Yesterday I told two people, who anonymously sent comments to Freoview, that they will have to supply me with their real name, address and phone number, so that I can verify who they are. That is also what one needs to do when writing letters to editors of newspapers.
Today Mary Mary Quite Contrary sent a comment from a cheekylotusxxx email address that I should not be a baby when someone disagrees with me, and asked how many people I ban for having a different point of view. (S)he writes that it is quite a cowardly approach and that censorship in un-Australian.
It is not I who is the coward, but those who do not have the courage of conviction to express their opinion by using a false name. All my opinions on this blog, in my Fremantle Herald column, and in letters to editors of national newspapers, are signed with my real name, and since I am the only Roel Loopers in Australia, I am easy to find for those who want to bully me.
I am not censoring genuine comments by real people, but I will not publish anonymous spam, that for all I know could have been sent by a robot or AI. The integrity of Freoview is extremely important to me. I also have the legal responsibility for this blog. That includes comments I publish.
I warmly welcome with open arms comments that disagree with whatever I write and will publish them unedited, but only when they come from real people, who have the guts to supply me with their real name. That also applies to you 'Don' from Tiltingwindmills.
Roel Loopers
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