Reposting of Rules as a reminder, we are more than willing to discuss issues; however continued personal attacks will result in permanent banning.

Here’s how the blog works –

  • First time commenters are held in moderation and need prior approval.
  • Comments with 3 or more links are held in moderation and need approval, this is used for filtering spam.
  • Personal attacks are strongly discouraged and could result in permanent banning.
  • Users can be put into moderation for extra supervision but thus far none have been censored but it does mean that your comments might not be immediately viewable.
  • International ipaddresses will be blocked from viewing the site as many spam originate from these locations.

‘Censored’ List as of 05/05/08 –

  1. Steve Thomas’ home address – REMOVED
  2. Name of School where Supervisor’s children attended. – REMOVED
  3. Elvis/Chameleon/Ching – BLOCKED

111 Thoughts to “Blog Rules”

  1. Remind me who Steve Thomas is?

  2. 2nd in command, Manassas GOP, Formerly very involved in HSM

  3. Elena

    Alanna,
    You must have been reading my mind!. Yeah yeah, I know, its a short story(I beat second alamo to the punch line!). I am getting tired of Elvis, and since I am unable to have a face to face discussion, I was going to suggest we let him/her know, that continually attacking me, you, or anyone, based on our personal appearance was becoming incompatible with this blog. Thank you for giving the warning!

  4. Johnson

    You folks do realize that your “censorship” is pretty much restricted to opinions that you don’t like. It’s a good thing that free speech is the law, because as far as you’re concerned, it seems to be a privilege when conservatives use it. Isn’t that a form of bigotry? I think the word that I’m looking for is “Socialist”. Look it up.

    Why would anyone post a home address or the location of anyone’s children? It’s unacceptable. I would interpret that as a personal threat and deal with it accordingly. Dialogue, conversation and even arguing are acceptable behaviors. Threats and personal attacks are not.

    I am a conservative and proud of it. I don’t like any of our choices for POTUS this year and you shouldn’t, either. We are not as far apart as you may think. We all want to live in peace, freedom and security. We have different ideas on how to achieve it.

  5. Alanna

    Johnson,
    Maybe there’s a misunderstanding, I have not yet ‘censored’ except in a few instances. I do need to revise that list though to account for the whole Leaving Point of Woods, One for the Road fiasco.

    We have the above listed rules and –
    “Personal attacks are strongly discouraged and could result in permanent banning.”

    This is the second warning for Elvis, we won’t resort to calling names. If anybody feels as though they have been personally attacked, not on the basis of their argument just send me an email at [email protected] and I’ll investigate.

  6. Emma

    What happens when you register on this site? What is different? Just curious.

  7. Moon-howler

    Johnson, why would you want anyone’s name and address published on a blog? I feel the blog owner acted responsibly. Same with posting where someone’s kids go to school. She pulled that information from the blog.

    That is the extent of the censoring and has nothing to do with opinion. I hope you will revise your accusation.

  8. elvis

    it’s interesting as the proof is in the pudding. You’ll attack other people with impunity (and then delete the postings when people bitch) but you will dedicate an entire thread to me attacking you (which served a purpose actually) just goes to show how the hippocracy that this blog is: you proclaim to serve as a moderate voice, yet you support 9500 liberty which finally came “out of the closet” and flat out said they were on the illegals sides.

    I dont know how leftist you all can get, you proclaim to be republican but only when it suits you and you retaliated against corey stewart after inviting him into your home for a fundraiser (I guess you didnt get what you wanted after all)

    at least the other blog is pretty blatant and on target with what they support and that can be respected but people who say one thing and then blatantly do another prove only one point, that they are deceitful

    you post peoples personal information, yeah..you removed it but after leaving up there for plenty of time for others to view. You allow KG to post with impunity, make nasty remarks about people but you do nothing (she’s no saint for sure, she’s all over the blogsphere with her exploits however true or false)

    this blog is just another avenue for 9500 liberty to spout their propaganda and get them a film to introduce to their film festival. when they do that, you’ll see that this issue is no longer important for them. They found a topic, they’ll film it and then this blog will be history to them. They care nothing about the topic, only about capturing footage. That’s what you all are to them “footage” and nothing more.

