! :D
Again, I DO NOT want anyone to be moderated for having a different opinion. Shocking as it might seem to u, I, too, believe in free speech. Let the chips fall where they may, I say. Still, I maintain that what Benigs did was totally unnecessary, so their decision may have been the right one in the end. And I maintain that we can always be respectful towards one another.
If u are not happy with being moderated, I suggest u take it up with Cocoy and Nick directly. Because that’s what I have to do too. I’m just a blogger who happens to be slightly more respectful than Benigs. Ok?
I appreciate your response to this. But I’m sure you will understand why I side with the likes of Benign0 and company. We just have the same ideas about things. Too bad you’re still waiting for Perlas; it’s ripe to get back to him. But your choice is yours. Anyway, that’s all. I left a comment at Mr. Margallo’s post, summarizes my stance. Thanks.
For the record:
1. if you post links, it will automatically go into moderation.
2. Hell, if i’m not signed in, *I* go into moderation sometimes =)) i had to go approve myself :P how funny is that?
3. i won’t mention anymore some people who got thrown into pending and were impatient because the mods took time to approve. We do have a life outside of fv. so there happen to be moments when everyone is busy and things fall apart.
if you go into moderation it doesn’t mean you don’t get approved!
got it?
it just means the system will review itself. just give us sometime you know? to be honest: quite often i approve pending comments.
as for comments: be civil to each other. you can’t be heard when yelling and you can’t be heard when you’re angry and you can’t be heard if people act like petulant children.
if you got problems: tweet me (@cocoy) or nick (@filipinovoices). for as long as im awake i’m on twitter anyway.
got it?
but please don’t expect if you go into moderation it gets approve or gets approved outright. we do have rules now. and blogging takes WAY too much of my time as it is.
For as long as i moderate: i will be fair. that is as much as i can promise you.
Chino, I’m waiting for ALL of them. All the platforms so far have been fairly skeletal. And they have been written by policy wonks in their staff. I wanna HEAR the candidates and most r respecting the campaign ban that will lift on the 11th of next month (I think). I am waiting to hear what they all have to say about reproductive health; I wanna hear Noynoy on Luisita, Mendiola and land reform; Villar on C5, ideology and corruption; and Gibo on private armies and illegal arms. And I want to assess actual platforms AS DESCRIBED BY the specific candidates. As I said, Perlas is wonderful but I’ve never seen him communicate publicly; just because u like and respect someone, it doesn’t mean u think they should be your president, u know? I don’t know if he can hack it; I don’t know if the others can as well. Even Noynoy: if he sounds incoherent, then that’s that for me too. So let’s just see, ok? As I told Ilda, I can always change my mind. But, for now, I’d appreciate it if you would respect where I stand.
We don’t need to be in opposition, u know. U might side with Benigs on Perlas, but who knows? U might agree with me on land reform and family planning. So please don’t judge a book by its cover. Not all Noynoy people r evil, “moronic” human beings. U might even be pleasantly surprised and find that we can become friends.
re: Ilda and the whole Open Letter to Lila Shanai bit,
If a comment was made between the time this piece was posted until now, I have not seen her comment appear either as pending or spam. and our trash is empty.
So, for the record i can not moderate if there is nothing to moderate.
also for the record:
if you got problems with any member of FV— take it up with Nick, he’s Editor Not Chief or if you think talking to me is better, then do so. *Then* I’ll talk to Nick. Ultimately, he’s got Veto Powers since this is his playground after all.
Lila is a blogger here and she has been kind enough to accept Nick’s invitation to blog with us. Her first post was awesome, if you ask me. I learned by reading it.
I am actually glad she is participating in our common thread. we need more estrogen in these threads and in this blog. Her perspective, I think is important too like everyone’s here on this blog.
Got it?
I am loyal to my friends, mind you and I don’t take kindly to lies.
You’ll find yourself with someone willing to listen. I also don’t take kindly to people using other people’s misfortune or hurting other people for personal gain.
Play fair. Don’t threaten. Ask.
For the record too:
I don’t know Lila in person. never met her in real life. Our longest conversation was yesterday.
It doesn’t matter who her relatives are. Read her post, and her comments and reply by it. I really don’t like people judging others when they don’t know a person. never met them in real life or judge because of “what they’ve observed”.
Gibo has more following online, imho. Not that they’ve been arguing good points. he’s like all talk but when you distill what he actually has to say, nada.
