I got another book-length comment from a troll yesterday which pushed me over the edge on suffering fools, an expression my dad sometimes used which I never liked. I take seriously the biblical admonition not to call your brother "raca." But, really, there are so many out there trolling the internet and enjoying the power of anonymous insults!
Up to now I have allowed almost all comments except from two people banned for constantly judging the state of my soul and Susan's. Their comments were generally nothing but ad hominem attacks. Enough is enough!
Recently, however, I've been receiving numerous book-length comments from a few visitors. I don't think one of them is troll. He/she just doesn't have the sense to practice moderation. The other one clearly doesn't read the blog on a regular basis and is definitely a troll. One comment talked about my being captivated by Tucker Carlson, another person whose name I didn't recognize, and Michael Voris. The Voris allusion made me laugh since I have an entire blog page with posts exposing the lies and exaggerations of MV and his fellow narcissists.
But all that aside, life is too short to read multiple comments that go on and on with links to dozens of other pages. I'm certainly not going to read them, and I suspect few visitors waste time reading them either.
Start your own blog if you have that much to say. If an old lady who's tech challenged can figure it out, it doesn't take a rocket scientist.
At any rate, I have decided it's time to exercise censorship. I could stop including comments altogether, but I enjoy a good Socratic argument and those who agree with a post will often leave a comment that expands and adds depth to a subject. There are many smart, interesting people out there and I love it when they visit and comment.
In fact, I'm grateful for all my readers, even the trolls. But I'm no longer going to enable them. I pray for all you dear visitors. Please pray for me as well.
These days you have to consider “trolls” are not human, but AI generated chat bots - apparently they have now learned enough to produce content as good or better than most actual humans. And they never sleep. And their “pen” never runs dry. Strange times.
ReplyDeleteI really like y’all’s blog Mary Ann and Susan. I just found you in 2022 and now your blog is one of my go to treats with morning coffee. I also like the pictures you post I would say I love the blog and the pictures but my 8 year old granddaughter says I’m only supposed to say I love God and everything else I am only to like. I’m good with the no troll zone too!
ReplyDeleteYesterday’s post was particularly a like! I read it to my husband because we attended engaged encounter 41 years ago. All glory to God we have come a long way and with God’s help we continue to work out our salvation. Our son was ordained a transitional deacon this past March. God willing in 2024 at the age of 33 he will be ordained a priest. Our family walked the Chartres Pilgrimage in 2019 and it was eye opening to travel to and around Paris with our seminarian cassock wearing son. People followed us, yelled at him, asked for blessings (which he didn’t have the authority to do as he explained) and anonymously bought his meals. We decided my husband would lead us through the crowded Paris sidewalks and our older son would come up the rear with me and the seminarian son in the middle. It was eye opening to experience the needs of so many people directed at one young man. Thank you for reminding people to pray for our pope, bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians and religious. We need ALL young men to schedule a visit to a traditional (just my personal opinion) seminary before they consider dating/courting and marriage. Thanks again for all of your lovely words. May God bless you and our Lady protect you.
Hi Nana,
ReplyDeleteYour granddaughter is one smart cookie. When our kids were growing up and someone said, "I love pizza!" or "I love going to the pool!" the kids would laugh and say in a sing-song voice, "Awwww....you gonna marry it?"
Thank you so much for your kind comment and for sharing about the Chartres Pilgrimage. I wish I had the physical capacity to do that, but my walking limit these days is two or three miles... on a good day.
Bless your dear son. I'll be praying for him and all the anonymous priests and priests-to-be whom I don't know. We need them so desperately!
I agree about the seminaries. My husband and I were impressed and edified when we visited the SSPX seminary in Dillwyn, VA. We were shown around by a delightful young seminarian and had the blessing later of having several of the brothers and our chapel pastor to dinner one night. God is so good. Our involvement with these wonderful men is one of the fruits of COVID and the fairground Masses.
Hi Mary Ann,
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing about the St. Thomas Aquinas SSPX Seminary in Dillwyn. I looked for directions right away; happy to see it's only a little over 3 hours from our home in Fairfax County. Can we laypersons visit? The website doesn't mention it.
As well, I'll have to stop saying, "I love ..." Good admonishment.
Hi Mary Ann,
ReplyDeleteTheir website has lovely pictures of the seminary throughout the seasons. You are right with giving them a call beforehand before visiting.
Also, thanks to Nana about the Chartres Pilgrimage. This trek will have to be on the bucket list. I wonder why Camino de Santiago gets all the big mentions regarding pilgrimage walks.