I promised to continue this blog hours ago. But a funny thing happened on the way to chapter two of this saga.  We have a nice small group here. I have mentioned it many times. We talk about war criminals like dicky c and w and rummy.  We talk about corporate excesses. And most of the time we can stay on the front page for an entire day!!!

We have people here with advanced degrees, sometimes many more than one. We have people who have been published in the real world. We have people who have had more than a few moments of fame.  TPM as a mainstream blog of course has great journalists and pundits who appear on TV regularly and the site is cited on cable news often.

I am talking about our little community here. So I check out Craig Crawford from time to time and hit on his ten rules. And I know we have our own rules here, TheraP had done more than one blog on this subject and so have others. But it struck me as funny, because of my mood at the time.

So I thought about doing a serial on these rules. And we might end up in a more serious discussion as the comments came in.  Of course I never know when others are going to find interest in my subject or my take, but that is the fun of it all. Is it not?

Now when I first started blogging here in November, I was afraid.  I would post something and get two comments. And fade into obscurity.  But as I got more comments and positive reinforcement, I got braver and braver. And at times, funnier and funnier.

So sometimes I get to the point where I have a little too much hubris and I get carried away.  And that is also the fun of it. Do you not think?  But I consider that I am writing to my friends after my first few months and I get relaxed because, after all, who is reading me?  

There is something to be said for being ignored.  No one cares what you are saying anyway.  You cannot get in too much trouble.

So anyway, I am doing my comedy act and pontificating. And my friends all start joining in the festivities.  Q has my rolling on the floor laughing, Sleepin is doin something with Grouch. And Amike, the soft well educated man here, chimes in talking about sweet potatoes. Obey shows up and Yva is providing links and everything is good. Good and normal but more comments than usual. And we are up to 50 or so and Gregor shows up. And Gregor attempts to get at some serious issues about blogging and we are having a discussion and as I am clicking a submit to him,
I see: Craig Crawford.  At first I think, oh yeah we are blogging about him.

Well, the submission goes through and sure enough, someone calling himself CC has commented.
I am flushed.  I mean I am getting good vibes from the song I did on another blog, and here is somebody I have watched on TV for twenty years and is a professional journalist and I melt.

Now, is this Q making a joke? Or Obey or somebody else?  I figure, I have nothing to lose.
So I respond, respectfully and humbly and submit and I come back because somewhere in all this my computer is crashing and I need a cleaning.  I get back and there is Q responding:

THE PEASANTS ARE REVOLTING.  THE END

Now I am in stitches and I realize, CC has replied to my reply.  No I really am CC.

CC even replied to Q somewhere in there.

Ok. So what do we do now?  First Gregor has me rolling on the floor because he comments: Why doesn't CC respond to me?

Our rule for the day is CC's  second commandment is as follows:


   2. Nobody likes a know-it-all. Thoughtful, knowledgeable commenters gain a following. Condescending smartypants are about as welcome on a blog as they are in someone's living room. They generally persuade no one and aggravate everyone. When fact-checking, pointing out a typo or dead link or asserting a dissenting opinion, do it in a respectful, friendly way.

First, I kind of look like a smarty pants most of the time. I figure what is the point of blogging if you cannot be a smarty pants and I do not know enough most of the time to get too serious anymore. Further, I know there are people here that would feel safer with a weapon of some kind if I were really in their living room.

We have talked often about taking a cheap shot at someone for misspelling since I never could spell. Or making too much of a dead link.
 
The more serious side of this has to do with my discussion with Gregor in the first blog.

Now there is context here. If I am relating a story and end with, and then I buried my dog.

A comment asking: How long were you married to her?  Might seem a bit harsh.

On the other hand when Q responds to this first chapter with: This is the single worst blog I have ever read.  I laugh. Because of context.

So begin the discussion on Chapter 2 of our series. 

Some may feel I am wimping out here. You will find no obscenity which at times is an art I can be good at. Hahhahahahahah

Oh, and never forget, somebody you never would have thought of, may be listening or reading.