And everywhere Noynoy’s online friends have been attacked viciously.
If you want to read more about Noynoy, i posted “The Juggernaut Noynoy Aquino” on blog watch.ph as well as his Economic Vision and Platform.
I posted time and again about the guy here on FV. *points at search button*
I post stuff on Villar and Gibo and you know what? i’m so disgusted and disappointed. People want issues, and you bring issues up and people just go up against personalities and attacks on this site. All i get are “you are biased” no one would argue issues and facts.
I write about Mendiola Massacre and all I get is that “kawawa naman mga farmers” wth. i cited history books and that’s all i get? counter-argue with data, please.
Ms. Lila, looks like we know where each other stands, I’m happy to leave it at that. Yes, I’m open to us being friends, did I say we’re enemies? Neither do I say *all* Noynoy adherents are moronic (and I never used that word). Guess we can close this for the moment. Till the next then.
How can a society evolve if it will only prefer HOPE. The abscence of debate or over substantive resistance to YELLOW is not civilized either. Prepare for a strong debate. I am allergic to Yellow recently for some reasons. I am sensing an ISTP personality. With MBC and the status quo, an ISTP can hardly function at his best.
I am still 50% GIBO..
cocoy, you are way too nice. my kind of guy.
Pogi kasi :-D.
thats very shallow Bert. Maybe size? lol
haha. kind enough you to say, but i’m not that nice.
hope to change your mind before the elections. if not, well that’s why we’re a democracy.
True hope is not founded on rabid anti-Glorianism and fanatic Noynoyism. It is founded on the knowledge of what to really do. This is to improve our thinking and making sure what we’re doing is right. Thus, even anti-Glorianism and fanatic Noynoyism should be questioned. Are you sure the country will improve after you get what you want? And criticism is not cynicism. It’s a step to finding the truth.
Coy, you have no idea how interested we are about what goes on behind the scenes at FV.
BrianB, not *that* exciting. lolz.
“This is Filipino Voices.”
Sayang. This could have been Sparta.
I think it’s has become plain that the experimental phase of political blogs has come and gone. We’re now and earnestly on the “blog as medium for propaganda” phase.
When you begin to dictate the premise of ideas, nay when you suppress the disturbing colors in the rainbow that is the emotional gamut of a human being (I am deliberately mixing metaphors for emphasis), ehem, when you justify censorship on emotional grounds, foist criteria, rig the scope and mode of debate, judge the face of truth according to your own sentiments of beauty… this, my friends, is the birth of your intolerance.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
As for medium for propaganda, i think it is because of election season.
let us see how it plays out. i’ve high hopes. I hear what you are saying and it is a valid point.
we blog but ultimately it is you, the reader who judges whether the content we just produced is good content or bull. And you will vote by alexa, and some by comments. So ultimately you are our judge.
Where before we were earnest amateurs, now we are relentless pros.
Ha?
“This could have been Sparta.”
“…now we are relentless pros.”
Exactly. Indeed, I kinda miss the brawls with gladiator Dean Jorge Bocobo. Are you lurking there, Sir?
Was just talking to him kanina Phil.
Abangan… :)
*heart*
thanks :D
Nice post Cocoy. Check out my response to it here:
http: // unmoderatedfilipinovoices [dot] com /2010 /01/ in-response-to-cocoy-dayaos-we-prefer-hope-over-cynicism/
Cheer-yo!
[Edited by Cocoy - allowed this comment for the sake of the democratic response and is no way an endorsement of the link. i edited the link since it is in violation of our comment policy. Whatever questions you need answered they're in this post and I stand by it. But I will be heavily moderating threads.
I do not stand for disrespecting. I also do not stand for threats especially against women. So everyone is warned.]
Hi Cocoy. If youre going to enforce the comment policy of FV, I think this the right way to do it. Benny I think put up the site for comments to FV that didnt pass the policy as adjudged by its moderators. Maybe, if it isnt too technically difficult, a site where moderated comments can be viewed in full (like Tumblr, I dont know) can be linked to. It would be in keeping with the original vision of FV where everybody’s voice could be heard. It’s like letting them play in the garahe instead of the sala.
Im an adherent of ‘My blog, my rules’ myself since we’re fortunate in that we live in a society where no one is really banned — they can just put up a new site and comment from there (with linkback preferably). Sometimes Im amused by people complaining about ‘lack of democracy’ when comments are moderated or deleted. One little site isnt the whole of the internet.
