November 10, 2005

Unifying Force or How to Damage Your Credibility

This morning Bob Krumm notes that the attacks on me from David Bander (Forward with Ford) have actually provided a unifying force in the Tennessee political blogosphere. He's right.

Lots of people may have not agreed with my assertions linking tyranny to gun control (which I will continue to stand by), but because of Bander's rants wanting me to apologise, many people who normally don't agree with me have come to my defense. The point: I should not have to take down and apologise for my own opinions on my own site. This ideal has become something that is sort of a sacred cow in the world of blogs.

Adam Groves pointed out in the comments that Bander may have only been doing this stunt as a way to drive traffic to his site. He may have succeeded in getting a few extra hits, but at what price? The only real thing that he has done is to permanently damage his credibility and that of Harold Ford, Junior. If you are running a blog in support of a candidate, your actions reflect upon that candidate. Maybe that's why Junior stabbed his blogging supporters in the back when he voted against the Online Freedom of Speech Act.

Others have been talking about these attacks as well, and I appreciate the support.

-Brittney: One of the first to defend (even though not agreeing)
-TV on the Fritz posted a letter from Bander.
-Mephistophocles has a great write up on emotional arguments.
-Nathan Moore has my back.
-Six Meat Buffet: How Not To Blog, Part 34,482
-And, of course, all those that have left comments.

Now...back to your regularly scheduled blogging.

Comments:

Please Note! Failure to abide by the following may result in your comments being edited or deleted: Remain on topic. Foul language and/or personal attacks are not permitted. Excessive links (more than three per thread) must be approved first. If you do include a link in your comment, make sure it is a short link (go to tinyurl.com if it is too long). Try to keep comments to 125 words or less. Thank you.

I wonder if Bander's arrogance that leads him to demand and order you to remove the post he doesn't like grows out of his liberalism or his youthfulness.

Don't be too hard on him - I'm sure we all did stupid, arrogant things back when we were still college kids.

Posted by: Bill Hobbs at November 10, 2005 10:42 AM

Well, I agree with both your comparsion and your "right" to use it even if it were off-base or ridiculous (which it isn't), but I'm not about to post on Bander's shenanigans and give him what he wants. This was a blatant traffic ploy by young Bander and not even an especially inspired, mature, or tastefully done one.

Posted by: Kleinheider at November 10, 2005 10:45 AM

Notice there weren't any links to bander in this post.

Posted by: at November 10, 2005 10:50 AM

I confess, I did link to him.

But they were PITY LINKS.

Those are different.

Besides, this is going to be the most traffic the guy ever gets, so what's the harm?

Posted by: Preston Taylor Holmes at November 10, 2005 11:03 AM

Again, his credibility is only being damaged, so there really isn't any harm at all. :)

Posted by: B at November 10, 2005 11:06 AM

I wonder if Bander's arrogance that leads him to demand and order you to remove the post he doesn't like grows out of his liberalism or his youthfulness.

That is twice you've made that remark, Bill. We get it, you don't like liberals.

Posted by: brittney at November 10, 2005 11:47 AM

Blake,

Gun control is and has been a tactic of tyranny as history clearly demonstrates. It is something which obviously offends gun-grabbers like Bander because they know it's true.

It was a basic principle of a tyrant " to unarm his people of weapons, money,
and all means whereby they resist his power."
--Sir Walter Raleigh (1554 - 1618)

Posted by: at November 11, 2005 09:10 AM