We’ve been reading a lot about vicious attacks on people’s wives and women on Tony’s Kansas City…
Some of those kind of comments used to appear on KC Confidential before Hearne got tough on them and cleaned up the site.
In fact just this week a commenter on KCC threatened me with firearms. I’ll admit that some time ago after I got pummeled with family and personal threats, put downs and lies, I reached the point where I wasn’t going to take those things anymore. And I said I would be willing to meet anyone spewing that garbage wherever and whenever they wanted. It culminated with a commenter by the name of smartman challenging me to a fight in Westport.
I showed up, he didn’t.
I even proved I was there with photos – although I didn’t know who smartman was – and that was that.
Attacking people online by threatening violence is just wrong. And yes, me calling people out for attacking my character (among other things) was wrong too.
More than almost anyone else I know who writes online locally, I lived for decades in a very violent world. From prisons to gunfights, with much of it documented. So I have nothing to prove.
As for writers like Paul Wilson, Hearne or Tony, they are generally stating their opinion about people, places or things which doesn’t call for attacks on their families, wives or children. You can simply disagree with them, explain why and move on with your life.
The reality’s this, while thousands of people read these websites daily, there are probably less than 50 regular commenters and most of them are negative. And that’s why they comment.
As for some of the filthy comments Hearne has talked about in recent days, I think those are wrong. And in my opinion those kind of comments should be killed. As mad as I’ve been at people, I’ve never written anything like that, let alone use language like that.
There are three main reasons those kind of comments shouldn’t be allowed.
One, there’s no reality in what’s being said. It’s just someone being hateful and denigrating real people, even though we don’t know who they are because they use fake names.
Second, they have nothing to do with the story. It’s perfectly fine to call me an idiot – I mean, they’re wrong – but I think it’s wrong to use that kind of language period. It’s just crude, lewd and rude for no reason.
And three, generally the people leaving those kind of comments don’t even know the person or what they’re talking about. It’s just pure meanness.
You’re an idiot.
See what I mean. Here’s an example.
You said it was perfectly fine for me to call you an idiot. I did it and I would do it again, especially if you keep acting like an idiot.
I love you Crag Glaysure, don’t you go changin’ on me!!
OK.
If you don’t like the heat, get out of the kitchen. I said it in 1942, and I’m sayin’ it now.
Thanks for bringing this topic back up. I really expected more people to comment when HC opened up his initial post on this below. Especially taking into account that the issue surfaced when one of our own was trashed. I can understand that one is more likely to comment if they disagree with the premise of a piece but I guess I’m naive when I expect those naysayers to actually explain why they disagree in civil terms and encourage some tolerant discourse on the subject. I’m still learning the rules of the game, I suppose.
Hahaha this is without a doubt the single most hypocritical piece of publishing I have ever seen.
Three reasons this is hypocritical:
1) Your the first to start down the physical altercation path at the first sign of negativity. They may use words but you want to resort to violence. Your actions speak louder than your words.
2) Smartman played you like a fiddle chord for chord he knew you would head to that location and brag about it because the bully is never hard to predict and easy to outsmart.
3) Proverbs 13:10 – Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Your pride and arrogance keeps you from being wise.
The “Comments” section on blogs and some newspapers provide catharsis, conflicting opinions, useful information, astonishing insights and, a tautology of profanity, puerile sexual release, disgusting screeds with lies, obfuscation and manipulation. It’s a look into the unfettered human heart of darkness behind a monitor and keyboard.
The eponymous TKC provides a very important service to this city in my opinion. His insistance that free speech is the hallmark of good journalism and must include the vox populi by way of “TKC Tipsters” and commenters has been a catalyst for more than a few heads rolling and “swells’ doing some heavy sweating in the glare of the spotlight. While I laud his efforts to hold kleptocratic feet to the fire, the contretemps in the ointment is exposure to litigation, by way of his commenters.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/23/nation/la-na-blogger-suits-20100823
TKC’s EMAIL tete a tete with Paul Wilson regarding Mrs. Wilson could and should have been settled with the first email from Paul to Tony. Hearne pointed out to me, that had it been my family, first and last name, complete with descriptions, places and times, suffering the anonymous pronouncements of hoped for sexual congress in some very creative ways and places, I would take action. He is right, I would want the post taken down.
The specificity of the insults and perversions in conjunction with the specificity of the person named, is a rhetorical, blogging bridge too far.
Again, while I commend TKC for his indefatigable pursuit of the truth in politics, business and Kansas City society, his lines in the sand, should be more defined and self enforced for his and his reader’s benefit. There is no harm and indeed, there should be recourse for subjects and their families featured in blogs to ask and when reasonable, recieve relief from public humilition.
All that notwithstanding, the ability of the hoi polloi over the last dozen years, to speak their truth to power by way of blogs, cannot, in my opinion be underestimated in terms of pulling back the curtain on myriad city, state and the federal government. I realize, that when every one has a megaphone, it can get loud. That beats the silence.
Great stuff Chuck. Good link as well. This is an example of what a good comments section looks like in my humble opinion.
I agree as well but it’s a two way street from both writers and commenter’s. Saying you want to smash somone’s face in for saying something isn’t smart adult behavior either. I have always said you reap what you sow.
I wish people that post knew how to spell… It’s “sew” now “sow”… idiot. A sow is probably what you are.
Sorry, KCMikey, even though the girls wants to smack me around, I need to defend her on this one.
SOW
/sō/
verb
verb: sow; 3rd person present: sows; past tense: sowed; gerund or present participle: sowing; past participle: sown1. plant (seed) by scattering it on or in the earth.