Jeg, glad to read you again after a long absence.
Where in the world have you you been hiding?
Now that you’re back in FV, I believe you’re with us, err, with Jegordon or Jegibo, right?
Been extremely busy, Bert. I was in the Philippines for less than a month in 09 and am still overseas. But I do read the posts whenever I can even if Im not participating in the fora.
To be honest Phil Ive never placed any great hope on any candidate for President. I prefer to place my faith in the people (and how I wish they learned to place more faith in themselves and each other; no president will be able to save them). I dont know any of the candidates and there is no rational way to determine how they will behave once in office, their published platforms nothwithstanding. Voting is an act of faith and gut feel and not reason no matter how you feel youre making a rational choice. My gut feel is telling me to go for Aquino, but since this site has already been accused of being yellow, that’s all Im going to say about that. :-)
“…I prefer to place my faith in the people (and how I wish they learned to place more faith in themselves and each other; no president will be able to save them).”
Fair enough, buddy. For middle class people like you and me, we do have the right background (education, parental support, exposure, and the like) to place faith in ourselves.
But you see, I believe that fore those leaving on 2-3 dollars a day, the kind of leadership from president-centric government like ours, is needed. In terms of public spending for employment-generating infrastructure, social services, small-and-medium business start-ups, etc. That is why a proven, accomplished leader becomes important.
Many people just need a ‘how to guide’ to pick themselves from their own boot straps.
Wasn’t it me who kept saying here at FV that poverty is the absence of choice?
Finally..
Finally…
Hi to all.
Cocoy, this is such a refreshing note. Finally, someone put his foot down on the childish mudslinging! I complained about the degenerative tone of discussions here after only two visits here last year, shortly before Cory Aquino passed away. A real turnoff, as in big time.
I hope we’ll see real enlightening discussions from now on. Bravo, Cocoy!
Thank you. We shall improve.
Yes, kapihan, not kampihan, please… :-)
Communication is a tricky business. For instance, I could say “f*ck you” or “tanginamo” to a friend all in jest and not provoke hostility because the words go with a certain tone, facial expression or gestures that place those words in context. In a written message, such would make an instant enemy. This is true with even less obnoxious words or phrases or statements. Same with candor or on-you-face counsel. I have been here more as an observer and I was witness to how an otherwise good discussion degenerate quickly into name-calling and cussing. I say sayang but whatdaheck. I think there should be more effort and earnestness in selling the idea and understanding the message and less of the showmanship and I-have-a-better-idea-than-you-asshole kind of attitude. As if I am not guilty hahaha!
sabi nga ni john lennon, “all we need is love, love is all we need.”
Cocoy,
You know I’m against censorship of any kind. But it’s your blog.
Manuel,
To be honest, we share the same sentiment. I am all for freedom and rights and free expression. I am for Internet rights, to be honest. i hate having to moderate. when we were starting there *was* no moderation. Overtime people started taking it personally so here we are.
all i can say is, for as long as i moderate, then i shall be as fair as possible.
If I may advance my two-cents worth…
Appropriate and necessary moderation is really crucial. Unlike MSM, where the reader could easily go back to the media at his own leisure, whether it be a taped broadcast, newspaper article, etc.the attention span in an internet blog is as short as nano-second. A missed comment is, to use a cliche, gone with the wind…
Yeah, like they won’t take it personally when you tell them the TRUTH.
BrianB: I will try to be as fair as possible. that’s the best promise you can get from me. I can’t prove it by just posting “i will be fair”. you’ll just have to see as the weeks and months go by.
manuel,
Your not such a bad rude dude!
Your clamor and arrogance I like!
(I’m supposed to post this in my last entry in answer to the comments of Mario and Lila. I got swamped and I almost forgot about it. Anyways, I think it now belongs to Cocoy’s piece instead).
Mario and Lila,
There are two entries of mine here in FV, The FV Project and Why we blog , that are probably relevant to your suggestion/concern:
In the first I’ve extolled FV in the following:
Then, I have proceeded to cite examples of the dialectic and certain synthesis that Lila has touched upon:
The second piece is a discourse about blogging where I’ve postulated that:
The following analogy has been offered:
I’ve concluded that –
Yes, Mario, I agree that FV could be educational. And Socratic too as Lila has pointed out.
Btw, I’ve made known to our FV team that I also subscribe to the “rotten apple metaphor” the rationale of which goes this way:
.
