What do you do when the nutters visit your blog?
I posted the other day on what looked like a weird creationist comment I’d received but not published, from a man called Herman Cummings. Now he has commented on that post.
What I have been teaching is not new. I’ve been “preaching” it since 1993, but the powers that be keep what I say from the public (news media), and pastors, priests, and rabbis are too stubborn to host my seminars (along with institutions of learning). … Hear me, and get your heads out of the sand. Moses wrote about six visions which he was shown by God while on Mt. Sinai, in 1598 BC. Those six visions, described in Genesis chapter one, were not in chronological order. Neither were any of them contained in the same week. … All doctrines which you are familiar with are false!!
So there you have it. Mr Cummings is the world’s expert on Genesis, and the only reason we haven’t heard his theories is because “the powers that be” are conspiring to keep us in ignorance of his brilliance. It is positively shocking.
I couldn’t resist a quick Google. I came across, among other things, this page on the history news network
This letter is to inform you that I teach a class on Genesis to science teachers. The title of the course is “Moses & Creation: Biblical Reality”. It is a 15-hour class that tells the truth about the first three chapters of Genesis, so that the teachers won’t be speaking in ignorance about what Genesis is saying to mankind. Neither theology nor secular science are anywhere close to knowing what advanced scientific knowledge is contained in Genesis.
My name is Herman Cummings. I am the foremost terrestrial authority on the book of Genesis.
Now, somehow, I have the teeniest stirring of an inkling that trying to have a rational argument with Mr Cummings might not be the world’s most productive, or indeed possible, course of action. So what do you do when the seriously deluded start leaving comments on your blog? Ignore them, delete them, or ban them. Whatever I do, I have a feeling it will feed the conspiracy troll.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Comment moderation brother, it keeps the loons away. Truly. Can you imagine how much free space such people get???
April 15th, 2008 at 12:02 am
I am the foremost terrestrial authority on the book of Genesis
My suspicions of extra-terrestrials have finally been confirmed.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Unless the posts are outright libelous or spam, I generally keep most anything that gets posted and I’m usually the one who outlasts the other guy in back-and-forths (e.g. this cherry http://www.amazon.com/gp/forum/cd/discussion.html/ref=cm_cd_notf_message?ie=UTF8&cdForum=Fx171MU8NK77BC9&cdPage=3&tag=particculturf-20&asin=088404632X&cdThread=Tx1YWZPEE92WDND#Mx293HBVD27QWGK where I argue with a Scientologist who deliberately posts sheer as a part of the “black panther technique” and in which I am accused of being as bigoted as a KKKer - for those not familiar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KKK ) I’m not exactly proud of that, though, and I think the most reasonable thing would probably be to give him his fifteen minutes and then ignore him if he persists and blocking/banning/deleting only as a last resort.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:15 am
I moderate them into oblivion.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:30 am
I’m strongly against deleting comments. Unless they are profane or advertisements I think people’s comments speak for themselves. I suppose there are exceptions to every rule…
April 15th, 2008 at 12:37 am
I would prop him up for our amusement.
“Neither theology nor secular science are anywhere close to knowing what advanced scientific knowledge is contained in Genesis.” I know why. It’s not scientific. God told me that yesterday. But the golden tablets that my son translated for me through the music of the Wiggles vanished before dawn so you will have to take my word for it.
April 15th, 2008 at 2:01 am
I’ve had a few “nutters” show up in my eschatology posts - I say let them post and see what happens. The topic will die after a week or two anyway…
April 15th, 2008 at 2:46 am
It’s debatable because sometimes I feel like letting them vent and just leave their comments in place. Some are still in my comments… but then, to not moderate allows them to continue venting. I guess it depends on how I feel at the time.
April 15th, 2008 at 5:30 am
I am the foremost terrestrial authority on the book of Genesis.
Don’t waste your time with this guy, he’s small potatoes. After all, I’ve found you now! and I am the foremost celestial authority on the book of Genesis.
April 15th, 2008 at 11:47 am
See, told ya Doug. If you’d apply the heavy moderating hand you’d spare us all from the crazy talk of the bulb….
[n.b.- I know bulb is kidding. At least I hope so....]
April 15th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I am the foremost celestial authority on the book of Genesis.
I guess it beats being the foremost subterranean authority on the book of Genesis…
April 21st, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Delete. He probably just cut and pasted anyway. Otherwise you give him a free promo.