  9. elvis

    oh…I forgot to mention. I was at your last “economy night” and didnt see what all the hooplah was. You may even have me on some film, ask your 9500 liberty folks to chew through it and find it out. I will tell you the food really jacked me up and I’ll never eat there again. I’ll give you a few hints:

    I’m not fat, I dont have jacked up teeth, I wear a suit (usually), I’m middle aged but less than 50 and over 40, I have black hair (just like the king himself). I’m in other words your normal, everyday middle aged person. I drive a porsche that’s not a sports car. I’ve seen you all speak at the BOCS meets at which I usually catch some of if I’m in the neighborhood.

    so there your go, chew on that for awhile.

  10. Madam Mofo

    Sorry Elvis, you must have been too unimpressive for any of us to have remembered you. Better luck next time.

  11. TWINAD

    Notice he didn’t mention he had a wife or significant other…must be because there is no one on earth that would want to have to face that every day…

  12. Red Dawn

    Elvis,

    In defense for you ( I do try to defend everyone) about the food/service at the last economic party, not impressed at all. I actually said that given the free advertisement and a chance to SHINE hey failed miserably. I even stated that this may even be the reason why.
    \

  13. Red Dawn

    Also I would like to throw out that at one time BVBL (Greg) had given a 24 hour warning that he would indeed expose someone’s IP address if they did not come forward. They did not, he exposed and I tried to find the link/thread and either it is gone, or I had no luck.

  14. Emma

    What does someone’s IP address tell you? I thought it was just a number that points to a general location. Or does the blog owner see more than that? Just curious as to why exposing an IP is a big deal.

  15. Red Dawn

    Emma,

    GOOD QUESTION and I have no idea why but it drove El_es_ay (sp, dag nab it, can’t copy and paste that anymore 🙁 away for some reason and I was upset about that. I just wanted to throw that out there that it was also done before on BVBL with NO gripes.

  16. Elena

    Elvis,
    You are confused….again. I never proclaimed to be a republican, I am not registered with any political affiliation. I have had a fundraiser for a republican AND a democrat in my home. I support the person, not any specific party. I did NOT support Corey in 2007. Having had several conversations with him regarding his stance on immigration and his association with Greg, I decided that I would not support him again. At the time I still had hope that he would see the light and chose to remain relatively “silent” during the election process. His attack on Chief Deane and clear collusion with Greg was when I had had enough enough. I am not a hypocrite, and I doubt very highly that you are a middle aged man driving a porcshe.

  17. Juturna

    Elvis you should thank Alanna for supporting your civil liberties…. not everyone believes in them. 🙂

  18. Red Dawn

    Why even bring up procshe? (or anything MATERIALISTIC)

    That SCREAMS, what I have is who I am. Sh#t like this make me laugh all the time.
    Be true to YOURSELF and the rest will fall into place 🙂

  19. Juturna

    Johnson said “You folks do realize that your “censorship” is pretty much restricted to opinions that you don’t like.”

    That would opinions on certain peoples address or where they attend school? Please explain which opinions were censored? Whether is is “Drive”, “Lane” or “Road”????
    I don’t like “Lane”. Any other opinions???? We could discuss “Boulevard” and should it be two lanes or four and does it require a grassy median with plantings…..????

  20. Emma

    I prefer “Way.” A lot more tree-lined than my current digs.

  21. Juturna

    I like “Way”… sounds peaceful.

  22. Madam Mofo

    Damn drinks were expensive. Real hard to toss em back at $10 a shot. How did that work out for you Mr. Elvis? I hope that wasn’t that cute little car I scraped with my door when I left with Mr. Mofo.

  23. Red Dawn

    Juturna, 3. August 2008, 20:19

    “Elvis you should thank Alanna for supporting your civil liberties…. not everyone believes in them. :)”

    Actually, we ALL should be supporting this, even if we walk away an hour later come back and check and pulled an Erkil, “did I say that?” LOL 🙂

  24. Emma

    Bad food, bad service expensive drinks? Hard to believe that restaurant struggles because of the resolution.

  25. Moon-howler

    Emma, I don’t know that anyone ever said that the restaurant struggled as a direct result of the resolution.

    I know the economy in general has had an impact on many of the restaurants in the Manassas area.