But then again, even liberals like Obama thinks that democracy can be messy. The dilemma therefore is: how do we defend the stand that allows the exchange to be free when its very existence is “threatened” by infection from rotten apples (e.g., trolls and inflamatory messages)?
I’m new here to FV, though I’ve been following the blog for quite some time. But despite that, I don’t really know what happened in the past few days (or weeks) which elicited this post. And because of that, I’m only giving a general view here regarding censorship in blogs.
Over at Filipino Freethinkers, we have employed the policy that:
“Freethinking is this group’s native language.
Some are fluent (logical, better at critical thinking, etc.) Others have bad grammar or a weird accent (pseudoscience, logical fallacies, etc.). But it’s easy to see when someone is speaking a different language.
So anyone can come here. But unless they speak the language, they’ll either leave, learn the language, or have a bad time (and give others a bad time).”
The same could be applied here, I think. It is perhaps the decision of the group to have some rules and it should be respected since this is their blog. Certain restrictions do not mean democracy is lost. After all, absolute freedom is impractical.
*nods* the restrictions are in our comment policy and user agreement and just common decency. i mean, name calling just doesn’t work out in a civilized discussion.
my position is that let the rubbish and non-rubbish compete in the marketplace. eventually, they will seek their own level. censorship creeps under the guise of filtering the rubbish.
who will say that the post is uncivilized, you cocoy or Nick?
JCC,
“what’s civilized?” errr. doesn’t that fall under what society thinks *is* the norm?
based on anecdotal feedback people don’t participate in our comments precisely because our commenters are unruly or are scared to participate because they would be shot down.
as i replied to MB., i’d love for unrestricted comments, you’d think i’m happy doing this more often. some of us need to have a life, but it is what it is. some control must be exerted.
cocoy,
civilized society is a norm in the Philippines? it is NOT. The philippine society is very backward so let’s get physical… lol.
Coy, when I was first invited to join FV, I took a long time before saying yes because I had heard from at least a dozen people that the rows here were a nightmare to read. “Minimal learning curve, Lila; just a clash of colossal egos; you’re better off writing your own blog or just reading a book,” to quote one FV reader, who has since stopped following this site. Now I finally understand what they all meant. I’m glad you’re instituting a change.
I’ve been moderated a number of times here. Sometimes when I think what was done is not fair I got mad and post a complain. But most times just shrug them off since, first, I knew already what was coming, second, the blog owner or the moderator has the prerrogative.
To Dra.Prudence:
My personal welcome to you here in FV.
I’m a non-believer myself though I don’t know how it differs from being an atheist or a free thinker. Can’t contribute much on medical practice or medical ethics but political discussions excites me such to me is a favorite topic.
At times when a blog about religion and God happened to come by here in FV I can’t help participating in the discussions, to the exasperation of the readers. I don’t know whether the exasperation was due to my very bad grammar, or to my very weird accent, but, since the moderators of FV are such nice people and very fair in their wielding of the scissors, the FV readers just bear and grin it, knowing perhaps of my right to my two cents.
Bert,
Thanks for the welcome.
I don’t believe in a god. I’m a simple-minded person. :-)
spot on.
abe,
blogging for me remains an elitist pursuit with masses entirely left behind rummaging the garbage and working in the field than read FV.
Thanks for this, Abe. Hahaha — I can just imagine DJB and Benigs in one thread. Darwinism must’ve been a riot — will be sure to check it out… :D
Agreed, Prudence. No one is questioning the notion of a free market of ideas. So whatever ideas u happen to be conveying r not in and of themselves inherently objectionable, regardless of what presidential candidate u happen to be supporting. I gather the issue has to do with the FORM. If the post is unnecessarily disrespectful and rude, it’s a problem, irrespective of ideological persuasion, period. And I would argue, ricelander, that there’s a big difference between verbal and written communication.
So it’s not about censorship of any particular group if the rules apply equally to everybody. There r rules in most forms of social organization (except self-avowedly anarchic ones), whether they r presidential debates or boxing matches. And people who want to remain in the fray generally comply.
Btw, I just want to clarify that I was being metaphorical when I’ve written in my last blog that “our color is yellow.” To me the meaning of color yellow is HOPE (as in “hope over cynicism”). And that’s what meant.
*nods* me too.
Awaiting Moderation is disguised Censorship. Ideas and opinions are
just ideas opinions. Take what you agree. Leave what you dont agree.
