I closed my account at Huffington Post today. I grew disenchanted with the senseless censoring of viewpoints, as well as the editorial turn toward being another National Enquirer. I am starting to think Ms.H is just using this as a political platform for some future campaign somewhere. I have enjoyed your comments here on POV, and wish you all the best!
Aloha oe Huffpo!
RECENT POSTS
I Believe in God, But I Hate Religion Part 2
The thought of eternal suffering is a significant motivator for those who are strong in their religious beliefs. It is also conducive to those who push various religious doctrines on their congregants to keep them in line.
People Are Stupid
“Democratic republics are more likely to perish through misuse of power than through lack of it.” — Tocqueville Democracy in America . It’s as if Tocqueville looked into the future.
btw, I think forpeace said she’d be by tomorrow, and ConservativeHippie has said he’s lurked. The link was being dropped and I was doing my best to concur and invite people. If we have enough planetarians on a thread this can be effective, I imagine, having a handful respond to a post – before it gets raptured – and vouching for it. After all, this is where all the cool cat’s retire or vacation after the stress of HP, and my goal is to see many of our anonfriends join us. For those that can’t quit, it would be fun to develop strategy here and other devious plans against the trolls.
Thanks Khirad, that’s great news! Would be cool to see forpeace and ConservativeHippie here.
As for those who are addicted there, I think if we could just get across the concept that they’re not “cheating” on HuffPo to post here too, they could at least give The Planet a spin.
And as I mentioned, having the experience of blogging in both environments could be the best way to convince them to regularly blog here too.
Again, thanks for spreading the word!
Zizyphus may be right about Queen Arianna. She ran for governor here is California and did not even make a showing. She is going around now greasing the wheels for something. I personally think she is a closet republican still. I get sick of her negative attitude, try to find the good once in awhile. And the trolls, well there is nothing good to say about how they have taken over there. Let her have them eventually she will be left with tatters.
I think it’s just her continuing lust for power, celebrity and wealth growing more monstrous every day.
She has no political future anywhere. She is an opportunist (I was about to write “a naked opportunist” but the mental image made me nauseous) who merely wants “more”.
Just like most Republicans.
A closet Republican, we’ve been saying that since the primaries last year Sue, personally I believe it more than ever now.
What I’d REEEEAAAALLLLY LOVE to see is a site that gives HP a real run for their money. Establish themselves like HP originally did and not for Gawd or money, STICK WITH IT. (sigh)…that’s probably asking for to much. But one element that POV could adopt is fanning. I know, I know…but people like it. It’s as simple as that. It’s like telling people they can’t have anymore chocolate cause it makes you gain weight. Their still gonna eat it and bloggers will still fan whether we like it or not. Just sayin’. And another thing, I do love it here, but there are still a lotta HP posters who I’d miss and thats why I return because I like to see what they have to say. Am I rotten? Maybe just a little, huh? 😉
You’re right, VB. I’m sure that comments software they have over there costs a bundle. It has to be to handle the heavy load they’ve got there. And that fanning business is just plain addicting. It’s too bad the site itself is going tabloid and that it’s become a major hangout for rightwing trolls.
I doubt very much that we will adopt fanning.
Too many people would be jealous of me!!!!!!!!!!
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!
Incorrigible.
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!
Fanned! … hey, it doesn’t work …. 😉
This comment is pending approval and won’t be displayed until it is approved.
I would like to fan KevenSeven.
——————————–
Aw, what a drag, “KevenSeven” must have been added to the word filter here, I can never post a comment with “KevenSeven” in it or fan him!
What a fucking drag!
“Nightmare on Fluffington Street.”
Or. “The Always Pending Story.”
The Mod Squad.
The Posting Pends Twice.
Dial M for Moderation.
LOL, there you are, been hiding?
“Once Upon a Time with Arianna.”
“All that Trashz.”
Censor and Sensibility
Silence of the Lambs (didn’t even have to change that title!)
Gag the Dog
LOL “Gag the Dog” my favourite. *giggleslike aschoolgirlcatsconfused*
“The Great Escape” didn’t have to change that either.
