In the spring of 2005, the Huffington Post opened its virtual doors to a community of over half-million readers. Two of the most prolific and committed community members -- HumeSkeptic and CarlV -- recently passed away. The HuffPost Comment Moderation team would like to dedicate this post to Hume and Carl.
After the Huffington Post launched, a core group of a few thousand pseudonymous online adventurers from every political and cultural nook and cranny began taking up residence in the comments sections of this unique political and news-oriented website. Our early intrepid commenters set about staking their ideological territory and sharpening their wits. They launched into an on-going conversation on an assortment of topics that continues to this day.
Flash forward to the summer of 2010. This original group of commenters -- despite great accretion and some subtraction -- has self-organized into a cohesive community of regulars, occasional visitors and newbies, hundreds of thousands strong. Thousands of bloggers, reporters and citizen journalists provide most of the site's original content. For the past five years, during any hour of any day, hundreds of users on the site spar with bloggers and each other while exchanging information, ideas, opinions, arguments, support, jokes, links, and lots and lots of music videos.
HuffPost readers now generate 750,000 comments a week. Just last month, the community posted nearly 3.2 million comments. By any measure, the Huffington Post hosts the most vast and vibrant commenting community on the Web.
Anyone who reads online comments in the volumes that the moderators do has had the following experience: despite most of our users' anonymity, distinctive voices jump off the page and spring to life though the words, style, and expression that speak in volumes of who wrote them. At times, we have begun to respect divergent viewpoints, even if we disagreed in the beginning.
In the experience of many of the moderators here and of many members of our community, the process of understanding new viewpoints is where we came to know and care about HumeSkeptic and CarlV.
We've noticed that many members of our community have found ways both on and off this site to share thoughts and remembrances of both Hume and Carl. We cannot capture all of your thoughts and memories in disparate comment threads. The best we can offer is to become a container for these moving tributes. Please feel free to copy any of your comments from other threads if you'd like so that it will become a permanent record for your memories and tributes to Hume and Carl.
Below you'll find separate sections designated for Hume and Carl where we've drawn from some of your comments. Feel free in the thread below to add your thoughts and remembrances. We've also added a sampling of memories from other HuffPost community members and from each of their first and last comment.
Finally, we'd like to offer our gratitude to all of you, the HuffPost community, for prompting us to write this blog post. You may hear from the moderation team or from our founder and standard bearer for civil discourse, Arianna Huffington. Community is one of the pillars of the Huffington Post, and we don't say thank you enough.
Thank you, HumeSkeptic and CarlV, for sharing your insights and personalities. And thank you to everyone else who are shaping future conversations around the news.
Remembrances of Huff Post Community
According to our records, Hume began commenting at the Huffington Post in September 2006. He is one of our earliest and certainly most prolific commenters, with tens of thousands published comments.
Stats under the registered name HumeSkeptic:
Total Comments Made: 116966
Comments Deleted: 24038
Comments to News: 115089
Comments to Blog: 1877
Total Fans Of this User: 2120
Total Users this User is a Fan of: 1266
Commenter LooktotheLeft
There are no more moving tributes to Hume than the one we found from fellow commenter Looktothe Left. If you were a friend or supporter of Hume, or even simply curious about who this unique individual was, do yourself a favor and read this: http://southpawbeagle.com/2010/07/12/on-humeskeptic/.
Senior Moderator Jan
What can I say about HumeSkeptic?
When I started as a moderator in March 2007 there were several users who had been commenting since the inception of Huffpost. Hume was one of them. There were others, olepotsmuggler, boxorocks, LooktotheLeft, and some others. It's funny, you know, depending on which hours you are moderating, you get to know your "regular" commenters. Morning shift people know their commenters. Later day and late night moderators know their people. It was a much smaller community back then. We had more time to think about and digest the comments from each individual. Sometimes they made us think. Sometimes they made us laugh. Sometimes they made us mad.
