Going offline for a while

I'm going on medical leave today. I am unlikely to return to this blog - to post anything or even to moderate comments - until next month.

So if you post a comment and it never appears, or takes a week to appear, you're not being censored. I'm away.

Since I regularly get e-mails from people who object to my comments moderation policy and who accuse me of censoring, let's just clarify: I always approve all comments unless they contain obscenity, excessive personal attacks or threats. Sometimes things get eaten by the Typepad spam filter. I am not online 24-7 and thus there are delays. I have to moderate comments because if I don't, there will be spam and porn links, and some other occasional nastiness which has no business appearing here. If I didn't moderate comments, another group of people would condemn me for proliferating obscenity and defamation. You can't win.

There have been a lot of things I wanted to write about over the past few weeks related to global media, China, the Internet and the Schizolympics... but I haven't been well enough to do so let alone finish all my other work. Oh well.

Lately I've come across remarks by a couple bloggers around the 'sphere who accuse me (and some other people too) of bias or conspiracy for not writing about this or that. Whatever. I will, however, plead guilty to having major human physical limitations. When I was younger I wished I could be half borg or at least Vulcan or something but no such luck. Maybe in the next lifetime...

Comments

[mahathir_fan]

Wow. I didn't know you were sick. I wish you well. Hope you get well soon.

[GZ Expat]

Take care of yourself...I'll look forward to what you have to say when all is well.

All the best...

[Stephanie Willerton]

Always enjoy reading your blog and wish you a speedy recovery.

[Christina]

Take care of yourself! I'm sure I speak for lots of people when I say I'll miss your great coverage of Chinese news and your always insightful opinions while you're gone.

[Kempton]

Rebecca,

Get well soon. Look forward to reading your blog when you are better and ready to write again.

Take care.

[Therese]

Get well soon! Don't let this nasty HK weather make things worse.

[John Rambo]

Hi CCtV,

I watch CCTV all the time. Each times makes me and Dozens of my friends laugh a lot.

Watching your channel makes us feel like we live in a Shangri la. Where every news is a good news in this crazy and hateful world. If you are right on your issue where nobody has a complaint to the government then I think only two things are possible practically. Either all the Chinese are Robbots or they are suppressed deeply and superficially showing happiness.

Common ! wake up. Show us the real thing, man. Don't act like cctv or Communist China Telivision.
By the way, your coverage on the peaceful Tibetan protest was one sided. You should start from march 10 where many innocents monks were beaten mercilessly, which ignites the fire of march 14 protest. The simple Tibetan people protest not because of the occupation but because of 60 years of Bruttal occupations.
I sallute the Chinese nationalism, but be careful.
Too much nationalism stops you guys to look to the truth. The pride in youself can burn all one day. May the earthquake strike the olympic in August. There is already a sign. The flame ceremony at Greece was a very bad sign. Nothing like this has happened in the torch relay in the world. By putting the powder in a face does not makes one fair. The Tibetan struggle will last forever and ever.
What is the use of millions of eyes, if you can see the truth ?
Fffreeee TTTibbbetttttt.......

[Bruce A. McHenry]

Hi Rebecca,
I am sure that you will be feeling a lot better by the middle of May. I'm still looking for the imperfect wife. You're on the short list and may be #2. Hope to see you well, and soon.
Yours,
Bruce

[Cathy]

Take care Rebecca and get well soon.

No we can't win it all but we can at least follow what we enjoy. Who are 'the people' anyway.

-c

[Carol]

Watched your comments on Australian ABC Foreign Correspondent this evening - and found the story fascinating.

I will use this story in my classroom to discuss social & ethical issues with my high school IT students.

Thank you for the insight & hope you return to health soon.

[SJ]

I really enjoyed your blog. I wish you a speedy and full recovery.
Cheers

[Douglas]

Get well soon.

I hope you can continue to carry the flame.

[Rebecca MacKinnon]

Thanks everybody for the well-wishes. I'm still in recovery after a major abdominal surgery, but on the mend. Hope to start catching up on things and writing a bit next week, if energy and interest levels improve.

Bruce, that's very flattering but no thanks, I'm not on the wife market. (No I'm not engaged; I'm just not interested in being somebody's wife any time soon.)

[Jotman]

Get well soon Rebecca!