“The Tabloid Shack”
“Ariannaspeare in Love” (with herself)
“Hell and High Heels”
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
“Miracle on 69th Street” (sorry, I had to say it)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding to a Gay Multimillionaire in a Community Property State Followed By a Divorce and Taking Half of His Money to Be the Same Kind of Amoral Opportunist Via a Faux Progressive Website.
The Devil’s Whore wears Prada…
Duh… 😉
Holy shit! I made the word filter!
Eat that, Agent 86!
To make it more authentic: whataduckingfrag!
I found fanning to be one of the most childish and ridiculous things ever started on Huff, eventually some posters used it as an excuse to put others down. I thought that we were all adults with a level of personal esteem, fan clubs are for rock stars and low esteem movie starlets in my opinion.
I had 500 fans when they finally banned me.
I kinda got a kick out of it, if you don’t mind.
It’s just like drugs — you get a momentary rush when you get one and then you just want more.
And yet some of us are willing to dump fans when we kill off a sock because we know that the ego trip isn’t worth it.
BTW, thanks for refanning me. {said with a sly grin}
I could probably tell you how many I gave up in my various guises, but that’s an ego trip I’m not going to pursue.
But yes, there is a lot of addictive behavior over there, among other deviations seen there.
Different strokes for different folks.
I don’t mind but it doesn’t make me like it any more. School’s been over a long time for me.
A very long time, apparently.
Do try to have some fun.
Not as long as you it seems and for people that know me, fun is my middle name.
I hate it, too, Kalima. I started a new sock just so I could post without paying attention to that fanning business. It’s just another way to try to get people to post more…. which means more clicks and more money. Always about the $$$$.
I always said to a friend from my Huff days, that if I was ever banned, I would never try to go back. I wasn’t banned but left as far as I was concerned, it made me feel more in control.
If we were to take a vote on fanning here, I think I’d vote against it. It introduces a competitive element that takes some of the fun out of the camaraderie here. I don’t really enjoy competing against friends and family (unless it’s Scrabble; then I take no prisoners); there’s plenty of that “out there.”
I agree. No need for fanning. It seems to put an emphasis on getting in a cheap witty shot over more nuanced and reflective discussion.
I agree, Kalima. Like counting the Valentine cards in third grade
Hey VegasBabe!
Every site’s traffic begins with the first click. We do aspire to be the very thing you describe. So far, things have been progressing very well indeed but growth takes time and requires the support of people, like our wonderful members, to invest themselves in building and growing such an alternative.
HuffPo’s had millions of dollars and many years to build itself up. The Planet’s only been officially open for 4 months and is grass roots funded, only by members’ contributions. Still, we’ve created a pretty solid and evolving site, a dynamic community and if I may say so, the most attractive membership in the blogging world.
Did I mention we welcome contributions from members?
As for fanning, we don’t have the tech to do that right now. Even if we did, I’m on the fence about it and I’m sure the other founders would be cautious about it too.
It is fun, addicting and creates a loyalty factor to a site but at the same time, there is an elitism and cliquishness that it inspires in some at HuffPo (dissing people who have low numbers of fans, only palling around with others who have many fans) and we wouldn’t want that kind of divisiveness here.
As for still posting at HuffPo, I think it’s a good thing that folks here feel free to post there and anywhere else they please. First, as you say, there are still a number of good friends, colleagues and folks we don’t know but are on the same wavelength. The best way to build The Planet as a bigger and stronger alternative to HuffPo is to continue chatting with folks there and on other blogs, who we already know like to blog and encourage them to visit The Planet and take it for a spin.
After going back and forth between here and HuffPo and elsewhere, hopefully folks will feel more satisfied and gratified blogging with true Freedom of Expression and where there’s respect between all members. Then they may make The Planet their main blogging home.
But aside from our optional Friday boycott of HuffPo, I would never suggest that anyone needs to quit any other blog, including HuffPo, to be a valued and loyal member here.
See if you can convince more of your friends at HuffPo to pop over here more often. After a while, maybe your wish for a major competitor to HuffPo, which I and most here share, will come to pass.