One thing I can say for sure, Hume always kept us on our toes! He was opinionated, headstrong, and adamant about getting his posts through! He was also very intelligent, very wise to the world, and very kind. I remember a couple of times, after deleting his posts due to our guidelines, he would send in a comment. "Um, moderators." Or "Dear Moderators. I do not understand why this post was deleted." Or "Come on! Let it through! You know it is true!" Most times I would chuckle, sometimes even laugh out loud. I would always go back and check his comment again. If it fell within our guidelines, even if it was controversial, I would approve it. Hume would always send a thank you to the moderator (which is indeed very rare now). He knew when he stepped over the line also. He would not argue with us. It was almost like he just wanted, needed, to tell his point of view, what was truly on his mind, knowing it would get deleted. He was very gracious about that also. He would not argue with us. He just accepted the fact that he said what he had to say, and that if no one except the moderators read it or saw it, he at least got his point across to someone. I think of an old saying, "I feel like I'm screaming and no one can hear me!"
We heard you, Hume! And hundreds, nay thousands, of others heard you, also. Your list of fans is long. Your following unprecedented. Sometimes I feel like you set the standard for the site. The foresight and intellectualism set the bar much higher for others. The Huffington Post was lucky to have you as one of our "commenter, bloggers". Your avatar will forever be burned into my brain. Every time I see that avatar, I will smile and think of you.
I know as a moderator we are not supposed to get "so involved" with the people who post comments. Normally we don't. But every once in a while, someone special comes along, and no matter what we do, we can never forget them. You, sir, are one of those rare and special persons. Whether I approved or deleted. Argued or gave in. Agreed or disagreed. You earned my respect long ago. I only regret not being able to know who you really were. The "real" person behind that avatar. I have a sneaking suspicion that I would have been even more impressed with you in person!
I have read that Hume was not so much of a, how shall I say, religious person, but a very spiritual person. Please indulge me with this final quote. (As I sit here and write this the tears are still welling up in my eyes, not sure why, but it seems to say a lot about this wonderful person, whose only name we knew him by was, HumeSkeptic.)
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Senior Moderator Melissa
When I first started moderating with Huffington Post in March, 2008, HumeSkeptic was one of the many people who irritated me because he would always write multitudes of posts whether it was on the news or blog side. I came to respect him, not only as a huge contributor to our message boards, but learned a lot from him as well. I'll miss him pointing out some of our minor flaws as well.
My thoughts go out to Hume's family and friends,
Moderator, User Admin Moderator, Jolene
As one of the moderators responsible for interacting with the users, I had an interesting and at times contentious relationship with HumeSkeptic. There were many times when I felt like pulling out my hair because he just couldn't understand the HP philosophy on things. But I really respected his endless dedication to free speech and fairness. He always had a counter to whatever position you took on almost any topic. That was my experience with him, and I will miss that interaction with him. However, it is now time to put the frustration and negativity behind me and embrace the positive contribution Hume offered to HP and the community. We should embrace Hume's skepticism, and let it remind us that there are no easy answers or solutions to life's problems. Skepticism allows us to open our minds, and accept that we are not always right.
We will miss you Hume!
HumeSkeptic's First and Last Comments
Posted: 2006-09-06 19:57:42 GOP Members Turning On Rumsfeld... Shessh these leftists like to pop-off about the U.S. but it's top secret if you ask them what country they are posting from. By: cyberrep on September 06, 2006 at 04:32pmAnd which country are you in? I'll appreciate your name and address so what you say can be verified.
BTW, you never did respond to my question after one of your remarks. Here it is again.
Are you embarassed to respond or is it a secret how deep you like it?
