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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/28/below-the-line-guardian-iancw

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Below the Line with IanCW: 'I'm more leftwing than I thought' Below the Line with IanCW: 'I'm more leftwing than I thought'
(3 months later)
BTL (below the line) is a weekly profile of a particularly delightful, prolific or controversial member of the Guardian comment community. Nominate yourself or someone else here.BTL (below the line) is a weekly profile of a particularly delightful, prolific or controversial member of the Guardian comment community. Nominate yourself or someone else here.
Need to know: IanCWNeed to know: IanCW
Comments: 2,211
Abuse reports: 12
Joined: 6 June 2008
Avatar changes: 0 		Comments: 2,211
Abuse reports: 12
Joined: 6 June 2008
Avatar changes: 0
Tell us about your username. What, if anything, does it mean?Tell us about your username. What, if anything, does it mean?
It's basically just a bastardisation of my real name. It helps to keep me honest, albeit uncreative.It's basically just a bastardisation of my real name. It helps to keep me honest, albeit uncreative.
Where are you currently based?Where are you currently based?
Sydney, Australia.Sydney, Australia.
Tell us something about who you are offlineTell us something about who you are offline
I'm much less confrontational offline. I'm not very good at direct confrontation, I tend to become either whiny or infuriatingly sarcastic. I'm fiercely loyal, the down side being I'll hold a grudge forever.I'm much less confrontational offline. I'm not very good at direct confrontation, I tend to become either whiny or infuriatingly sarcastic. I'm fiercely loyal, the down side being I'll hold a grudge forever.
What about a story makes you want to comment? What about a story makes you want to comment?
If I think a story is particularly badly written or researched, that usually brings me out, unfortunately. More often than not, I prefer to get involved in the interpretation of the story below the line. I'll comment on almost any subject, but I tend not to bother if there are already hundreds in the fray because everything has usually already been said. Some comment sections I tend to avoid – the cliche that the below the line Guardian isn't the place for nuanced discussion on American foreign policy holds true, though when I lived there CiF America was pretty good. I read the Culture section the most, but rarely comment.If I think a story is particularly badly written or researched, that usually brings me out, unfortunately. More often than not, I prefer to get involved in the interpretation of the story below the line. I'll comment on almost any subject, but I tend not to bother if there are already hundreds in the fray because everything has usually already been said. Some comment sections I tend to avoid – the cliche that the below the line Guardian isn't the place for nuanced discussion on American foreign policy holds true, though when I lived there CiF America was pretty good. I read the Culture section the most, but rarely comment.
What is your commenting theme song? What is your commenting theme song?
What have you learned about yourself (or the world, for that matter) since you started commenting on the Guardian?What have you learned about yourself (or the world, for that matter) since you started commenting on the Guardian?
I'm more leftwing than I thought. I used to call myself a centrist because it felt like the grown-up, mature thing to be. I wouldn't say I'm pure left, I'm still far too capitalist most of the time, but I definitely wouldn't consider myself a centrist anymore. Being centrist just seems spineless to me now. I don't think both sides of an argument automatically deserve respect.I'm more leftwing than I thought. I used to call myself a centrist because it felt like the grown-up, mature thing to be. I wouldn't say I'm pure left, I'm still far too capitalist most of the time, but I definitely wouldn't consider myself a centrist anymore. Being centrist just seems spineless to me now. I don't think both sides of an argument automatically deserve respect.
What's one thing that people ATL/writers should know about what goes on BTL?What's one thing that people ATL/writers should know about what goes on BTL?
A good chunk of it is quite irrelevant to whatever they spent hours crafting above the line, so can probably be ignored. But do pop in every now and again – most of us crave the attention, and it's harder to call someone incompetent when they're engaging. The recent Helen Razer article was frustrating in many aspects, but I loved seeing her fight back in the comments.A good chunk of it is quite irrelevant to whatever they spent hours crafting above the line, so can probably be ignored. But do pop in every now and again – most of us crave the attention, and it's harder to call someone incompetent when they're engaging. The recent Helen Razer article was frustrating in many aspects, but I loved seeing her fight back in the comments.
Do you have a favourite fellow commenter?
Do you have a favourite fellow commenter?
I like the surprising ones. Just recently I had written someone off due to their stupid (and I still think it's stupid) opinion on arts and censorship; only to then find myself nodding in agreement over their thoughts on real estate investing in Australia. Put us to work on immigration reform, immediately.I like the surprising ones. Just recently I had written someone off due to their stupid (and I still think it's stupid) opinion on arts and censorship; only to then find myself nodding in agreement over their thoughts on real estate investing in Australia. Put us to work on immigration reform, immediately.
Do you have a crush on a Guardian journalist? Do you have a crush on a Guardian journalist?
No. Do any of them have a crush on me?No. Do any of them have a crush on me?
And finally, tell us a secretAnd finally, tell us a secret
I stole my mum's copy of Everywoman when I was seven or eight. It was before the internet would render such brazen theft unnecessary. I don't know if she noticed, but cheers for the opportunity for public confession.I stole my mum's copy of Everywoman when I was seven or eight. It was before the internet would render such brazen theft unnecessary. I don't know if she noticed, but cheers for the opportunity for public confession.
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