Yes, I can do MORE of that Ad Lib. And I will. As for donations….now where did I put that darn card…oh, GOT IT. Just remember, I gotta boy in college and am a single parent…but what I can give, I give gladly! 😉
I know, you’ve been a long time friend.
What’s very gratifying is that some members, even though things are tight for them, are still so generous about wanting to contribute.
But I tell them as I tell you, if things are tight, contribute at a better time for you, we’ll keep The Planet spinning.
p.s. On HuffPo, you need to use the following link when you invite people here, as our actual URL has been added to their filter and will send your comment into pending:
http://welcome.to/planetpov.com
I just type planetpovdotcom.
Everybody smart enough to participate can figure it out.
We don’t need no stinking fanning.
Fanned.
LOL!
I know I’m probably supposed to posture, and be all insouciant and cool, but the fanning thing is kind of validating. Mind you, I never whore for them. I make a point to “earn” it – though I imagine a great deal is after they realize I’m part of the “clique” – though I’d like not to think of myself like that, who am I kidding.
It does come in handy though for easily spotting troll socks, one time hit and run provocateurs (often of the race baiting stripe), and trolls in general – apart from the king and queen of trolldom types (you know who). I never lord mine over anyone, or think I’m better, some low numbers – usually around 20-30s have the most intelligent posts. But if any anonymous person wants to challenge my progressive cred in some far flung thread, – well that doesn’t happen so much anymore. And I’m not talking about sincere challenges, either. Trolls can come from the far left, as well (and to think most my life I though of myself as far left, maybe just not woo-woo left).
I think validation is a good thing, who doesn’t appreciate it? However, I think the stars and thumbs up ratings on articles and comments as we currently have, is the better, more thoughtful way to go.
This way, it is one’s actual thoughts/opinions/expression/wit that are validated and acknowledged, instead of it being a popularity contest.
Ultimately, I think personal popularity contests are corrosive to a blogging community. As others have expressed here, it does turn expressing oneself into a competition against one’s friends and colleagues and there’s something wrong with that.
If one member is even one “fan” more popular than anyone else, it means at least one other member’s opinion can be viewed as lesser. And when new members come to a site, their perception will be, whoever has the most fans is the “best” blogger, whoever has the least is to be less valued.
And it creates pressure for newbies to post in a way that would help them add fans as fast as possible, so newbies that follow won’t regard recent newbies as lesser bloggers because they’re “unpopular”.
I agree with the analogy to addicting people on something that’s ultimately not good for them though I can’t help but recognize how effective it is in locking people into HP…as well as dividing them into cliques.
Oh and many of you might find this bit of info very revealing. About 4 months ago I noticed posters on HP spouting VERY similar quotes and phrases to things I’d posted days prior. I went to my dashboard there and noticed that when I went to find my post from days past….they were gone. Scrubbed. So I did what any clever blogger does…I re-socked with a similar badge and started posting quotes from other legitimate journalists. Sure enough…scrubbed again. The I went a GOOGLING….found out that a number of upright HP contributing bloggers were simply strutting into their jobs on Monday, gleaning the best quotes, phrases and posts…just to use as their own…We did their writing for them and they got/get paid for it. Then they scrub the post and no one’s the wiser. Then if you inquire, complain or otherwise rock the boat..boom…your account is banned…I know…it happened to me….twice.
That’s what HP has become. No better than the groups they excoriate. Sad really….
HP is a nasty place with nasty trolls.
AH is an egocentric, arrogant right wing hack.
It saddens me that AH fools so many.
Glad to see you at PPOV, Patriot!
and I JUST got banned from HP like 4 minutes ago!….They eat their own!
Yes, they do. As Agent86 once said, you haven’t really existed until you’ve been banned at HP (paraphrased, he’s here and can correct me if it’s not close enough)
There are CRIMES you can get banned for at HP, but the biggest are “crimes against the state”, otherwise known as questioning how things are done (especially moderators) or saying unflattering things regarding Arianna. Me, I did both. And proud of it!
Yup, guilty as charged….
why do I hear Kate Smith in the background?…..LOL
Sing it, sister.
