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
Contrary to popular belief I have moderated and even banned some of the “trolls” that many of you have identified. Unfortunately they find ways to come back using different emails and even new IP addresses. I could put further restrictions on comments such as prior-approval or registration-only, but I feel that would take away from the spirit of this website which – for now – reflects a certain spirit that my grandmother seems to enjoy. I will quote her now: “If I can dish it out, I should be able to take it. I can see through the bullshit and I think they can too.”
updated 6/21/12
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By: www.uglycars.co.uk on May 21, 2013
at 3:38 PM
gato…you and i are dealing, i think, in semantics. what we think of ourselves and one another is what we’re taught for the most part. like making winning the NUMBER ONE or how we look the most important thing or if someone else dresses differently, eats differently, etc than we do, that is wrong and so are they. when i say we do not respect one another or ourselves i am saying that it is not our purvue to judge another, nor to decide who is acceptable and who is not based on if they comply with what we think is ‘right’. this is where it could get a tad sticky. there are ‘common morals’, actually as stated in the ten commandments, for example. to me, that boils down to respect. why would i do anything to you if i don’t want it done to me? why would it matter to me if, for instance, your Sabbath was oh…thursday, not Saturday or sunday? why would it matter to me if you have a Sabbath at all? why would it matter if your skin was a different color than mine? in thinking about this i sometimes ask myself when conformity becomes complicity. and then sometimes (lol) i say, o shuddup and have a piece of chocolate.
By: penny abrams on April 14, 2013
at 7:27 PM
Please delete comment on April 13 at 12:49. Thank You!!
By: Cynthia on April 11, 2013
at 3:22 PM
HI, Penny – I’ll jump in! Basically, I think you make a great point. No; of course someone would not be able to harm another person if she respects herself AND others. But the problem comes in what people are taught to think makes them “respectable,” and every society has its own rules and regulations. In many cultures, the elderly are respected for their wisdom; not true, here, for the most part. In prison, someone is “respected” if he or she doesn’t let anyone take advantage of him or her. And sometimes, in that violent and unhappy climate, earning “respect” may mean even killing someone else. Again, in our society, advertisers, serving their clients, work ceaselessly to tell us – especially the young among us – that we will be “respected” if we wear the right labels, drink the “best” soft drink, and have the latest electro-gadgets. And, of course, around here the best way to be “respected” is just to be rich and famous, no matter whether or not you’ve actually done anything of use to anyone. (The Kardashian Klan comes to mind…)
Also, humans often feel that they will command “respect” only if they can feel they are “better” than someone else, in any way at all – which explains why, so often, poor whites are so hostile toward blacks. They may be poor, uneducated, and unemployed, but “at least [they] ain’t black.”
In one society, a tall, athletic warrior, who can fell an ibex at a hundred yards with a spear, is highly respected by his fellows – and a geek who started up a social networking site would be considered totally useless. In another society, exactly the opposite.
Fortunately, in EVERY society there are a few families who are able to rise above their particular social conventions, and teach their children the basic respect one human should have for him- or herself, and for all other living beings. And, IMHO, those people deserve the respect of all of us!
Other thoughts…?
Gato
By: gatodicima on April 10, 2013
at 1:16 PM
I’m sure everyone joins me in thanking you, Matthew. Now I would like to posit a theory of mine and get reactions, if I may.
I have come to the firm conclusion that the primary root of today’s behavior is lack of respect…for ourselves and one another. How can one damage another in any way if there is respect? Every single sentient being deserves respect until they prove otherwise. I would even contend that they deserve respect anyway…perhaps different than those who have found their way to living well in a ‘decent’ society. This is where I lose some degree of articulation. lol. I know what I mean. So, to beat a dead horse for a moment…can you steal if you respect yourself? or from someone you respect? Can you hit or attack someone you respect? How do you ignore the needs and wants of someone you respect? If you really respect life, how do you eat a full meal knowing that others are actually hungry? How do you take a vacation when there are people without shelter? I look forward to what y’all have to say.
By: Penny Abrams on April 9, 2013
at 9:56 AM
Wonderful website. A lot of helpful info here. Iˇm sending it to a few pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks for your sweat!