  26. Emma

    I do, however, agree with elvis about 9500 Liberty. Either those two will win the Sundance prize they are seeking or the illegal immigration issue will die down or whatever, and then they will move on to the next project. I really do believe this is about gettting a filmmaking award or some kind of recognition, and that they couldn’t care less about the illegal immigration issue and how it impacts people and neighborhoods. When this issue goes away, or they get what they want out of it, Eric and Annabel will find another hornets nest to stir up with their creative editing. Then the bvbl’s and the antis will realize that they have been played.

  27. Emma

    Moon-howler, I thought the intent of the economic parties was to help out businesses that were struggling because of the resolution. At least I recall it being stated that way, if I am not mistaken.

  28. Red Dawn

    Emma,
    You may just well be right on the money. Either way, we in PWC will have to deal with it, unless some of us can find a short sale deal to get out of it./ OR stick with it. I will just go with ” where I am is where I need to be” ) I don’t know if I created that quote or heard it…I just say it alot BUT this is a good one ” things happen for a reason”

  29. Red Dawn

    Emma,

    ANOTHER afterthought,here is the deal. I will ALWAYS give Greg/HSM/BVBL credit for my experience in getting involved in local or even nationwide politics. I can even recall a phone conversation that I had with him telling him I was NEVER politically active and he said there becomes a time when a person does.

    I was VERY supportive and it started to slow down when I was seeing and trying to defend the DIFFERENCE between BVBL and HSM.
    I stated to slack back when I saw that I was fighting an endless battle. Why the hell was I fighting to make that distinction? This is the question that I asked myself and then my eyes opened and started to see the big picture and the election win for Corey. This is strictly MY opinion but I will ALWAYS give credit when it is due.

  30. Moon-howler

    Emma, I actually don’t remember. I do know this for a fact. The mini-economy party meetings some of us have is because of the economy in general. Those are held during the day. These are to help out a business that are struggling because of the economy….for whatever reason. I expect the invitations are still in the archives.

    Think of the economy parties as two-fold: Helping a business and socializing.

    I am concerned that you would make condemning statements about people you don’t know. Why do you think that 9500 is using the people of anti? How are they using us? I would say they have a vested interest as much as the next guy.

  31. Leila

    Emma, you think the 9500 liberty project is about getting recognition for Eric Byler???

    Blinks.

    Surely by now you would have checked him out on the IMDB or Googled him or something. The guy has directed four feature films as well as something for Independent Lens on PBS I believe. 3 of his films are on Netflix (two available, one on saved). He has won awards at various fests and been nominated by at least one awards show that gets televised every year, the Independent Spirit Awards for indie filmmaking. What he hasn’t done is a documentary, but one could hardly say he lacks recognition. Take for example his film Charlotte Sometimes. It has reviews on the IMDB from dozens of well-known media people/outlets, like Roger Ebert, the SF Chronicle, the New York Times, etc. It is 82 percent favorable on Rotten Tomatoes! Though I have noticed he gets bad reviews too sometimes. Well any director does. So a quest for recognition? Unlikely. I don’t know the guy. I haven’t seen any of his feature (ie. fiction) films (yet!). But hell I was curious and IMDB and Google, they really are your friends.

  32. Leila

    PS: And he is local (at least in part to Virginia) and really into the state’s politics and has been an activist before. All this is also from easily found Net sources.

  33. Elena

    Emma,
    You are way off on your presumptions regarding Eric and Annabel. First of all, Eric’s family has lived in Prince William County for 12 years, and before that in Fairfax since 1979. He is of mixed ethnicities and has “traveled” his own journey in seeking his personal identity. Annabel emmigrated here from South Korea and has her own life experiences regarding immigration and “assimilating”. I have yet to hear your opinion on the actual film. I am catching up after being gone for over a week, but did you actually see the screening? If the answer is no, you have not seen this special screening, how can you, in good conscience, give any opinion at all on their credibility or their motivation for investing so much of their time and personal finances into making this documentary? If this film can be used as a tool to show other communites what happens when mob mentality rules over thoughtful governance, I hope they make a million or more! I too urge you to google both of them, you may be quite surprised at what you find out.