Very interesting, good work on researching this!
I vaguely figured they were doing some theft of material, hey, even The Daily Show and Bill Maher echo jokes made first at HuffPo.
Sometimes, it is a case of great minds think alike but when writers are on a deadline, it’s quite a nice resource for them to be able to review the comments at HuffPo to become “inspired”.
The thing that folks either don’t know or don’t care about is that they are being used and abused at HuffPo. Their time spent on the site is manipulated through contrived conflicts meant to suck them in, their material is stolen and in the meantime, their president is attacked by the very site profiting from their participation there.
It really is outrageous.
Oh yes, …I blew them in and thought I was being very unselfish by doing so. I did have some loyalty there after writing for Off the Bus as I had. That’s how I knew what was going on deep inside.
…and as I just mentioned….they banned me minutes ago…..LOL……They know the jig is up. I wonder if they’ll run the headline…”MASS EXODUS FROM HP AS POSTERS GET TIRED OF OUR INSANITY !”…(naked pics!)
Welcome RarestPatriot. Was this your name over on HP?
No…I was bcnu2 there…for years.
And you just got banned? Out of the blue?
Well, I was mentioning how HP had gone tabloid and totally irrelevant. Everyone has a ton of friends there and over time the content falls to just visiting with friends and agreeing on topics.
BTW, I just said as much with my 3rd handle on HP and they banned THAT acct as well….They are on the warpath tonight….LOL
Maybe I’ll finally get thrown off. I’ve been trying for months.
There’s a ridiculous article up now saying that Biden has lost influence in the WH because of the Afghanistan decision, and all the comments are about how stupid it is.
Nellie, I read that idiotic speculation-fest about Biden. What a bunch of bullshit!
I guess you can look at it as a testament to your good thinking and persuasive writing. Which I hope we’ll see a lot of on the planet!
Funny thing is, I noticed that had happened with one of my posts once, but I just shrugged it off as two people having the same idea at the same time. I never went back to check if the original had disappeared. And I thought I had seen other people’s thoughts repeated as well. I can’t believe they actually went back to delete the original thought. Pretty tacky.
There is no “journalism” at that site. Except Nico — who did an amazing job on Iran.
I like Jason Linkins too. He’s very funny.
That is very interesting. I thought contributing bloggers at HP weren’t paid (except the Sam Stein types).
The editors and staff writers are paid, the “guest/celebrity/talking head” and “citizen” journalists aren’t.
Night all…see you all tomorrow
Wow. Devious fucks.
I felt the same way about HP. Loved it during the initial days and slowly watched it turn into the advertising-o-saurus it inevitably had to become. Then there is the issue of idiotic, chaotic and senseless scrubbing of posts and censoring posters left and right. I never considered myself a maniac or anything, yet was banned on 2 occasions. In any event, perhaps many of us from there will land here. I truly think AH has gotten far too big for her britches anyway. She’s almost sporting the same mantra as the party she hates….
And I did want to agree that so much of HP is now just teasers and click throughs to the same MSM outlets that I don’t go to anyway….
Welcome to The Planet, TheRarestPatriot!
You’ll find many folks here from HuffPo already (we have over 150 members)but we’re always thrilled when a new member joins!
There needs to be a thoughtful, adult alternative to HuffPo and we’re working hard to be just that.
Cheers!
I there is anything I can do I’d be happy to pitch in. I have tons of experience writing for HP and Off The Bus…..LMAO~
But seriously, anything I can do I would be happy to help.
What is Off the Bus?
That was HP’s election drive staff that literally ‘rode the campaign bus’
and write stories from the ‘road’…
Fantastic! The best way to contribute here is to write thoughtful, opinionated articles about issues that really matter to you.
This is a site that’s all about its members and their POVs, each unique voice makes this a bigger and better Planet!
Glad to be a part of something honest.
What a kind compliment, to everyone here.
Cheers!
Hi Zizyphus, it’s friendlier here. No trolls (well, not lately), no crazy people switching between multiple socks, no paid posters, no “groupthink” cliques. And best of all, no CONSTANT Geithner stories. The debate can get pretty spirited, though.
