I've tried addressing off-topic, general issue debates by talking to some of you guys individually. Kerri's tried reminding you to take your off-topic conversations to the messageboard, which is a great place to have generalized discussions, and to post your longer, vaguely-related-to-topic comments on your own blogs. Several posters have raised concerns about what amounts to name-calling.
And yet. It still seems like we have a few "behavior problems" (which I am not blaming on any specific individuals, by the way).
Okay, kids. Here's the deal. I believe some of you are honestly not getting it, not through any malice or stupidity on your part, but just because you don't. Whatever we say on the topic of proper posting isn't communicated as well as it could be.
To clarify...
An off-topic comment that responds not to the original question itself or to the content of someone else's comment, but to an unrelated element of someone else's comment or the question. The proper way to address these sorts of comments is via email or on the messageboard.A general issue debate is one with no bearing on any given post at all. These should only be addressed on the messageboard.
A long comment (really anything more than a paragraph or so), even if relevant, is probably best posted on your own blog and summarized in your comments here - just for the sake of readability.
Namecalling is anything where you blame someone else for a problem, deny the possibility that their opinion is valid, or in any other way act like a middleschooler. This isn't tolerable in any form on this site, but you're more than welcome to take that shit to your own blog.
From this point forward, I will be pruning comments for you, if you can't regulate yourselves. This site is designed to facilitate discussion, not debate (the former is about listening without an agenda, by the way). I hate to edit out your thoughts, because I think they're valid, but if you don't contribute them in appropriate language or location, they'll be deleted or edited - if edited, I will always call out the edits.
If you have issue with any of your posts being deleted, you may take this up with me - via email only.
Enough said.
January 26, 2003We've always been a solidly self-moderating community here, and I'm pretty sure we'll stay that way. Still, it's helpful to have some general guidelines for posting; most of them are logistical, since that's where we get the most questions.
Here are ours:
- you can post a response to the weekly topic on your blog or here at the site. if you're posting at the site, try to keep it reasonably short. if on your blog, give us a quick summary and link (if you use Movable Type, you could also track back to the entry you comment on)
- the comment posting box accepts basic HTML - bold, italic, links, etc. - don't be afraid to use it
- if you have an off-topic suggestion or general comment, don't hesitate to use our message board (yes, it does get read); you can also use it to make requests for a book you're looking for or to share one you have
- if you have something to say directly to one person that doesn't really pertain to the discussion, try posting on that person's blog or emailing her/him
- speaking of which, don't ever assume you know what someone else is experiencing or take to personal attacks - keep it respectful, yo
- going along with that, on the off chance someone starts to harass you (here or elsewhere) over something you've posted here, let us know - it's really uncalled for
- and, you know, maintain a sense of humor and perspective - if you don't have them, you won't have much fun here.