Note from Matthew:
This board is not moderated per se. I am Helen’s grandson and I check in from time to time. The normal WordPress systems are in place that sometimes put you in spam or moderated status due to several factors including the number of links in your message. Sometimes you end up there by mistake. My grandmother also asked me to put a mod block on comments that contain certain words. Ex. the n word and the f word to name two. If you get caught in that process, your comment will sit there until I have time to look in.
I should also let you know that I don’t monitor the comments very often, but when I notice that someone is commenting over and over in a manner that seems to be solely to disrupt the conversation or someone is just being mean, I have been known to give them a few warnings and then ban them outright. The system can alert me when someone is just trying to post the same stuff over and over while using different names. Funny thing how that happens most often when my Grandmother posts about abortion.
But even then I am pretty open-minded. I tend to focus on those commentors (often called Trolls) who post the same stuff over and over regardless of the content in my Grandmother’s original post. Again, it doesn’t happen very often. My Grandmother’s view is “the more the merrier”.
I have a full-time job and I live temporarily in London so I do this at odd hours.
My grandmother has very thick skin and we haven’t seen her act this young in years. We thank all of you for that.
My only other involvement is to format the posts for Helen and Margaret which sometimes slows down the process as well.
updated 2/7/12
Dear Matthew: Long time reader, rare commenter here. I was very happy in February, when you made clear to Noah/Anonymous that you would not tolerate the rudeness and the constant commenting. Despite his commitment to be civil, he is doing exactly the same thing. The insults about “hens nests” and claims about what “everybody” feels, the nastiness, and the mean-spirited attacks on “liberals” and certain posters have only increased. I believe that many of the long-term porch dwellers may have left because of him. I know he claimed to start a blog and apparently nobody used it–that is no reason for him to ruin this one. I respectfully ask that you do what you said and put the “blocks” back up. Thank you.
By: Marcia on May 5, 2012
at 12:27 PM
http://margaretandhelen.com/2012/03/05/rush-saw-his-shawdow-today-six-more-weeks-of-stupidity/#comment-74495
By: Anonymous on April 1, 2012
at 4:08 PM
Hey Matt / MOD?, can you pull my email off this comment?
http://margaretandhelen.com/2012/03/05/rush-saw-his-shawdow-toay-six-more-weeks-of-stupidity/#comment-74495
THX
By: Anonymous on April 1, 2012
at 4:06 PM
Just found your blog. Love it!
By: Julia MacAdam on March 8, 2012
at 5:43 PM
Thanks for making this possible for your grandmother. I am delighted to have stubbled upon her musings, and greatly entertained.
By: Debra colmers on February 16, 2012
at 8:43 AM
How wonderful! Can’t wait to read all the posts. Thanks to your grandson…what a great person.
By: Bky on February 10, 2012
at 11:47 AM
Thank you Matthew. I am a “scroller when it comes to mutliple postings by the same few people. Give my regards and hugs to your grandma. She seems like one heck of a lady!
By: Dawn on February 8, 2012
at 10:09 PM
This particular mod is not letting me see my previous post waiting on moderation. Should you decide either way you can add a smile or eye roll to your introduction on this page. I will check for it in the morning.
Note from Matthew:
I know you think this took a lot of my time. It didn’t. It is easy to anticipate seemingly random IPS numbers. Get out of line, and the blocks go right back up. The extra 5 mins a day is no skin off my back. You can disagree all you want. But dozens of posts a day are annoying to everyone involved. It’s not what you say, it’s how often you say it. And for the record, Helen reads the comments for about 30 mins after the posts goes live and then she goes back to “watching her shows”. Margaret reads a lot more of them.
By: Anonymous on February 7, 2012
at 8:30 PM
I will offer up a truce. I will treat your mother and friend with greater respect, but still reserve the right to vehemently disagree with them. I will use greater diplomacy in my interaction with others on here and keep the tone of my post at a more civil level in exchange for the ability to post unhindered. I will also stick to one name.
Or we can just do this endless dance if you prefer. As this past year or so has shown I have nothing but empty time on my hand. I would prefer the former but happy to live with that latter. If additional conditions are needed feel free to present them. I wont bother you with another request should you ignore or decline. Smile to agree. Eye roll to decline.
Note From Matthew: Here is a perfect example. I will lift the ban on “Anonymous” for now. We’ll see if s/he behaves or not. Please remember, you can disagree with my Grandmother as much as you want. But replying to almost everyone who leaves a comment is unacceptable behavior, especially if you are replying with the same information over and over. My Grandmother would tell you to stop interrupting.
By: Anonymous on February 7, 2012
at 8:28 PM
Thanks, Matthew.
Geez, witless anon thinks you control WordPress and can throw out cookies at will? I’m surprised his super sleuth cyber patrol in BFE Michigan haven’t told him he’s insane. Perhaps they’re just popping popcorn and waiting for the inevitable fallout that comes from “paranoia will destroy ya.”
By: Anonymous on February 7, 2012
at 7:39 PM
This is wonderful blog. Thank you.
By: Tosca on January 23, 2012
at 12:09 PM
Frothy, You sound upset. Can I help in any way?
Are you trying to get Helen and I blocked from the blog again?
Wishing you the best?
Froth:
GOOGLE; SPREADING ROMNEY
By: JuneauJoe on January 21, 2012
at 10:19 PM
Bitch move Matt. Game on!
By: Anonymous on January 21, 2012
at 10:11 PM
Matt, bit of a bitch move on my 12:01 post adding text to my post then altering information on another. Installing a invasive cookie though crossed a line. Type “enough” on this page when you think we can go back to playing nice. Until then let the games begin.
By: Anonymous on January 21, 2012
at 10:08 PM
Thanks for keeping this going. Good grandson.:-)
By: Kathy D'Assis on January 4, 2012
at 8:32 AM