Welcome, Ziz! The Planet is amazing. Well, HuffPo is amazing, too. Just in a really bad way. You’ll find yourself very much NOT missing it, I’ll bet!
Welcome, ziz. I noticed there were a lot of semi-naked ladies on the main page today on Huffy. It does seem to be evolving — not only away from a progressive site but into something other than a political site. I expect to see two-head Martian babies on the main any day now.
You forgot to mention the in-depth articles about Tiger and his wood.
Sheesh.
It’s two headed martian golf pro’s falling down at the AMA’s after kissing Adam Lambert.
(I think they were nude)
I found the media hounding of him quite disgusting. He’s a golfer for @?ck’s sake!
SNEAK PEAK ON HUFFINGTON POST’S FRONT PAGE FOR TOMORROW:
I laughed out loud but the time that this sort of fluff&stuff hits their front page, is just on the horizon.
No kidding. It’s like a spam site now with all the pop up ads, semi-nude pictures, salacious stories.
When I’m over there, I just marvel at all the thoughtful and witty people posting comments that are quickly pushed to back pages and forgotten or wiped out of existence…and all on a site that is practically satirizing itself on what a fraud it is.
Just seems like such a waste…
I still get emails from bloggers when they have new posts, I’m in and out like Speedy Gonzales and what is that ugly black thing at the bottom of the page, a tar pit?
The Pit of Lost Souls.
So far, it’s just Arianna’s soul but it takes up the whole pit.
I would have thought it wouldn’t even cover a pin head.
Actually, it was microscopic but expanded like a self-inflating life raft once it was free of her.
I only read HP for their entertainment section and my husband refers to me as the “spotter”.
That means I call him over to see zoomed in pictures of Kate Hudson’s nipple, or show him the naked Ms. Brazil in paint, or any other tittie pics.
He’s a guy, and he loves looking at boobs.
LMAO
That made me laugh typing that, but it’s true, it’s what I do.
I guess I’m two drinks from being a lesbian?
(that line is from “Just Shoot Me” if anyone wondered!)
You’re hilarious. And I’m sure your husband appreciates you being so considerate of his interests!
😆 javaz, that was really funny!
I’m about 2 drinks away from being a raving lunatic.
Why do I think of Cheney when I look at that bat kid?
Because you can’t believe either one?
Ha! or it is just a pic of Cheney when he was just a
young one. Bloodsucker, that is.
Welcome to our Planet, we hope that you will enjoy your stay and let your stay be long.
*waves* to Kalima!
Kalima and the nekkos *wave* back. 🙂
Welcome, and I now will call you ziz. (my typing sucks) Couldn’t say that on HP. 😉
Thank you all for your kind welcomes, I now feel loved. Your cheery responses are truly the high point of my day today. (It has not been one of the brightest days in my life so far, but thanks to your welcomes, I am feeling a bit more optimistic!) As soon as I finish with my work, I am coming back to read the links, AdLib. Aloha for now! And mahalo nui.
One word of warning, ziz.
This site is addicting.
I should be working on my ‘Great American Novel’ but the articles here and the replies by members are keeping me entertained and involved and feeling a bit guilty!
Aw, sorry to hear you’ve not had the best of days, but you’re in the best place now!
Welcome to the Planet, zizyphus!
Welcome to freedom of speech, freedom from scrubbing, freedom from pending and freedom of being able to post words that were verboten on HP!
Right now there is a great debate on the “30,000 Reasons to Leave Afghanistan” and we are debating civilly and respectfully, and anyone can join in!
We disagree here, but we do not have the cliques that HP does, and people don’t gang up on others, but we are not shy in stating our opinions!
We just disagree without name calling or personal attacks!
Welcome and look forward to reading your opinions!
Welcome to The Planet, zizyphus!
You’re among friends here. And if you haven’t seen them all, check out the articles here about HuffPo, we have a few theories about what’s really going on there:
http://planetpov.com/category/news-and-politics/the-media/huffington-post-the-media-news-and-politics/
Please post early and often! Welcome!!
Welcome to the POV!