Back in the days when I was building ISOU... I used to care about the number of hits I got a day. I used to care about my TLB ranking, I used to care who linked to me...

I also used to care about trying to maintain some sense of decency in debate on Political Issues. That was before I discovered what a disgusting place the Blogsphere can be. I was visiting Tony Pierce today, and saw an interesting link. It appears that another blogger recently launched a preemptive strike against Tony and a couple of other, "Prime Time Bloggers," There is an apology and an explanation here. It makes an interesting read.
When I started blogging, I really enjoyed the sense of community and the idea of reaching out and mind melding with people all over the world. I enjoyed debating people on the Right, and sparring over last years Presidential election.

I helped to found the Progressive Blog Alliance, as an attempt to bring Progressives together, only to have that effort deteriorate into a sad pissing contest over Leadership and direction.
Just recently I posted a response to what I saw as a racist post on a Right Wing Blog, only to have sleaze show up on my blog and call me a Nigger and suggest my children pick cotton. Then there are the so called Right Wing Intellectuals like Jeff Goldstein and his minions who's idea of a counterpoint is to call me Fat! What the fuck ever!
I have decided in the last couple of days to focus on my business, and to ensure that Grupo Utopia is positioned to maintain it's leadership in the Technical Sector here in Costa Rica.

We all have enough negativity in our lives, to not invite it upon ourselves. I don't aspire to be a mega blogger. I have fell into a niche that I am comfortable with. ISOU has been recognized by some people I respect very much as being worth linking to and reading, that is enough. I have been to the mountaintop, received the recognition of my peers, and am generally well thought of by all but the most hard core political hacks.

The time has come to get back to basics, and to blog about the things I feel passionate about. If this passion is shared by others, all the better, but I am not getting into anymore pissing contest. When people stoop to using terms like Nigger and insulting my children, the debate is no longer debate, it is demagoguery and hate speech. I think the thing that disappointed me the most, was that even decent people, whom I respect, were all to comfortable with giving Paul at Wizbang a pass on his so-called Satire, as they were on ignoring the racist and hateful comments posted to my blog. As is often the case, they missed the whole point of my post, which was that by invoking the "cotton picker theme," Paul showed his true colors. I was also disappointed that people like Marty, and Baldilocks, chose to, or appeared to chose to, put their Conservative beliefs, before their self respect as Black People who despite their issues with Ebonics, which I happen to agree with... Should have called Paul out on his inflammatory tactics. I asked a simple question, which typically, was ignored. "If you are basing your lack of outrage on the idea that Paul was legitimately concerned about Black Youth, rather than using racist comments to make a cheap political point, point me to ONE, just ONE post on Wizbang where Paul has expressed concern for the welfare of Blacks.

This is where Blogging has come. We have now reached a point where superheated rhetoric is all that matters anymore. And personal insults take the place of logic and debate. Well guess what? READ THE HEADLINE.... Yeah I am a fat guy. Been one all my life. My Daddy was fat guy, and my Mama was a fat woman. By the grace of God, I eat well. I live well. I have been blessed with opportunity, success and love. I am also BLACK, not a Nigger, Black, Afro American if you so chose. I am proud of my heritage not the least of which because I know that my people have had to put up with ignorant people like the ones who commented on that post, for years. I am also proud of my Children, and thank God they will never need to pick anyone's cotton. They also speak two languages fluently and have the finest educations I could pay for.

There is one thing I agree with in the sentiments of this gentleman's original post. Some Bloggers are full of themselves. They see their success in the blogging world as some sort of validation of self importance. I believe I fell into that trap at one time. But I also know that I have always used my blogging as a tool to try and help others, including other bloggers to gain readership. This is the thing I am most proud of as a Blogger. I have written numerous times about the elitist bloggers and their unwillingness to reach back and help others find their voice. This is something I will never be accused of.

Blogging CAN sometimes be about ego. I know I have gotten wrapped up in mine a few times. But in reality, this thing... which I love, does not put beans, rice and carne on the table.

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