I write this blog fairly informally, but just to make a few things clear:
(1) I’m happy to post something which I think doesn’t have another outlet and might provoke some thought. Whether I agree with it completely or not is less relevant. I don’t really mind long-winded comments, but other readers might and your chances of being read become much higher if you stick to the point at hand and don’t include very wide-ranging analysis. It’s up to you. I don’t mind. But no one will read it and they may avoid the thread altogether.
(2) I censor material. Comments that are explicitly racist or offensive to general categories of people in what I consider unreasonable terms will get cut. However, if you hold objectionable views but phrase them in a reasonable and civil manner, I let them stand – since expressing unfavorable political views is partly the reason for blogging. In other words, if you write “you are a filthy wog bitch etc. etc.” – I don’t consider that political speech. If you write, “I think Asian women who advocate immigration from Asia are pursuing a racial agenda” – I will let that stand.
(3) Personal comments about me I prune as I see fit. Females blogging in an informal way become vulnerable to all kinds of dangers and so I prefer to keep the blog impersonal. Besides, my mum and dad read it.
(4) I no longer respond to email unless I am fairly certain about the person who’s sending it. I do appreciate all mail and try to respond on the blog to email as well as to comments. But I have become cautious. The fact is over the last two years, I have been spammed, harassed, stalked, had my email hacked, had personal email posted on the web, had my blog broken into, and been impersonated, in at least one case. Some of this was because of supporting Ron Paul, some because of my writing on Zionism, some of it arose from my books, which created a whole ream of problems too complex to explain, and some arose from something I was trying to investigate on my own.
Good show, Lila! Never surrender! Keep the faith!
Thanks and the same to you! I had a bit of a physical collapse last year – there were so many mutually incompatible demands on me.
But you know the old saying – don’t get mad, get even.
I wish all my enemies a long life….
Good for you! As you know am a big fan and recognize that taking contrary and original views is actually very dangerous. the danger varies by context and circumstance and can be life, career, health, status ad infinitum. Desite all the myths in the U.S. original views are not that well tolerated (I mean realy views and perspectives not different tag lines in marketing or political speech–and of course the accepted type of dissent). Some of us (Yes I am a cautionary tale) have lost much for expressing our views or for telling the truth. Today the truth will set you free in a way but at great personal and financial cost.
On a similar note. I often find the comments in blogs scary on may levels. Socrates, Buddha, Artistotle could be blogging and doznes of poster would attack them and so forth. Also if you take a posting by a Lila, Nassim or some other very smart person the extent to which pople do not understand clear english or metaphor or dependent clauses is terrifing. The hostility and nastiness out there is also amazing. We have a nasty government and society not in the abtract sense of it being placed above us but we have become a nasty people. Its tragic.
Impressive history! 😉 You clearly must be doing something right to be attracting so much attention.
No – I am not martyr material. I don’t think “the masses” or “mankind” are that important.
Right now, here, the masses are as corrupt as anyone else. But there are individuals out there who want to hear the truth and are willing to make the effort to learn. I care about them because I was/am one. If it hadn’t been for the Mises people and Antiwar (for the big picture) and some of the leftist groups (for the details)I would be stumbling around trying to figure out what was happening…so it’s only fair I join the effort to pass on the information.
The masses, my foot. It was mass susceptibility to hero worship and scare tactics that got us George W. a second time and now Barack Obama.
(Of course, clever propagandists like Rove and the left gatekeeper groups helped).
That’s the spirit! You’re a great American woman in the true sense of the word. Be proud of that.
Good timing. I just stumbled onto this blog a few days ago (I think it was linked to a post at Lew Rockwell’s). Until recently, I didn’t spend any effort to keep up with the libertarian blogosphere but have decided to reserve the time given the times we face.
I look forward to future posts and discussions.
Thanks for the support. I am an American citizen, but I realize I’m an outsider, not having been born here.
Doesn’t bother me and I don’t expect to be a “first class” citizen. I don’t even expect it in India, where I was born. Even before I gave up Indian citizenship, I felt I had a “minority” status there – although a well-regarded minority – Christian, westernized.
I am not ‘really’ American or ‘really’ Indian and that’s fine with me.
Outsiders have a helpful role to play too.
I consider myself a FOA/FOI (Friend of America, Friend of India) and EON (Enemy of No one).
Lila
There are lots of ignorant people around the world. Most of the trouble you’ve been having is all very base and basic, not as political as you might think. For years I’ve been suffering similar pains to yours just because I declared myself a libertarian woman.In time we learn how to deal with the stalkers.
“What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” is the motto.
I.M.
Hi –
I love that saying..Nietzsche isn’t it?
Yes – I know that kind of problem. I actually haven’t had it on my blog. Or on my email which is mostly respectful.
I daresay being a foreigner helps.
The stuff I got was specifically political, related to supporting Ron Paul and also related to some infighting I had to deal with professionally.
Let’s say I got to know more than I wanted to know about some very unsavory people. And it didn’t help me sleep better to find out they have high-level connections…..