  34. anon

    Well,

    There’s an attack/personal insult right there … from Madam Mofo’s first comment … will it be removed? Doubt it. It’s not exactly a two way street around here.

    And then right after from TWINAD – another personal insult.

    Let’s see just how big the hypocrisy is around here.

  35. Elena

    Leila,
    I have seen Tre, it was excellent!

  36. Red Dawn

    As far as Kudos for Eric and Annabel, I give them the highest rating for the coverage with ACCURACY in this PWC saga. I have nothing but respect for the both of them and out of all they seem to have done the MOST work. I have turned them down myself numerous of times for personal reasons but I will say, that if your opinion is not made it would be on your part. They do try to cover EVERY angle and that is fair.

  37. Emma

    Leila, I’ve read most of what you cited above on Eric’s YouTube bio. I’m not denying that he has had recognition in the past. I object to the fact that he and Annabel inject themselves into the work, ask leading questions in interviews and present a clearly biased point of view with their creative editing. It works well if you agree with their point of view, but not so well if you’re the one presented in a very unflattering light. This is about filmmaking and recognition, not about helping the community.

    I didn’t need to meet Michael Moore to figure out where he was coming from. Eric’s work speaks for itself.

  38. Red Dawn

    Emma,

    I just have to give you credit for asking and interjecting 🙂
    PERIOD 🙂

  39. stw

    Moon-Howler said: “Johnson, why would you want anyone’s name and address published on a blog?”

    Johnson didn’t say that info should be published. He said quite the opposite.
    Johnson said: “Why would anyone post a home address or the location of anyone’s children? It’s unacceptable.”

  40. DiversityGal

    I think Eric and Annabel are appropriately involved. I do not, and have never seen their role as leaders of some movement. They came to document the goings-on, and that is what they are doing. Just like anyone with a project, filmmakers get ideas, develop them, spend lots of concentrated time on those ideas, and produce something they want to share with others. I think that their project is wonderful, and will make for great national discussion should it garner the attention it deserves.

    I fully expect and hope Eric and Annabel will move on to other projects. After all, filmmakers (as well as other artists) continually create. It is their passion and their livelihood. Just because they move on, does not mean that they have a false sense of commitment to any cause.

    The biggest gift Eric and Annabel have given to this community, myself included, is an awakening. I am so much more aware of local politics than I was before, and I’m sure that is true for others, as well. I have gotten to hear so many people testify as to their beliefs about illegal immigration. I have seen amazing, revealing interviews about personal stories and philosophies. Their work is more than impressive. I see it as dedicated, innovative, and far-reaching.

    While Eric and Annabel are great, there are so many people out there who have been awakened to the cause locally, and are willing to lead or help. I would give as examples Frank Principi, Patrick Garland, Manassas-area church leaders like Reverend Boykin, Nancy Lyall, and the wonderful people who make this blog possible. While some may disagree with the viewpoints of some of my examples, the point is that these people, (AND people on the other side of the issue) are inspired to speak up and take action, and part of that is due to this film.

    If Eric and Annabel fade from the picture…no harm, no foul. That’s life. There are plenty of people in this community who are now ready to carry the torch that is their work into valuable political discussion/action that will help make PWC/Manassas City/Manassas Park a better place. It will definitely be a rocky road, but our community is worth it.

    …and now I will stop waxing poetic about this film. I’m sure it’s not hard to tell that I’m a film buff:)

  41. Leila

    Well Emma, couple of things. Nobody has seen their finished film yet, plus I believe you haven’t seen the compilation of some material that has been screened. But I assume you are referring to the youtube clips. Every documentary I have ever seen has a point of view. Even ones that avoid any narration or interviewing ala Fred Wiseman’s work have a point of view. The 9500 filmmakers have suggested that their views altered over time as they learned what had happened in PWC. In any case, how exactly does injecting themselves into the film suggest they don’t care? I would say the opposite actually. I think the fact Eric Byler is even making this documentary about a community he has famliial ties to suggests he cares. It is a pretty big jump from his feature films. As for unflattering light, much of the most unflattering stuff I’ve seen on You Tube, eg. Greg’s Gospel speech or Duecaster’s repulsion meltdown are very much products of those filmed, not the filmmakers.

