Comment and Site Policy
I think most people have a good sense about what they ought or ought not to do in a comments section on someone else’s blog, but there are some who simply lack that common sense. This page is for those people.
Folks,
I’m paying for this website. I’m paying because it creates a space for me to interact with people about interesting topics. I write my opinions. Sometimes my opinions change. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes I express myself less clearly than I intend, and you should feel free to confirm that I’m saying what you think I’m saying before you decide I’m a Bad Man.
I have some strong opinions, but I also have ears and eyes, to see and hear. I listen to disagreement, and I consider it. So feel free to disagree with me when commenting. Point out the error in my ways, and maybe I’ll even see the light. If not, I’ll tell you why I still disagree. But bear in mind, this is my website, and in the end, if you don’t like what I’m doing here, you have two choices:
- Stop reading here.
- Get your own blog to explain why you don’t like what I’m doing here.
Here are some facts you should bear in mind when commenting:
- My blog is a civilized place, where discussion is encouraged but must take place within an adult, civilized framework. Don’t be an asshole. Go get your own blog if you want to behave like a pig or a dog.
- Discussion and debate is welcome. I love and value diversity of opinions and experience, and am willing to learn from you. However, discussion requires a modicum of politeness and respect. Ask yourself if you’d say what you’re writing, were you face to face with the person you’re interacting with. Remember that online discussions seem sometimes to be harder to read nuance in. Consider taking a bit of time to cool off before firing away your angry comment.
- Your writing a comment does not obligate me to publish it here on my blog. Don’t get me wrong, I rarely fail to publish a comment. But if you’re being sexist, racist, nationalist; if you’re derailing the discussion; if you’re attacking people (including me); if you’re making a nuisance of yourself in general, I reserve the right to first ask you to stop it, and then silence you. (Disemvoweling, public mockery, deletion, dropping you into the moderation queue, or finally banning you if your asshole-itis is chronic, are all options. I will give you a chance, but my patience is finite.)
- Moderation is only for new people and people on probation. That is, automatic moderation is generally only applied to people who are new to the blog. If you’ve commented before, or registered on this site, you’ll be able to comment and see your words appear immediately. If they do not show up, let me know. I may take a day or two to unmoderate comments. If you find your comments are suddenly falling into the moderation queue, it’s because you included links (too many gets your automoderated), or else you’ve pissed me off. Almost always it’s the former case, but occasionally I will put a poster on probation for bad behaviour. If it persists, the commented gets banned, and blocked at the IP(s) from which that commenter usually comments.
- “tl;dr” (too long, didn’t read) comments will be deleted summarily. If you didn’t read it, you don’t get to comment on it. Nothing pisses me off more (on any blog) than when someone spatters out a tl;dr and then regurgitates the same stupid opinion that the poster has carefully and painfully deconstructed. If you don’t want to read a post, move on. Don’t comment that you didn’t want to read it. Indeed, tl;dr ought to get you banned, and if it doesn’t, count yourself lucky.