Posted: 2010-07-14 23:58:57 Federal Reserve: Continued High Unemployment Threatens Fed Policy Of Pursuing 'Maximum Employment' It'll take this hopey changey crowd a while to figure it out. But when they do you sure are going to tick these m**nbat s off.In reply to: Immoral to hack a dead man?
by Vieux_Charles
Huff Post commenter DocStrangelove recalls CarlV as a man of great humor, beloved on all sides of the political spectrum. He was a sweet soul, a true humanitarian who put his values where his mouth is. He donated to such causes as Utah's "Best Friends Animal Sanctuary" and relief for Haiti. Doc notes that after the Haiti earthquake, Carl dropped everything and flew there to help.
Carl's home was Palm Springs, CA. He died after an extended illness.
CarlV First and Last Comments
Posted: 2006-03-02 12:29:31
AP Catches Bush In A Lie...
Oh... just in case you missed it...BUSH LIED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!! Posted by: Poz"
But, what can you expect from the party and supporters of Liars, Draft Dodgers, Cowards and Fools ... This is the GOP! "BUSH LIED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ... again and again and again and again!
Posted: 2007-01-11 17:46:48
RICE CAUGHT ON OPEN MIC:
That'll keep McDonalds11 busy for a while....sip
Thank you Kathy and Adam for honoring my father and Hume on what is unquestionably the most powerful political blog in the world . Thank you HP members for your kind, humorous and loving comments.
My mother two sisters and I just spent the last three hours crying and laughing while reading all of the kind words. We cannot thank you enough.
To be honest, at first we thought he was obsessed with HP, especially leading up to the 2006 and 2008 elections but in hindsight he was simply moved to respond and take action. And believe you me, my father was the quintessential take action kind of man.
He got me started in 2006 when I created this screen name although I abruptly stopped posting because my first comments sounded more like Emily Litella than Rosy (sorry Gilda) and was embarrassed. Over the next few years my dad would use Rosy in and out of what were his banishment's from HP. And he had several. Funny how he kept coming back.
I reclaimed it after his passing but now, considering he used it more often than I did, I will retire her from HP in honor of him.
Thank you all again for giving my family a very sweet Sunday of remembrance.
Dana
I followed HumeSkeptic since the very beginning. I had a different moniker at that time. He guided me through some very rough times, personally and politically. I just finished reading most of his comments on HP.
Hume seemed to have an uncanny ability to get to the essence of every topic, analyze it, and present his views clearly, concisely and often used humor as an effective tool. It was hard, if not impossible, to argue against his views, because he always backed up his arguments with facts, and his analysis was pure deductive logic. In topics not amenable to deductive logic, his liberal heart took over: “when in doubt, always be on the side of the oppressed, never on the side of the oppressor” -simple and profound.
He was a scientist but his science went beyond equations and empirical results. He found science in Mozart and he looked at Mozart’s compositions as discoveries. He considered music and poetry and science as complementary ways to seek the truth, to reveal the secrets of nature - “For me there are no boundaries between science and the arts and thoughts and love and lust and joy and sorrow … they all lead to discoveries”.
He was an atheist who said, “It is just as absurd to say that there is a god as to say that there is none”. His atheism was to not accept anything for which there is no evidence or proof.
HumeSkeptic mocked religions, but defended religious freedom and freedom to believe anything one wishes.
He hated racism, but defended the right of racists to express their views.
To HumeSkeptic a true liberal doesn’t follow some fixed ideology called “liberalism”. Liberals, he said, deal in facts and logic, not in fixed ideologies and dogma.. All claims must be constantly re-evaluated based on facts, and views must change according to facts and logic.
He hated wars and violence, but he was not a pacifist. He had concluded that under certain circumstances, violence and war are unavoidable, such as in self defense and to stop violence - “what should one do to a person shooting at children in a school?”
He considered “American Exceptionalism” a mental disorder, similar to racism. He saw “conservatism” as a self-consistent but consistently wrong ideology.
Hume was deliberately ruthless to those he found hypocritical or dishonest and those posting fallacious arguments. But he was rarely angry -“anger is bad. Anger leads to poor thinking and poor decisions.”
