Why I closed comments, and other curiosities.

What?

Unfortunately I lost patience a day or so ago with an anonymous commenter on what was supposed to be a humorous blogpost which was misunderstood and became something of a source of mild contention.  I used snarky language assuming that I was once again being accused of being unkind towards a Zany yet popular priest blogger.  I actually did a second post that I knew would be interpreted in exactly the same way - just to be mischievous...  (quick, cute shoulder hunch and mischievous smile to punctuate!).  Anyway, I removed both of the posts because their original intent was lost in the bickering and I did not want to be uncharitable or contentious.  I'm ashamed I allowed myself to get into defending myself and the post, and very sorry I told the commenter to remove...  Well anyway - I am truly very sorry.
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However, that is exactly the problem with anonymous commenters and often why bloggers do not permit them - one sometimes does not know if they be friend or foe.  A name, an identity is always helpful in conversation, unless you are in a confessional, but even then the parties engaged have some idea of who is speaking and know what is being said is not confrontational.  I clearly state in my com-box I do not accept anonymous comments - and yet people sign in anonymously.  I will allow the comments if they are signed and/or not offensive - yet even then I sometimes let things through.  I do this because some folks have difficulty registering or understanding how to place a comment in the first place.  And because I'm nice.
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At any rate, I closed comments for a short while.  I insensitively mentioned in a post now removed, a separate reason why I closed comments, noting it was due to reader complaints about borderline personality disordered commenters high-jacking the combox.  (Laugh now.  JK!)  However, I do like my colorful characters and the crazy things they can say - so I wonder if that is such a bad thing in itself?  I know that on that Zany yet popular priest's blog, the good father has many followers and commenters who can be downright arrogant and contentious at times, which is why I can sometimes get a little annoyed after reading the blog and comments.  But, like I always say, I like the man and he has wonderful posts.  His wit and eccentricities I find amusing and enjoyable, his knowledge scholarly and informative, his status curious, his followers and watchdogs...  But I digress.
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All in all this blog is mine - I write what I know, what I think about stuff, my personal interests, likes and dislikes, and so on.  It is disingenuous to write to please others, or to collect fans and followers - commercial blogs may have to please their audience, but I do not fund raise or sell anything here - I'm all stocked up on crazy. 
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Nevertheless, I'm not sure removing a post after it was published is the best idea either, although it doesn't really matter as it remains somewhere in cyberspace and Google reader.  Of course the action itself demonstrates that I changed my mind, came to my senses, or that I simply did not intend it to come off as it had been perceived or misunderstood, and truth be told - guldarnit, some posts just aren't good enough to remain in my archives.  I'm aware some readers find this idiosyncrasy of mine annoying - so I will try to be less impetuous about posting and removing or changing content after publication.
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In the meantime, I have to become more thick-skinned - as do you, gentle readers (eye roll), accepting the realities of the internet as it involves those inquisitor types who are masters at taking things out of context or digging up any mis-statement from the past; they are low-life, watchdog informants, whose misplaced zeal compels them to apprise their masters of any disagreement or potentially unflattering critique.  Cults form so quickly these days.
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I will re-open comments sometime soon - after all, that is what makes blogging fun, that's why people keep coming back to check if anyone agrees with them or not.  It's just a blog people - we can't take ourselves that seriously.  So take the stick - just kidding - (quick, cute shoulder hunch and mischievous smile).