So, apparently, there’s been another professional political writer caught using a sock puppet (creating a second alias to advocate for himself) much like how Michael Hiltzik’s LA Times blog was suspended and, I have to say, I don’t get the urge to behave like this.

Admittedly, I’ve never had to deal with persistent commenters with an axe to grind (trollish or otherwise) so I can’t speak from any point of empathy. Looking at it as a customer, however, I look at blogs with a lot of comment activity, there’s a gravitas to the blog owner’s comments, something that gets through the noise of a busy comment thread… what is accomplished by supporting yourself as part of the noise? I don’t understand, either, the urge to defend yourself on blogs that write about you — if you don’t want to venture into your critics’ comment threads as yourself (and I totally understand that feeling) why not just respond at your blog, where you (presumably) have some sort of moderation ability (and have the home team advantage, with supportive commenters)?

It just sounds like more work than it’s worth. Maybe it’s just me.