Geez, it had to come to this?
After my post about Trevor Thomas was trolled most of the day today by a staffer for his opponent, Steve Pestka, I revealed the identity of this person and they then threatened to sue me. I have since removed their comments (and mine revealing their identity) and banned them.
This was the final push I needed to create a Comment Policy which I have reproduced below. I have also created a very obvious link to it at the top of every page.
Before I get into it, I just want to point out that I LOVE comments and lively debate. I really do. It’s a mark that we’re doing it right when people start talking. However, I want people to feel safe doing it and not have to worry that some jerk is going to attack them for their position. I also want people to be able to not use their real names if that’s what they want. However, there is a limit to what I will put up with and examples like today when a political campaign for Congress (!) has people trolling the site anonymously push me past my tolerance limit.
So, without further ado:
THE ECLECTABLOG COMMENT POLICY
[confetti]
There are three elements to my comment policy:
- If I don’t like your comment, I will delete it.
- You have no presumption of privacy when commenting on this blog. If you come here trying to be sneaky and secret and I can identify you, I reserve the right to reveal your identity. In other words: DO NOT COMMENT ON ECLECTABLOG IF YOU WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
- If you are particularly offensive or a serial jerk, I will ban you.
Now, those three things being said, here’s a bit of advice: if you don’t want your comment deleted, treat others with respect. No name calling. No attacks. No nasty garbage. Make your argument without being offensive or take it somewhere else. I like lively debate and want people to comment. I just don’t want people to have to worry about being attacked when they do so.
I will be arbitrary. If you catch me on a grouchy day, I may be more likely to delete your comment.
If you are hiding behind a pseudonym and I have reason to believe you are being paid to be an asshole by a campaign or company and I find out your identity, I will reveal it. I generally have no interest in doing that and if you are being legitimate and considerate, you have no fear of being “outed”. I have, in fact, only outed someone one time in the history of this blog — a paid staffer for a political campaign who trolled the comments, nastily attacking anyone who didn’t support his candidate.
Just so we’re clear and there are no misaprehensions, he are the rules one more time:
- If I don’t like your comment, I will delete it.
- You have no presumption of privacy when commenting on this blog. If you come here trying to be sneaky and secret and I can identify you, I reserve the right to reveal your identity. In other words: DO NOT COMMENT ON ECLECTABLOG IF YOU WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
- If you are particularly offensive or a serial jerk, I will ban you.