By: Air Jordans Retro on April 8, 2013
at 7:43 PM
i wondered where all u guys had gone. if one does not participate for a while is it considered ‘finished’?
i wanted to comment on the gov of florida (where i live) and his proposal to arm teachers in the schools. it struck me that perhaps he could also arm crossing guards, check-out clerks, garbage pick-up people, lawn cutters, maybe even baby sitters…then my partner suggested we also arm the children. that sort of cemented the whole ludicrous idea. i know it isn’t a funny situation but i’m losing any sense of sanity here. must we rise and fill the streets w/disgust and revolution? and then will some lunatic carry a gun into that? what must we do? lamenting doesn’t seem to be working.
By: penny abrams on March 31, 2013
at 1:35 PM
Please let us know that everything is okay? It’s been a long time since any posts.
By: Bill on March 13, 2013
at 5:25 PM
Matthew,
I would love to read some background on your grandmother. Where she grew up, education, jobs, etc….. Maybe she could write a short biography so we get to know the person behind the blog. She writes so well & is so entertaining, I am sure people would enjoy it. Just a thought if she is tried of flexing her political muscle.
By: Juls on February 11, 2013
at 12:59 PM
Have not seen anything here recently and I’m just wondering if Helen and Margaret are OK? Keeping them in my prayers, just in case! I hope they are well.
By: leenkm on February 8, 2013
at 11:56 AM
Matthew, you should publish your email somewhere on this blog so that others can reach you. I couldn’t find a way to contact you except comments.
By: KP on November 13, 2012
at 10:46 AM
Kristy….just hit manage button on the left side of this very page under the words “You are following this blog” (manage), and you will go to your account account where you can remove yourself from receiving any updates or posters comments. There are something’s that you have to do for yourself. Will surly miss your common sense insights. Keep on keeping on!
By: sidney18511 on October 28, 2012
at 12:33 AM
Please remove my email from this listing. I have enjoyed your Grandmothers blogging but now I posted and am being harassed. I am asking you as the moderator to please remove my email. Also if my posts are so offending, I was trying to offer a view point from a victim who does fight for stricter laws. That just didn’t work out. These people made me feel the same as the attorney and police did in the days after, this is not a healthy or productive site to mention rape or abortion. Please just remove everything. I don’t understand the koolaid comments except I know people have been poisoned that way.
By: Kristy on October 27, 2012
at 10:16 PM
If you don’t like it GTF off amd take your BS elsewhere.
By: cryptoclearance on October 11, 2012
at 10:28 PM
Hey Matt…I didn’t appreciate my posts being changed and now I’m being accused of things I didn’t say….Thanks a lot…..
By: uawtradesman on October 11, 2012
at 6:43 PM
Thank you for your prompt and useful answer.
Christine
By: Christine F on September 11, 2012
at 11:28 PM
Christine- there is a check box under the comment box so you can be notified of new posts. Also, if you are set up as a WordPress user you can choose to “follow” a blog and be notified.
Amethyst-
Go to the bottom of one of the emails you get- clear to the bottom and click to get to where you can UNsubscribe to comments.
Also- watch for the check box under the leave-a-reply comment box when you do comment and be sure there is not a default checked box for comment subscription.
Thank you Mathew.
I so enjoy this place you have helped Helen and Margaret make here
By: alaskapi on September 11, 2012
at 7:49 PM
Hello, Matthew.
How can I receive e-mails letting me know when there are new Margaret and Helen entries. I don’t want to miss any! Also, I would prefer for my name to be deleted from the “comments” list.
Thank you, Matthew.
Christine
By: Christine F on September 11, 2012
at 7:08 PM
Matthew…Puh-lease tell me how to have my email blocked for all of the comments…I have a ton of unread email anyway, thanks to MSN…long story, but I don’t need each comment coming into my mailbox and filling it up…help…please?
By: amethyst on September 11, 2012
at 4:38 PM
Matthew, you are a true gem.
By: Anonymous on September 9, 2012
at 2:47 PM
When I grow up, I want to be just like Helen. (I’m only 55.)
By: NadineNadine on September 7, 2012
at 2:20 PM
Cynthia on August 30, 2012
at 9:46 AM
Matthew will you delete this comment the link contains info personal info.
Thank you.
By: Cynthia on August 30, 2012
at 10:12 AM
My mom is 92, and just before she had a series of set backs, I had gotten her up to speed on email. She was so tickled to use it. (I always thought she would have had a much easier time on a Mac, but c’est la vie. ) Good on you for helping get out this wonderful spunky voice to the world. I’m now a follower!
By: nerskine on August 27, 2012
at 3:57 PM