Awaiting Moderation is just plain Censorship.
To FV’ers
To those, whom I have contended against, and exchanged opinion(s). Please, let me express myself, with the greatest attitude and humbleness. To ask those, that I’ve offended at my early beginning here @ FV site.
I do realize, such name calling, or its depiction, is highly uncalled for, and to certain extent, its derogatory implication, has no place and value.
“Forgive me!”
Wow, now that’s a first in these parts. Good for u, Mario!
Mario, what you just did is a class act. Cheers.
Norm
cocoy,
do you wish to hear what you want to hear alone? you removed “email notice” and now you want to sanitized?
anyway, i know this is your site and as such, you can do what you want for any reason. (but let me read the guidelines, first)
in defense of cocoy — whom i’ve crossed light sabers with before — the fellow is eminently fair, even in lethal (intellectual) combat. he, and others like him here, will not “sanitize” in support for or in opposition to opinions not espoused by him and/or them.
oh, and it’s not his site. it’s always been ENC nick’s labor of love — and despite all the brickbats he’s always been passionate about making FV something relevant to this country he loves.
:)
Hear, hear.
yep. i have to agree with Jester.
For the record: i don’t own the site. Nick is Editor Not Chief.
I’m just along for the ride, mind you.
Email.
It got removed when we switched themes.
Frankly, i dunno if i want it back.
the email feature is helpful if one is following up a topic of interest. please re-consider having it back.
Is that the comment email responder? I think that would be useful because I tend to forget which blogs/posts I’ve left comments. I use that in my blogs.
You should change the name of the site to “PRO FILIPINOVOICES” ( are you really pro filipino?)
Here it is again. Maybe third time lucky. I DON’T LIE FOLKS. I really did try to post this earlier:
Hi Lila
As I said in my blog, the “mob” never really had a chance to welcome you here at FV because our comments were moderated. In fact, I haven’t been visiting FV for a while now because for one, I don’t think FV is interested in my point of view anyway; two, there are not a lot of writers here who have the “wow” factor. I don’t really care much for fiction. It is good that they added you here because now there is someone who writes with more meat.
I don’t really have a beef with you. My blog’s theme was about paid hacks basically and I started writing that when I found out that pro-Noynoy supporters copied and pasted my previous blog to the Noypi Ako website. The timing of your comments to Benign0 and his “barkada” about being paid hacks was just a bonus. And since I’ve know Benign0 as a genuine blogger for the longest time (he is not a paid hack), I thought it was really an interesting discussion. It was just the timing of our debate really that coincided with my theme. If you will notice, my blog is just a narrative. There is nothing to read between the lines.
What I have a beef with is the policy of moderating or complete banning of comments. I hate bad language but to ban ideas just because they are not the same as the editors’ is wrong in my book. In our society, the citizens have very little say in how things are run. People who take the trouble to comment on AntiPinoy or anywhere are commendable and are brave in their own right. They are few and far between because there’s this air of fear that exists in our society that someone might gun you down or sue you if they feel that you are slandering them.
Those who speak their mind even if they are going upstream should be admired because they have the guts to tell everyone that they have a different point of view and they want to be heard. Sometimes people come across as rude because of how the sentence was worded (UPn). Sometimes the use of a metaphor (Benign0) or snide remark (JoeAM) can come across as rude too. But I think it is all about how we react to what’s been said rather than how rude someone’s remark was that will set apart the men from the boys.
If someone was rude to me for example, I’d leave it up to the readers to see how that person made a complete fool of himself by not reacting to the rudeness. People who are witness to an argument will see who has been wronged and who has been righted anyway. Benign0 for example makes no apologies for his style. This is how he delivers his message to those who care to read his articles. His style is not for everyone. I personally wouldn’t write the way he writes but a lot of people have come to know him and how he writes in the blogosphere. One thing I know about him is he doesn’t write anything that he cannot defend. I haven’t really read what he wrote about you to be frank. Been busy with other stuff. I think we should instead blame those who gave you the wrong background on Benign0 from the very beginning :o)
If we are to correct the environment of impunity that exists in our society there should be no moderating or banning of ideas. We need them now more than ever specially now in the lead up to the elections.
Like I said, I admire your advocacies and your straightforwardness. It’s not really hard to see that you have a wealth of knowledge that can be shared with the rest of the crowd.