“sow a thin layer of seeds on top”
synonyms: plant, scatter, spread, disperse, strew, disseminate, distribute, broadcast; More
Its correct based on how shes using it. You SEW a dress, a big one if youre a SOW (adult swine), as you called her, but you SOW before you REAP, in farming, which is what she was talking about.
Now, be a good boy and apologize to Nancy so she can come back on me for something.
Reasonable point, Nancy.
But can’t we all agree that Craig is a bit bombastic at times and take those comments with a grain of salt?
After all, it’s not like he’s going to wreak any real life havoc shadow boxing with some of you comments types.
What’s more, regardless of his many flaws, a number of you guys pretty much knowingly yank his chain to get those reactions.
Hearne, you still can’t come out and admit Craig goes way over the line more than any commenter here beside the one called Harley. You want to say it’s the fault of the commenter jerking Craig’s chain. A lie is a lie and when you are caught doing it you’re a liar. When you point out a lie that isn’t jerking someone’s chain, that’s pointing out the truth and the same when Craig has his facts wrong. I have never seen a Star, Pitch, Tony, ESPN, NASCAR, Huffington Post, People or Rolling Stone writer say to a commenter, “We all go off now and again. Hater MJ, Ok Dumb dog, Latter doggie and the best, “You are one of many cowards who hide behind a fake name and are always negative.” Craig has an obsession with names like no other writer I have ever seen. Why, well we all know why, it’s his desire to try and hunt that person down so he can maybe prove to the world he is somehow richer, drives a better car and lives in a nicer place. This, after he wrote a story that was all negative, about weather reporters and then turns around and accuses someone else of being negative.
Fluff the excuses all you want Hearne, you’re still in denial and not cleaning your own house as well.
Unfortunately Botello says a lot of hyperbolic things he can’t prove and/or doesn’t bother verifying. And, people accept it as fact. It’s going to bite him in the butt again very soon.
Not only is it stupid, it’s extremely iirresponsible. A lot of it seems totally made up. People are beginning to call him out on it though.
In Psychology, I learned that they teach that if you are to ever change bad behavior, to begin, you must first correct the self righteous behaviors within yourself first by admitting that problems begin at home. That home is yourself. The world is this or that and people will always be one thing or another, but if you haven’t cleaned your own house first, changes are meaningless for YOU will never change.
Being the blunt of attacks by writers on this site and commenter’s on Tony’s Kansas City I say you Hearne Christopher need to get some of your own writers to stop that which the writer of this story is complaining about. I seldom come here because of how Craig Glazer has acted and comments made in past. He has verbally attacked friends of mine just for pointing out Craig was wrong. He just called a person a drug dealer or user the other day his proof is where of such claim? You and several readers all laugh and say well that’s how Craig is. I saw what Paul Wilson said to Tony, that conversation is making the rounds. The comments towards the wife was out of line but the retort was even more out of line. So Craig Glazer, Paul Wilson and Hearne Christopher clean your own houses and yourselves before you talk down others for what they say and how they act. Take heed of how the other writers on this site do their story’s and act towards those who comment.
Are you the broad from Heart? If so, could you please mix in a salad every now and then? Oh, I like your music.
Nancy you make some good points. I don’t know you, don’t know if this is your real name, but people tend to be upset and angry on these comment sites. Way it is, no matter what you do. Those who are light in what they say or have no real ‘image’ in this city, get little attention, few comments. So I agree, happens. We all go off now and again.
wrong chuck…this is all about you…
you spew hate and violence and continued hate against a group of people you
do not know.
Its constant…a never ending drum beat of hate.
never stops…your consistent racist and vile comments directed toward one
group of people (knowing full well that every group has its bad elements)…
and blaming select people for a problem that runs much deeper than
the sources you produce of racist/homophobic vile language ridden
articles and opinion pieces.
You are the culprit. How many times have you written vile disgusting
hate on this site?
way too many.
you write: “It’s a look into the unfettered human heart of darkness behind a monitor and keyboard.” your heart spews out the darkness with your monitor
and keyboard.
all the comments made toward Wilson/myself/glaze/hearne/ are NOTHING
compared to what you have written.
have a great holiday.
your friend
Harley
And here I was worried that your home under the OP sewage treatment plant caved it on itself.
Happy holidays harlinator.
I don’t know Harley, I can really relate to Chuck.
wrong again glaze…when you use your real name and write what you do..
and make comments like you do…and lived the life that you do and did before…
you open yourself to hate messages.
Its real simple…the answer to this is very simple…DON’T WRITE…DON;T
publish your thoughts.
None of you need to write to put food on the table. Hearne doesn’t need
it. Wilson and glaze don’t….you can write stuff like the german guy
or lefty and not get the hate directed to you.
pretty simple answer…don’t put yourself up for public humiliation and
hate…just stop writing…..its that simple~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Harley you are 100 per cent correct. You can’t win for trying. Much more famous people than our group tried and it was all attacks. Something to consider. The story isn’t the play, the writer of the story is the play.
How about writing character hit pieces about deceased people, that while alive did nothing but good for those around them? Hearne is a douche and if he is man enough to write what he does, he should surely be able to handle a few unkind words thrown his direction. To quote you…..”And three, generally the people leaving those kind of comments don’t even know the person or what they’re talking about. It’s just pure meanness.”
It’s the opposite. You guys choose to write about topics and people, you know nothing about. AND….stories trashing Larry Stewart are not “pure meanness”?
Quit being pu**ies and stand behind what you write. As far as comments, reap what you sow.
I handle a lot of unkind words thrown my way.
You haven’t noticed?
Why don’t you guys just end the comments all together? Just hang your shingle on the words you write. I am sure you would feel better about yourselves, and your feelings would not be hurt. Problem solved, other than I really only read Lefty’s stuff, and really only click to watch people call Glazer out on his BS.