NEW RULES

Several days ago, before passage of the Big Ugly Disgusting Destructive Deplorable Bill (worst in American history) which seems like a month ago, I posted—as a simple matter of housekeeping—new rules on my Facebook page. To deal with the occasional problem of MAGA’s and trolls and Trumpers in general. I’ve had no trouble with trolls on this Substack page—one of the reasons I am here—but it seems a good idea to be consistent and synthesized and post the rules here as well. So here they are, as from FB. By the way, I thought some might find this strict policy offensive; but it generated thousands of positive responses, one of the largest reactions I’ve ever received.

New Douglas Wood Social Media Policy: From here forward, no MAGA sympathizer/supporter comments or posts will be allowed on this site. None. No exceptions. It does not matter if you don’t use profanity (admittedly a rare occurrence); it doesn’t matter if you don’t attack or belittle (also rare). It doesn’t matter if you even seem polite or reasonable. All will be deleted and you will probably be blocked. Here’s why.

There is nothing polite or reasonable about storming the Capitol to overturn an election. Or defending those who do. Nothing polite about wearing a ‘Trump: F—-Your Feelings!’ t-shirt to a school play or concert; about denying science, or stripping rights from vulnerable people because you don’t like their sexual orientation or skin color or country of origin; nothing fair in outright lies about whole groups of good, humble people accusing them of eating cocker spaniels and belonging to murderous gangs; nothing reasonable about following a horrific windstorm with mocking lies and propaganda about the non-existence of climate change; or posting fantasies about political violence and then laughingly accusing democrats of assassinating democratic office holders and their families. Nothing decent in vitriolic abuse directed at good people peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights at a pro-democracy rally. There is nothing polite or reasonable about threatening to sell off public lands and parks, or stripping Medicare coverage from vast numbers of the most vulnerable. Nothing remotely reasonable or decent or patriotic about blanket, knee-jerk defenses of criminal and treasonous behaviors and infantile outbursts from your ‘leader,’ and, especially, about proudly proclaiming membership in his red-hat cult to begin with.

No. It is all disqualifying. In fact, any one of these offenses is disqualifying by itself on this page. Because it is my page and I get to make the rules. But more importantly, because such a person—by virtue of their own choices, proclamations and behaviors—is not WORTHY of inclusion here. That’s right—that’s what I said and meant. Unworthy. While others—normal, kind and patriotic citizens who base their words and actions upon facts and decency and kindness and respect—are. Worthy. Bluntly, they are simply better people, by choice and by effort, their opinions more deserving of respect and consideration. But for MAGA’s, no more. No more discussions, no more back and forth, no more tolerance for you here. Because… well, because MAGA and its threat to our democracy is… IN-tolerable. In fact, it’s disgraceful. It always has been. And these new rules are long overdue.

And to my good friends and readers, I haven’t allowed much of the BS to sneak through. But sometimes it did. And sometimes I tried to be ‘patient’ and ‘fair.’ That won’t happen anymore. For all the above-stated reasons. And because we simply don’t have the time—or the overly generous spirit for it—anymore. In fact, simple fairness and decency demand this recognition of the situation. And this response. You’re safe and respected here. And so very welcome around the campfire.