Ciao
PS
As to the reason why I seem to be writing about Noynoy a lot, I wrote it in my blog:
* * *
Ilda,
1. comment policy stands.
2. we have to moderate because the crowd is undisciplined that it already defeats the purpose of the blog: we talk issues.
3. instead of issues, without moderation it degenerates into a war of personalities and insecurities.
4. i hate moderation. look at it from our point of view. it takes a lot of our time.
5. NO one is owned entitlement of anything.
I am closing this blogpost’s discussion.
Cocoy, sorry: I know u said u were closing this but, if I may, just one more brief note to Ilda, after which I promise to hold my peace?
Ilda, I specifically wrote Cocoy last nite and requested that no one be banned or moderated ON MY ACCOUNT. But I added that I did, however, defer to Nick and Coy if they had their own respective reasons. Again, I cannot control what the editors do. But since I’m an editor myself (that’s what I do for a living here), I’m used to deferring to our chief editor regarding any publication I happen to be working on. If I don’t like the chief editor, I leave the post, period.
Cocoy was surprised when I said that because he noted that there had been NO COMMENT from u that was pending. So I don’t know what to tell u. I have no idea what happened — perhaps it was pending in the digital ether for a period? I’m not an expert on these things.
I have no interest in calling anyone a liar. But let’s get off the Lila,-the-big-bad-senator’s-daughter schtick, shall we? It’s getting intellectually vapid. I never once mentioned my family when I joined FV — I came in on my own steam and only responded when Benigs kept bringing them up (wouldn’t u?). I am the one who stands to lose if u r all moderated because the learning experience is less for ME.
Some of the things leveled at me by Benigs have been laughable — last I heard, I was an heiress who stood to receive an enormous inheritance from my uncle’s vast empire, which stretches endlessly across the Philippine islands (what a colonial construction); that I couldn’t be trusted because I came from a family who had been thoroughly marinated, seasoned and sauteed (!) in Philippine political life (I must admit it was a funny line). :D
I mean, come on, people: to quote the inimitable Phil Manila, who managed to make me burst out laughing late last nite: WILL YOU JUST LISTEN TO YOURSELVES? Some of u have made the most enormous assumptions about me. No, u have by no stretch of the imagination made the slightest effort to make me feel welcome, I’m afraid. U decided before knowing what I was about that I was an enemy. Am I wounded? No. A damsel in distress, a shrinking violet? Hardly. Surprised and disappointed? Absolutely. But I don’t need Nick or Coy to defend me (altho I appreciate whatever they do): I can easily defend myself, as u can see. So I don’t need any knights in shining armor, nor do I need my family name.
Oh, and FYI? I’ve been self-supporting since college, not that it’s any of BenignO’s business. And whatever vast inheritance there is will be eaten up by the 5 daughters and 25 grandkids before me. If u would all stop with the intellectually messy notion of the “elite,” as if it were one homogenous, undifferentiated mass, as if there were no differences between the political and economic power brokers in any country, and if u knew your political history a little better, u would know that the Shahanis and the Ramoses have tended to stand on different sides of the political spectrum. FYI, my Mom resigned as a GMA presidential adviser YEARS AGO because she did and does not approve of her. Last election, she supported FPJ, while FVR supported GMA. Is the family relationship civil, cordial and loving? Absolutely. Because we’re used to these dialectical differences. Do I stand to inherit much? Uh, I highly doubt it. So know your history, please, Benigs and Ilda.
I suggest we emulate people like Ding and Ben, whose political persuasions r not even clear to me. All I will say is that they r patient and respectful towards everyone.
Thanks, Coy (and, no, we’re not having a torrid affair across the miles, Jeb and BrianB — I’m in NY, remember?) — I can only imagine how much work this non-paying job is. It is not entirely thankless because SOME people around here appreciate your efforts.
Now let’s move on, shall we?
@Lila
I made no reference to any member of your family whatsoever in my blog. A lot of what you wrote above is obviously not meant for me. Unfortunately though, people reading it will assume that I made all sorts of enormous assumptions about you because you addressed everything to me.
I don’t go into family history much. I deal with the person and what they are saying as I go. Sorry, but I only recently found out that you are related to FVR. I like FVR. I even got an autograph from him when I bumped into him at the mall years ago, hehe.
The boys are just being boys sometimes. Their testosterone levels have a huge role in the way they write. I don’t really take some of the stuff they say too seriously. That heiress remark, for example, is so obviously tongue-in-cheek.