    Political documentaries tend to argue a point. Would you be upset if the point they argued was what you believed? Do you post comments on all the virulent anti-immigrant (illegal and otherwise) film footage out there? I think everyone should probably withhold judgment until the final film is produced because I think it will be very much unlike the screening material.

    I also think Michael Moore cares and has never pretended not to be biased. Plus I would note that he first came to public attention for a documentary on his hometown, and a very sad one at that. He cared a lot, not that it could rescue Flint. Moore exasperates me sometimes as a documentarian and I object to some of his approaches. But he is a necessary gadfly.

  42. Moon-howler

    stw, I have no idea who even posted the comments that Alanna removed. They were removed as soon as she saw them. The blog was quite young at the time. I feel Johnson’s comments were unsubstantiated and unfounded. It was just a way to jab.

    I am sorry things are so slow over on the dark screen that people are coming over here to pick a fight just for something to do. Perhaps it is just because you all are tired of the same old song with the same old singers.

    You know, the bottom line is, Alanna has been far more tolerant than other blog owners I can think of. Frankly, I don’t really think any of us care if people think we are tolerant, hypocrits or what have you. What you see is what you get. If it doesn’t suit you, cross back on over to the dark side.

    And by the way, why isn’t Johnson doing his own fighting?

    I don’t think any more explanations are going to be given. Things are what they are.

  43. DiversityGal

    Leila,

    I agree. I should be using the term “footage” or “clips” in what I write. There is a lot of cutting and editing to be done, but I’m excited by what I have seen already. Plus, I think your statements about point of view are spot on.

    I know lots of folks won’t agree with me, but I am such a fan of Michael Moore. He has a passion for his subjects, and his style as a filmmaker is distinctive. People love to hate that man, but I have been moved by some of his work. In any case, I don’t get the sense at all that we will be seeing anything like Michael Moore’s humor or self-staged dramatic events (like the moving boat trip for medical supplies in Sicko) in Eric and Annabel’s final cut.

  44. Marie

    kgotthardt

    Steve Thomas as is the one at HSM who did the checking up on who I am after I sent an e-mail to the president of HSM about an observation I made at the Prince William Co fair last year which had the appearance of being racist and sexist. I guess he thought pointing out that I was a City employee would somehow intimidate me and that I would be worried City Council would be displeased with my stand on the immigration issue.

    This is what he wrote in one of the paragraphs of his e-mail. “As is my duty and function within HSM, I have done some checking as to who you are, and what you do for a living. As someone who works in Social Services I can appreciate the liberal point-of-view that you have, when approaching the illegal alien issue. As someone who is a City employee, and not an elected official, I commend your bravery in taking a stand on this issue, albeit, in my opinion, on the wrong side.

    I thought he was pretty cheeky to do checking into my background. Wonder how many others have had their backgrounds checked?

  45. Moon-howler

    It sounds like an attempt at intimidation to me.
    I wonder what his official position with HSM is?
    It sounds like HE works in social services when he says:

    As someone who works in Social Services I can appreciate the liberal point-of-view that you have, when approaching the illegal alien issue.

    What difference did it make what you do for a living? Did you make any remarks about what you did for a living or who your employer was? Are all people investigated when they contact HSM?

  46. It is his DUTY and function to check people out???? WTF? Does he work for Homeland Security, or does he just think he does?

    And tell me he doesn’t work for social services. Tell me that’s just gramatical doo-doo from him. Please?

  47. junkyard dog

    Isn’t he the one who outted his wife and then tried to blame someone here?

    Big set up? Oh well, that’s nothing new. If you can’t be honest about the results of a resolution, that is there for all to see, then you cannot expect it other places.

  48. Jorge Pollo

    Little people thinking they are big bad tough guys. LOL

  49. Censored bybvbl

    Isn’t he the one who outted his wife and then tried to blame someone here?

    Junkyard dog, I thought I remembered it that way too. Isn’t he HSM’s Special Oops guy?

    Emma, if you’re concerned that Eric and Annabel will leave PWC and that their coverage of our county is merely a stepping stone to a possible film award, how would you explain Corey Stewart’s contribution and his ambitions. I think he is the person who would be more than willing to bail out for higher office and leave his mess behind.

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