Scott Lloyd Extends Bukowski's Notion of the Optimal Society

[_Doctor Scratch]

I don't know if anyone else caught this, but there is a particularly rotten thread underway at the ironically named Mormon Dialogue board:

http://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/564 ... Mormonism/

In it, a poster called "Sky" began with a bitterly angry complaint about the fact that press coverage of Mitt Romney and Mormonism hasn't always been sunshine and roses:

Why do some people have to be down-right mean and nasty on the internet when it comes to the LDS faith? Why is our faith the target of so much satire? Why is this generally accepted? Nearly every LDS related article is followed by anonymous reader comments that reflect a prejudice and even hatred towards Mormonism. I’ve read all sorts of awful things. And yet we Mormons are the ones that get accused of being intolerant. I’ve seen it time and time again. It seems to be especially prevalent right now because of Mitt Romney’s candidacy. The Salt Lake Tribune is a prime example. Genuine disagreements are one thing, but when does it cross the line into bigotry? What should our responses be towards this kind of thing? Is it even worth it to try and give a response? Do you think the Mormon.org profiles have hurt or helped with this? Do outsiders really better understand us and our faith? Or has it stayed about the same?

Thoughts?

These seem like worthwhile questions, no? Of particular note was Sky's singling out of the SL Trib--the Deseret News's main competitor in the Utah area. But what about the questions? Interestingly, "Scotty Dog" Lloyd--himself a card-carrying journalist--gave this implicit "solution":

The Tribune was started in 1870 by the Godbeites, a group of apostates bent on opposition to Brigham Young. Though it is far more respectable today than in the early days, it is historically and traditionally the daily of choice in Salt Lake City for those who resent the influence of Mormonism in Utah. And the fact that the paper exercises minimal-to-no-moderation of on-line "reader comments" means that those comments are bound to reflect anti-Mormonism in all of its unalloyed ugliness.

Ah! Of course! Censorship is the answer to all of this! Perhaps Scott Lloyd can form a partnership with M. F. Bukowski, and together the two of them can draw up plans for creating the Optimal Society: replete with "common sense" and "moderated" speech for all!

[_sock puppet]

Interestingly, "Scotty Dog" Lloyd--himself a card-carrying journalist--gave this implicit "solution":

The Tribune was started in 1870 by the Godbeites, a group of apostates bent on opposition to Brigham Young. Though it is far more respectable today than in the early days, it is historically and traditionally the daily of choice in Salt Lake City for those who resent the influence of Mormonism in Utah. And the fact that the paper exercises minimal-to-no-moderation of on-line "reader comments" means that those comments are bound to reflect anti-Mormonism in all of its unalloyed ugliness.

Ah! Of course! Censorship is the answer to all of this! Perhaps Scott Lloyd can form a partnership with M. F. Bukowski, and together the two of them can draw up plans for creating the Optimal Society: replete with "common sense" and "moderated" speech for all!

"minimal-to-no-moderation of on-line 'reader comments' means that those comments are bound to reflect anti-Mormonism in all of its unalloyed ugliness."

Is Mormonism that vulnerable to becoming scattered disassemblage from free speech that a journalist rails against the notion that a newspaper would allow for minimal-to-no-moderation?

Dr Shades, you might just be perceived as the greatest threat to Mormonism.

[Guest]

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[_ludwigm]

You'd think 167 years on, and after their founder's death Mormons would have learned not to pick a fight with free speech? did the Nauvoo Expositor episode teach them anything?

There is a Hungarian saying : "Old dog never learns new feat"

Why was Joseph Smith in Carthage?
Oh yeah, that's right, he went there to be a martyr and because of all the intolerance and lies. Nothing to do with people wishing to publish the wrongs with the Church and its leadership, then the Church and its leaders retaliating by destroying the press trying to suppress free speech.

Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which book paper burns.

[_sock puppet]

Is Mormonism that vulnerable to becoming scattered disassemblage from free speech that a journalist rails against the notion that a newspaper would allow for minimal-to-no-moderation?

Dr Shades, you might just be perceived as the greatest threat to Mormonism.

Who has a torch? Let's set that press spreading "anti-mormon" lies (otherwise known as the truth) on fire!!! That'll teach them.

You'd think 167 years on, and after their founder's death Mormons would have learned not to pick a fight with free speech? did the Nauvoo Expositor episode teach them anything? Why was Joseph Smith in Carthage?

Oh yeah, that's right, he went there to be a martyr and because of all the intolerance and lies. Nothing to do with people wishing to publish the wrongs with the Church and its leadership, then the Church and its leaders retaliating by destroying the press trying to suppress free speech.

Thanks,

Hasa Diga Eebowai

Good point, Hasa. I suppose that if JSJr and Hyrum Smith were alive today, they'd order up some cyber terrorism aimed toward taking down MDB.

[_sock puppet]

You'd think 167 years on, and after their founder's death Mormons would have learned not to pick a fight with free speech? did the Nauvoo Expositor episode teach them anything?

There is a Hungarian saying : "Old dog never learns new feat"

Why was Joseph Smith in Carthage?
Oh yeah, that's right, he went there to be a martyr and because of all the intolerance and lies. Nothing to do with people wishing to publish the wrongs with the Church and its leadership, then the Church and its leaders retaliating by destroying the press trying to suppress free speech.

Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which book paper burns.

I wonder at what temperature a fire must reach to melt my Sony Vaio.

[Guest]

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[Guest]

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[Guest]

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[_mfbukowski]

Ah! Of course! Censorship is the answer to all of this! Perhaps Scott Lloyd can form a partnership with M. F. Bukowski, and together the two of them can draw up plans for creating the Optimal Society: replete with "common sense" and "moderated" speech for all!

Just for the record, as I have posted on another thread, I have no idea whatsoever about what would constitute the "optimal society" nor do I advocate censorship or "moderated speech".

As I have said on the other thread, I am pretty much a libertarian.

I will have no further comments on this thread.