I agree with Helen. There are topics that others might be interested in which get jumped on by people who feel the need to nay-say, very sternly so.
I agree with Helen. In some of those cases, it would be best if they just stayed away. But instead of the critical ones censoring themselves, the writers self-censor.
Notwithstanding, I think that a partial answer might be to figure a way to bring interesting Open Topic threads to the attention of those who only read the Salon. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
Indeed, but not for anything I wrote in my somewhat personal travel diaries, for example. The only thing which fits your description is the "jumping on" by the one doing the complaining here. But I still maintain that nobody, as far as I'm aware, expressed "hostility", certainly not to the personal content of a diary, while discussions may have to led to the expression of scepticism (not the same as "hostility") about some of the more general issues raised. In Wales did a personal diary about "woo woo" stuff (her borrowed label) and seemed happy with the wide-ranging discussion. The Lasthorseman included some pretty far out stuff in his recent diary, but because it was a very personal diary everybody tip-toed around that, including me, even when Gianne referred me back to it.
I agree with afew, there shouldn't be little ghettoes for believers and sceptics, etc. but open discussion about the general issues raised in any diary. Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience