Comments on Rediff

I think the comments on Rediff are, almost as a rule, too loose. I, of all people, have no problems with looseness as along as it does not embrace malicious stereotyping, racism and intolerance - esp. in a public space.

I have spotted this problem in Rediff since years now and have been shocked by the venom. Sample this comment today on article on Rushdie's introduction to Desai's In Custody :

ADVISE TO REDIFFby Rajesh Bhagwat on Dec 07, 2007 11:43 AM YOU HAVE SEEN RECENTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN TASLIMA NASREEN CASE. MOSLEMS ARE BECOMING GROWINGLY INTOLERANT.ACTION AND REACTION ARE EQUAL AND OPPOSITE, AS PER THE LAWS OF KARMA,HENCE THEY ARE GONNA FACE EQUALLY FIERCE INTOLERANCE FROM OTHER RELIGIONS AND COMMUNITIES. ONE WORD OF CAUTION TO REDIFF PEOPLE. NO DOUBT YOU ARE DOING A GRREAT JOB BUT ILLITERATES DONT UNDERSTAND THIS. IF YOU GIVE NEWS OF RUSHDIE, THOSE ILLITERATES(OR GRADUATES OF MADRASSAS) CAN ALSO ISSUE A FATWA AGAINST YOU!!!

This is a sample. It has no relevance to the article. Very soon some Mr. Y will speak about raping Hindu women, deriding the Gods, then Mr. Z will abuse Allah. Many times their names will be just that - X, Hindu Lover, Allah, Islam

There are some people who feel that a lot of these comments (that get moderated only hours after the posting) are actually planted by mischievous (what a nice term for these assholes) elements, incl., as always, our brothers across the border. I agree somewhat : there are some patterns that keep coming.
And when Hindu Lover asks "Do you think our Gods are really powerful as their mighty one?" I smell a rat

My point is: This is not what free speech means
A protest against rights violation is a free speech
A painting of a "god" in a format unexplored is (it is also artistic creativity)
But a base abuse, threats and calls for ethnic cleansing - No.

Either rediff should disallow anonymous comments or moderate them before publishing.

This shit has been going on for too long.