Babaloo to Its Readers: Shut Up!

"The most widely read blog I write for, Babalú, moderates comments and our readership has grown dramatically in spite of that (emphasis mine). That's because people come to read what the contributors write not necessarily what the readers write. — Henry Gómez, Herald Watch, December 16, 2007


For a blog with 2.3 million visitors (not "readers"), Babalú doesn't elicit many comments. In fact, posts with "0" comments are the norm rather than the exception. Why is that? The reason, of course, is Henry and Val's attitude towards Babalú's readers, which Henry considers unnecessary. Worse than unnecessary: readers are not "people" if they happen to write. If they are so convinced that their readers' imput matters not at all or is incidental to Babalú's success, why not just make it a closed blog (which in effect it is already). Babalú's deletions, anathemas and bannings, its obsessive need to control and tailor the Comments section so that it is no more than an extension, or echo, of its editors' musings, has indeed muted its readership, as Val & Henry intended it should do. Now Henry advises The Miami Herald to do the same by instituting preemptive censorship, otherwise known as moderation. Of course, no one has the right to "moderate" anybody else's opinion. All the great social upheavals in history were caused by people trying to "moderate" other people's opinions, whether about religion, politics or science. Galileo was "moderated" by the Pope. St. Thomas More was "moderated" by Henry VIII. "Moderation" is just a euphemism for silencing one's opponents because one cannot or will not answer their objections. But removing the opinion (or the one who holds it) is not the same thing as removing the objection, but for frightened men who know that they do not have reason on their side it is the only course open to them.


POSTSCRIPT:

Val Prieto Visits
Vana said:

Another example of Val's personality, he's not backing the Dolphins anymore because in his words they suck, he will now back the Jaguars because they are playing better, what a washy, washy man, all the markings of a turncoat, and a traitor.
12/16/2007 4:56 PM

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

Vana:

That is a profound observation. A man who abandons his team because it has fallen on hard times and embraces another more successful because he wants to be on the winning side, a man who has no allegiance but to success, is a dangerous man for our country's future.
12/16/2007 7:09 PM

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

Vana:

The Dolphins won today for the first time since December 10, 2006. All that they needed was for Val to renounce his allegiance to them. Kind of makes you think, doesn't it?
12/16/2007 8:23 PM

Vana said...

Does it make me think? deeply trust me, I cannot stand people, let alone men, who are not true to their word, I don't trust people like that, and I don't respect them.

I'm a San Francisco 49er fan, yes they are sucking, (but not as bad the Dolphins)..lol..I don't care! I will be their fan come hell or high water, until I die.

Ain't that something Manuel yes the Dolphins won today, good for them, I guess Val is as we say in Cuban parlance, a sack of salt, poor, poor Jaguars.
12/16/2007 11:39 PM

Val Prieto said...

Que clases de comebolas. Vana, you wouldnt know a post published in sarcasm if it was spoon fed to you with alphabet soup.

And Manuel, if anyone knows anything about abandoning teams, its definitely you. ñangara.
12/17/2007 11:34 AM

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

Val:

Was I ever a part of your "team?" No, I don't think so. I never belonged to the Bitongo League of Latter-Day Annexationists of which you are president and founder.

Glad to hear that you are now sending remittances to Cuban dissidents like the "ñangaras" that you were always accusing of perpetuating Castro in power because they would not let their parents starve.

I don't have more time for you today. But I will return to you. You can be sure of that.
12/17/2007 11:55 AM