He admitted that beautiful and smart women were both his biggest weakness and his biggest strength.
That was HumeSkeptic.
Yes, we will not see his posts again. But his thoughts will not just remain, but grow and evolve. I recommend starting at his first recorded posts on HP, if you have the time. That is how I did it, and reached the conclusion that we have lost a truly remarkable man.
RIP buds....
HP owes him for many, many clicks and more clicks. As he goes, so will the rest of us.
I am sorry I can not find it because what he said was beautiful, soul moving-the kind of thing that stays in your heart forever.
I will miss him and our almost daily emails.
l
Of all the money e'er I had,
I spent it in good company.
And all the harm I've ever done,
Alas! it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit
To mem'ry now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all
Oh, all the comrades e'er I had,
They're sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts e'er I had,
They'd wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot,
That I should rise and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call,
Good night and joy be with you all.
When I Must Leave You
When I must leave you for a little while please do not grieve and shed wild tears and hug your sorrow to you through the years but start out bravely with a gallant smile; and for my sake and in my name live on and do all things the same, feed not your loneliness on empty days, but fill each waking hour in useful ways, reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer and I in turn will comfort you and hold you near; and never, never be afraid to d1e, for I am waiting for you in the sky!
RIP Friend ,
and I thank you .
Westley
and we feel the loss within
The memories of thoughts provoked
Remembrance of laughter shared
I am stronger today from the experience
of so many days and nights
Watching your thoughts appear
and soaking them into my soul
You may not be posting
but I can still feel what you share
The memories live on inside of us
Your energy permeating through
I bid you adieu on your journey
Wherever that road may lead
Peace be to you our brothers
Peace be to you our brothers
It makes me feel like he is still around and will continue to inspire us.
The moderators and I are honored by and in awe of the comments we read in this thread, as I'm sure Carl and Hume would be as well. We are deeply grateful to all who contributed to this beautiful, moving memorial. Thank you for keeping the discussion so classy.
One thing about this work that I love is encountering every day in black and white the reality that we each possess a unique voice and something important to say and share. In an interactive albeit mostly anonymous format such as this, though, it seems the greater challenge sometimes can be with the listening, hearing, and understanding parts of the exchange.
It occurred to me recently that commenting in a political forum like this one is really a form of currency. As with any currency, it's how we choose to invest and spend our limited resources - our reputations, credibility, potential impact -- that determine the true worth of this treasure. By this measure, Hume"s and Carl's value to this community was priceless. And this is true no matter how many times the moderators concluded that under our guidelines a comment was required to be removed.
But you see for yourselves what was published -- usually it was pure gold!
May we all be so well remembered.
I hope we'll have the chance to talk again sometime on a variety of topics of mutual interest. Until then, the Mod Squad and I wish you all good things. Happy commenting!
I shall revisit this special tribute whenever I need that special lift. Yes, life ebbs and flows, but you have made such a difference by recognizing that we are a family of sorts....
We belong to each other, and though this may be a "political blog", I have come to love and admire so many.
Thank you, Arianna, for this site. Thank you, Kathy and Adam (who the heck are you guys, anyway?). Thank you for respecting life itself, that none are really unimportant, that all matter.
Best regards,
Fightnmad
Life's lasting love is found within the hearts of those that are touched by the humanity and spirit of a decent soul. The end may be in question.....but the legacy left behind remains not a silent vigil....but a boisterous celebration of words and deeds.
We loved Hume and Carl. We miss them. We are left with less as a result of their departure but we are enriched for having known them. These words may fall in silence but I hope the echoes find the quiet understanding that death comes with life. The final chapter of a priceless gift.
I know not how I came to be or what I will become.....I only know this day and these words that are my way of say goodbye for the final time.
But the thoughts and the words will live on in all of us....the final chapter does not signal the end as much as it creates a new story for us all.
Peace my brothers......may you find wondrous peace.....
Best,
Kathy