For the next few weeks, we'll be mixing it up and profiling some notable international characters who are active in the World news comment threads. Today, Celtiberico
BTL (below the line) is a regular profile of a particularly delightful, prolific or controversial member of the Guardian comment community. Are you a die-hard Cif commenter? This version of our BTL survey is for you. Are you particularly active BTL in our World news section? Introduce yourself with a special version of our questionnaire.
*Need to know: Celtiberico*
*Joined: *5 June 2008
*Comments to date:* 9,140
*Abuse reports:* 76
*What about a story makes you want to comment? Or what kinds of stories do you most often comment on?* It could be a story about an area or country that I am interested in, like Ireland, Spain, the Middle East or eastern Europe, or it might be a theme that I am drawn to such as, what is to become of progressive politics? Is western intervention ever justified in another country? Sometimes it might just be a provocative title.
Occasionally, I might be drawn to comment on an article that I don't feel should have been commissioned in the first place – I hate to see articles about reality TV and the like on what should be a serious site like Cif – but that happens less these days, as I weary of having to defend myself against the legions of whichever celebrity's fans ranting about how I shouldn't comment on Big Brother if I don't like it, or about how Lady Gaga is an important person in world affairs.
*Describe your comment persona in three words:* Lonely Orwell buff.
*What's your commenting theme song?* Oh! Galicia Calidade by Martires del Compas.
*Tell us something about who you are offline:* I teach English to pay the bills, go trekking whenever possible, talk politics and football down the local boozer, collect wild foods when in season, am hoping to get into fishing in the near future. With the rest of the time I'm trying to write a book about Spain while being harassed by the cat (when she is not being harassed in her turn by the kittens).
*Share a comment (either yours or someone else's) that you think is particularly fantastic:* If I can choose someone whose comments we sadly never got to read on Cif:
Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits, but according to who does them, and there is almost no kind of outrage — torture, the use of hostages, forced labour, mass deportations, imprisonment without trial, forgery, assassination, the bombing of civilians – which does not change its moral colour when it is committed by 'our' side.
– George Orwell, Notes on Nationalism
*What's one thing that people ATL should know about what goes on BTL?* That sometimes, people BTL may lay into your cherished words of wisdom not because they are trolling or political fanatics, but because you are wrong.
*Tell us a secret:* I love Abba.
*Do you have a crush on a Guardian writer? Who?* Marina Hyde, naturally. Don't tell her or I'll die!
*What commenters do you admire?* Quite a few. Some examples would be LakerFan for fair-minded analysis of politics, casacantabria on Sid Lowe's blog for sharing with us what it is like being an Oviedo fan, RedMiner for his passion. Sarka makes a lot of sensible comments too.
*Have you learned anything (about yourself or the world) since you started commenting on the Guardian?* I've learned not to expect too much from what may seem to be a new dawn in politics, thanks to Obama, Nick Clegg, Enda Kenny, and François Hollande. Reported by guardian.co.uk 5 days ago.
BTL (below the line) is a regular profile of a particularly delightful, prolific or controversial member of the Guardian comment community. Are you a die-hard Cif commenter? This version of our BTL survey is for you. Are you particularly active BTL in our World news section? Introduce yourself with a special version of our questionnaire.
*Need to know: Celtiberico*
*Joined: *5 June 2008
*Comments to date:* 9,140
*Abuse reports:* 76
*What about a story makes you want to comment? Or what kinds of stories do you most often comment on?* It could be a story about an area or country that I am interested in, like Ireland, Spain, the Middle East or eastern Europe, or it might be a theme that I am drawn to such as, what is to become of progressive politics? Is western intervention ever justified in another country? Sometimes it might just be a provocative title.
Occasionally, I might be drawn to comment on an article that I don't feel should have been commissioned in the first place – I hate to see articles about reality TV and the like on what should be a serious site like Cif – but that happens less these days, as I weary of having to defend myself against the legions of whichever celebrity's fans ranting about how I shouldn't comment on Big Brother if I don't like it, or about how Lady Gaga is an important person in world affairs.
*Describe your comment persona in three words:* Lonely Orwell buff.
*What's your commenting theme song?* Oh! Galicia Calidade by Martires del Compas.
*Tell us something about who you are offline:* I teach English to pay the bills, go trekking whenever possible, talk politics and football down the local boozer, collect wild foods when in season, am hoping to get into fishing in the near future. With the rest of the time I'm trying to write a book about Spain while being harassed by the cat (when she is not being harassed in her turn by the kittens).
*Share a comment (either yours or someone else's) that you think is particularly fantastic:* If I can choose someone whose comments we sadly never got to read on Cif:
Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits, but according to who does them, and there is almost no kind of outrage — torture, the use of hostages, forced labour, mass deportations, imprisonment without trial, forgery, assassination, the bombing of civilians – which does not change its moral colour when it is committed by 'our' side.
– George Orwell, Notes on Nationalism
*What's one thing that people ATL should know about what goes on BTL?* That sometimes, people BTL may lay into your cherished words of wisdom not because they are trolling or political fanatics, but because you are wrong.
*Tell us a secret:* I love Abba.
*Do you have a crush on a Guardian writer? Who?* Marina Hyde, naturally. Don't tell her or I'll die!
*What commenters do you admire?* Quite a few. Some examples would be LakerFan for fair-minded analysis of politics, casacantabria on Sid Lowe's blog for sharing with us what it is like being an Oviedo fan, RedMiner for his passion. Sarka makes a lot of sensible comments too.
*Have you learned anything (about yourself or the world) since you started commenting on the Guardian?* I've learned not to expect too much from what may seem to be a new dawn in politics, thanks to Obama, Nick Clegg, Enda Kenny, and François Hollande. Reported by guardian.co.uk 5 days ago.