This is just my opinion, but you are sometimes a bit quick to the snark towards some of the posts. I can only imagine what many person-hours spent moderating comments does towards patience, but sometimes I think this only provides fuel for the equivalent of web ne’er-do-wells.

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Since USSM has the reputation it does (as being an “authoritative” Mariners blog), anyone who wants to even remotely be considered “anyone” is going to want to be “seen” there in some capacity. Back 30 years ago, let’s say (yes, before your time and my time), someone in NY might not’ve liked what goes on at Studio 54, but there was a certain coolness in being seen in there mingling with the crowd (especially since it was a relatively hard place to get into in the first place).

Likewise, while people may not always like what’s being said at USSM, but they’re going to want to pay attention to, and stick their toes in, whatever’s going on. You’ll always have people making asses of themselves and trying to take down the people who run the joint — to, foolishly of course, make themselves look ‘bigger.’ It goes with the territory of being part of the “in” crowd.

When your “product” involves a level of humor or general snarkiness, there are always going to be people who appreciate it and people who abhor it. Likewise, someone may find something you say one day completely hilarious, yet something you say on another day completely repulsive. The authors of USSM and the readers of USSM both have to take everything with a grain of salt, and learn not to take things personally.

Since a lot of Western culture nowadays attaches the understanding of “truth” to one’s opinion, when that someone’s opinion is trashed (however tactfully done), they’re going to feel an emotional need to defend themselves (and strike back when they’re being ‘attacked’). Unfortunately we’ve lost a lot of the sense of debate and negotiative discussion that, really, our democracy was founded upon.

Anyway, just thought I’d share my thoughts. There have been times when I’m on either side of the “I hate USSM” and “I Love USSM” fence, so take these thoughts thusly. Hope this helps, though…

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