I've given this a lot of thought. My overall policy is still the same. I love comments. I love comments that disagree with me. Heck, my views are certainly heterodox, so for me to discourage disagreement around here would be silly, even counter-productive.
I also don't care if I get personally insulted. I'm an open target, and my record is out there on the internet for anyone to read if they want. Heck, I poke fun at me. Why shouldn't everyone else?
However, my name is attached to this blog, which means that I am in large part responsible for the content. ALL of the content. This is NOT an open forum.
Comments that are posted that are potentially libelous may have to be removed, depending on whether I can justify leaving the post up under the basic rules of libel. ANONYMOUS comments will get a quicker hook than those that are signed, even under a pseudonym.
If you registered a pen name with Blogger or Haloscan at least, in theory, my lawyers have some way of tracking you down. Also, if you registered with Blogger or Haloscan or whatever I can send you an e-mail explaining why the comment needs to be revised before I do something. I can't do anything with anonymous commenters except delete the comment.
Comments that involve excessive foul language will result in my sending an e-mail asking you to edit your comment. Just what every person wants, another e-mail in the in box. So keep it somewhat clean. I'm a sensitive soul, really I am.
If someone has an issue with the policy, please let me know, either via the comments or via e-mail.
Again, I want to encourage debate. Really I do. So go ahead and call whatever politician whatever name you want. But if you call that person a criminal, or a child-molester, or whatever, I gotta take a second look.
Update! 10/19/05 I ask that commenters stay relatively on topic. For example, if I make fun of Cyarano's nose, the financial impact of higher natural gas prices on the federal student loan program in warm weather states would not be relative. Some suitable punishment will have to be devised. Thumbscrews perhaps, or being forced to watch Beaches. Please note I've added another exception below.
(Fans, management and players of the Washington Redskins organization have no protection under this rule. Also, I reserve the right for my readers and myself the unlimited ability to make fun of fans of the song "Luka.")
(If anyone wants to send me an email how to set this up as a FAQ, rather than keep it as a post, I would be eternally grateful.)
