Before we get into the Memorial Day weekend and I start obsessing about the sharp dip in traffic that always triggers (What’s the matter, too busy for ETHICS???), I want to convey my appreciation, admiration and gratitude to Ethics Alarms commenters, who have shined even more brilliantly than usual in the last couple weeks.
I just trashed a comment under moderation that said,
As soon as I saw what Gianforte did here in kaliforniah I went to his website and donated $50.00. I wish someone would slam Rachel Mad-dike. I was very happy to see him win in spite of the commie collective of main stream news commies.
This is the kind of comment I don’t allow here, and yet it is typical of most of the discourse I read on all but a few websites and blogs. Contrast that with the varied, substantive, perceptive and serious comments that appear here every day, as exemplified, though not exclusively, by the recent flood of Comments of the Day by Extradimensional Cephalopod, Mrs Q, Glenn Logan, Spartan, crella, Humble Talent, texagg04, fattymoon, Zoltar Speaks!, and Steve-O-in-NJ. This was all in 10 days, and some of these contribution prompted over a hundred comments themselves.
I envisioned Ethics Alarms as an ongoing participatory pan-ethics conference or colloquy, never as a monologue. For that ambitious concept to work requires a lot of passion, thought and commitment from more than just the moderator, and recent days have proved that, thanks to all of you, Ethics Alarms has these and more in abundance. Few other online forums are so fortunate.
Thank you.
Bravo.
Ethics Alarms 
Thanks for putting up with us, Jack. I am learning loads
Thanks for tolerating us, Jack, many’s the time we have all produced a lot of dross for one nugget of gold.
And thank you, Jack. Though lately we’ve disagreed more often than not, this is still my favorite blog.
You help a lot, Chris. And take a lot of flack to do it.
Thanks.
Thanks for being an effective moderator. I can never know what you actually keep out, but what you let in is equally admirable. I think you strike a good balance and you’ve cultivated the herd quite well.
Yes. Thanks to Jack and the commenters for the consistently high quality of this site.
The fish swims from the head down.
Great job. You put up with a lot, and bring the best out of folks.
No, Jack. Thank YOU.
I can only imagine how much time and effort you put into this, and I know you get nothing in return but the end-product itself (for good OR bad), and the far-more-occasional-than-they-should-be comments thanking you for all that time and effort.
I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve learned from reading this blog, nor how many ways what I’ve learned has improved my life–especially my professional life.
Thank you.
…and Happy Memorial Day!
–Dwayne
Thank you, Jack, for all you do to promote ethical behavior. In an era when it seems like all the wrong “thought leaders” (and leaders of wrong thinking) attract the largest number of sympathizers and “groupies,” I am proud to be (and most Lucky to be) a follower of this blog instead.
You’re welcome, Jack Take the rest of the long weekend off. Post some greatest hits. Have a beer.
EA is one of those rare sites that permits one to actually test his or her reasoning. It helps me remain sane.
Thanks Jack.
I just want to say, I appreaciate how you let the conversation go where it wants to, as opposed to attempting to wrench it where you want it to go. I think it makes for a more natural experience and fosters growth.
First, hope you and yours have a nice Memorial Day. Then, thanks should actually go to you. As has been stated previously, you almost certainly put a lot of effort into this endeavor, and your very good at it. If you weren’t, I wouldn’t keep coming back.
Thank you very much, Jack. This is my favorite blog. You always make me think, and I always learn something. There are so few places that offer reasoned, civil commentary as this one does. Ethics Alarms is where I come for rational analysis of events.
Thank you for the pick for COTD the other day. I had a busy week and hadn’t been keeping up. I got caught up with my notifications late last night and saw it.
You’re welcomed! I try my best.
I also want to give Jack a high five & hug. Jack you have provided a forum for people to think, learn, take some heat, and grow. EA makes the internet have some redeeming qualities. Bless you & thank you.
If there is ever an EA gathering, please put me on the list!
I’m pretty certain I’d never have a comment of the day, and know this,
I challenge all my “friends” and left friends who regurgitate the same old stuff, to try coming here if they want to engage in the closet thing to real dialogue I’ve found on any political type forum. So far none have. Seems they’d rather stay in their safe Facebook echo chamber. Thinking is not for the lazy.
I’m so thankful for this place and you, Jack. Please know you and your commentators give me hope and help me realize I’m not crazy.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My husband is a big fan now too, as are some of my friends who actually make a difference in thus world rather than bitching about how mean our government is. Few if those people do much. They think liking a post hating trump is relevant and makes them involved.
Thank again, love to you.
You made my day, and it just started. Thank you so much.
Humbled and honored.
Aw shucks. Blushing now….
Jack,
Without your devotion to ethics, your willingness to create a blog to freely discuss ethical issues, and your willingness to put up with a bunch of random people arguing with each other kinda in the middle of your living room, none of this would happen.
Thanks for taking the time to thank the participants here but the real thanks goes out to you for making it happen and continued tolerance.
Thank you!
P.S. Are you going to swing by Arlington National Cemetery this weekend to see all the flags? If so, please render an honorary salute to your Father for me.
I’ll be there, and I will. Thank you.
For those that don’t know…
Borrowing from the “World’s Most Interesting Man (Person), “I don’t always comment but when I do, I prefer ‘Ethics Alarms’.” The comments on this blog are manna from a heaven of well-intentioned, articulate, and-most importantly-respectful people. Jack, thank you for a forum that continues to challenge and provides many of us opportunities to question and grow. To all of you who contribute, with genuine admiration, “Bravo!” I hope all of you “Stay Thirsty, my Friends. Now, let me offer a toast to the civility of discourse that was brought to all of us, by so many who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Bottoms Up on this week we remember all of our patriots.
I read here pretty much every day but rarely comment. Was looking for a like button on this post. Oh well. Thanks for your hard work/dedication. I don’t always agree but love the viewpoints.
Thanks, Paul. I don’t use the WordPress like/dislike option because those encourage anonymous opinions, which is what they are. I don’t care how many people like or dislike a post—I want to know why they do.