Enjoy your weekend!
danga, my post just got deleted oh well…again again again..alas..because of ‘woman’ we are divided…
sabi nga ng about ng FV ‘Words are powerful and we the bloggers of FilipinoVoices.com know this to be the true power of this blog.’ maybe it’s about time to update that and add censure as more powerful…
Hey o.O, I suggest u read the posts above AGAIN. I gather u have yet to absorb them.
o.O.
Censure and censor are two different words.
Editorial prerogative is yet a third meaning.
Joe
btw, why not let the people decided on this comment policy po? wouldn’t it be better to see hands than impose such things at will?
errr.
1. this comment policy has been implemented for sometime.
2. site owner’s prerogative.
Hi guys.
Just been lurking.
May I just share something my elders taught me.
One most important tenet:
When we disrespect others, when we monger hate as exemplified by lies and wholesale assumptions about someone, when we spew venom, when we misrepresent intellectual property -individual, or collective – we disparate, we harm only ourselves.
We must never mistake decorum and civility for weekness.
And when we assume we can end up making asses of ourselves.
Finally, while FV is a writing collective, the owner of the blog, the site, is the kind master of this shared ‘home’.
The door is always open for those who refuse or don’t understand the House Rules.
If I may paraphrase a respected friend with whom I’ve vigorously tangled in these pages:”How would you like it if someone who shares your table pees and defecates on the table and pisses on your guests using even his smallest of dicks, while being the gopher of non-kayumamnggis and specializes in racism, in bigotry toward his/her own compatriots.
Pseudo intellectuals are exactly that: PSEUDO.
Nuff said.
Happy weekend, y’all. :)
”How would you like it if someone who shares your table pees and defecates on the table and pisses…”
Hmmm, funny but it seems to me that pee and pissing seem to be popular recently. Somebody said he will drink his piss if Gibo wins and the responder said doing so would not be harmful…
Piss-ious!
This is so applicable to those who say that those who criticise Noynoy is a paid hack. And those who disqualify people from joining a forum just because they have a different point of view. So spot on! :)
Sigh! How lamentable that the once fearless and balanced Filipino Voices has become the shameless and biased Benigno Aquino Voices. Tsk, tsk….
They are not biased. they’re just in the open, not hiding….
Who would speak for those of us who prefer sanity and reason over blind hope?
answer: the anti-pinoy. they’re waiting for you to agree with them there.
Neil,
You can also try CBCP for an answer!
Let me know, if they resolve the issue for you.
The CBCP is too busy looking over their “Heavenly Bank Account”.
No one speaks for FV on the matter of the site being for or against any candidate.
Those with thought boxes and claim FV itself is anti-Noynoy are no different from what maybe a mind conditioning ploy that the only way Aquino can lose is if he’s cheated.
If that result is cast in stone than let’s cancel the elections.
What if I for example finally think Noynoiy is thew best candidate ad I blig about it here on FV will that mean I was paid to do it?
LKet the candidates show their mettle. Then let’s vote on May 10.
*nods*
People tend to mistake democracy as absolute freedom. It is not. Neither is freedom of speech. While treating others with disrespect and insults may be legal under the law, we are still governed by an unwritten social code of conduct. Democracy isn’t about doing what you want, it’s doing what you ought.
Besides, how does one win over another with insults in a discussion? We cannot expect respect for our opinions if we don’t know how to respect others’.
Our ability or inability to discuss civily with the use of reason, no matter how contentious, reflect not only our education, but most importantly our character. When the day of our funeral comes, what people will remember us for is our character.
I agree. People are very vocal about having their rights yet they neglect their duties. It’s about duties and rights.
Well-said, gentlemen!
If a Blog owner receives money from a Political candidate. Or if the
candidate finance the buying of the Web Blog. Then, the new owner can
Moderate any comment to favor the candidate who bought him. Or who bought the Web Blog for him. This is one strategy of politicians to
control opinions and informations. So that, opinions and informations
that are favourable to them. Will be the only one not moderated. Others
are moderated and not published.
THIS REALLY SUCKS. POLITICIANS IN CAHOOTS WITH WEB BLOG OWNERS AND
EIDITORS.
Anyone can make that insinuation.
But the burden of proof is on the ‘insinuator’.
Such assertions can just as easily be squid tactics.
This is not to say, however, that big spending pols with little regard for integrity can attempt to engage ‘assets’ who succumb to material temptations in exchange for their principles.