Having watched nasty, ad hominem, caustic comments become seriously destructive on websites and in some cases result in the site closing down, I was very wary about opening this site up for comments. But I was constantly urged to do so. And finally gave in, setting up a quite strong comment policy. In the event, I believe a wonderful culture has been developed by the community that meets around here. I recently received this email:
Having stumbled across your website/blog during Lent, I continue to enjoy your posts and the kind and respectful tone of commentators. I’m frequently moved, challenged and amused. Many thanks.
So – people who comment here: take a bow. Give yourselves a pat on the back. The worship wars can be some of the nastiest in our churches – so I hope the community around this site demonstrates that holding strong positions can be done without getting personal, and whilst continuing to listen to difference with respect. As I indicated recently, there may be a slight change in the comments policy, but the essential spirit and culture of comments will not change.
Whilst speaking of recently-received positive emails, here is one I just received:
Dear Fr. Bosco,
Thank you so much for this versatile website!
I use it as my web browser “Home Page”, making use of it often during the day, and I just did the night prayers right now. I do have the Liturgy of Hours, 4-vol., so this is a great addition to my prayer life when I’m being lazy about getting to my breviary!
Thank you so much & please keep this website!
Akismet, the spam filter, has automatically filtered out 18,785 comments! Compare that to 2,186 comments that have been approved. That’s a ratio of 9 spam comments to every actual comment!
You may be interested in some of the comments that it filters out:
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for the press release on General Synod – with a link to fish tanks
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on the media release for General Synod day 1 with a link to handbags
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in response to my hoping to see General Synod online
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on presiding and preaching with a link to a solicitor’s office
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in response to Christ’s death – with a link to coffee
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for liturgy at General Synod with a link to a casino
English is my second language, but even I can recognize Spambots set upon the internet by folks who do not appear to speak English as their first language!
Yes, David, the language quality intrigues me. I wonder if some of these reasonable size comments are paying some people to actually search the net. Some are clearly bots, but I wonder if some are actually individuals.
Dear Fr. Bosco,
Hopefully you do not find this in your spam folders 🙂
I get similar, rather non-specific, loquacious, yet non-fluent comments in my blog’s spam folder. I take them to be bot-generated bait for link clicking leading to malware infection. I would stay clear of all comments ensconced in your spam folder that seem like a cross between a horoscope and assembly instructions for low-cost furniture.
As the Holy Spirit descends like tongues of fire this Sunday bringing this Eastertide to a close, thanks ever so much for all your hard work.
Blessings,
Brian
Yes, David, the language quality intrigues me. I wonder if some of these reasonable size comments are paying some people to actually search the net. Some are clearly bots, but I wonder if some are actually individuals.
Aw, I wanna know the cure for halitosis.
Happy Pentecost, bro.
Vincent, are you pretending to be a Spambot or a Troll?
LOL! David. I actually think Vincent might be correct 🙂