Somehow the humble web log comment manages to provide a space for good exchange that 10 million listserves, chatrooms and newsgroups have failed to create.
Just maybe, the feature offers the right mix of specific audience and topic. The rolling in of subsequent posts may also limit the natural life of a comment thread, deterring the worst of the trolls and sending them elsewhere to do more lasting damage.
Anyway, sometimes a vigorous exchange in comments leads to actual learning and even enjoyment.
Recently journalist and hunter Holly Heyser blogged about a Turkish sporting channel's effort to unite that county's hunters in a defense of wildlife. This led in comments to a continuing exchange on the culpability of hunters in the condition of animal suffering. One correspondent is a vegetarian wildlife rehabilitator with anti-hunting sentiments. Another is me.
So I'm learning some things about our critics I didn't expect, and I'm enjoying the chance to spell out my own beliefs. Rather than re-post the conversation here, I will simply invite those interested in the topic to follow along.
5 comments:
Fantastic exchange--and I had to add my two cents too!....L.B.
Thanks for linking to it, Matt!
Conversations like this are the best possible use of the blogosphere - makes me grateful to be a blogger.
Well Holly, I don't suppose we were in any danger of solving this one. :-D
Matt,
Your opinions were very well expressed. The exchange was a fascinating read. It would be nice if we could all find some common ground.
Doug
Lane, Doug, many thanks. Themes and tone courtesy Wendell Berry! I aspire to have an origial thought at some point...
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