Thank you for telling us David, I myself was wondering about this too but I was to stubborn to ask.

As a reader, I appreciate that. And as a commenter, I know I sometimes need that. It is easy to go off subject when you get excited about something.

okay, that makes some sense to me david. thanks for clearing the things up.

actually, i was about to raise the idea of allowing the posters to delete their own comments.
sometimes i really want to delete mine since i didnt give much time on the second thought before hitting the submit button.
this way, people would feel much better you know. just another idea though.

considerations of people do vary. i think it is also should be adjustable. and since this is your space, i do respect yours.

thanks bui
i should have posted about it sooner but like most of us, im figuring it out as i go:)

First off, I think it’s great to have a blog that promotes open dialogue! I love reading all the diverse opinions and debates!
However that being said, as a reader I agree that to keep a good flow in any conversation, the posts should stick to addressing the topic at hand.
so yes, that makes a lot of sense!

xoxo courtney

Thanks for explaining that David. Completely reasonable!

Thank you for answering my question David. I really do appreciate it. I am new at this also and have enjoyed the conversations. Thanks for clearing it up

Blog is the ..
I think every blogger can name his/her own version. I read many blogs, they’re all so different, because it’s a free form of expression. This tool is so flexible and developing, and rules of this game are set by author. However blog differs from a moderated forum-form, this difference is conversation. A couple of simple words could save the deal. Maybe it’s only my peculiar view of it.
So what’s the most valuable in blogging for you?
P. S. in any case I’m glad that sky became clear

You have a good set of rules there that are completely reasonable and fair. I think trackbacks are the best way to really go into deep thought in response to something, that way you provide content for your own blog space while sharing your thought with the original author.

Sounds like a good set of guidelines. I do however have one question. I once tried to post a comment and received a notice that it was flagged as possible spam. Now I did have a link to an external web page in it, but it was directed to an article that addressed the blog’s topic and I’ve seen external links here before. What is it that sets off the spam filter? Or perhaps this was just a web fluke?

I agree with the basic logic behind your decision. The worst offenders, for me, are those people who leave comments that are destructive in nature - their goal is to ridicule the author and/or topic and judge past responses. I recently had this experience and could not quite grasp the purpose of this, other than the need to be vindictive (an emotion I cannot comprehend). Strong or dissenting opinions are fine. Leaving negative, pointless comments is simply a waste of time and energy and they should be removed. It’s about being respectful.

now i wonder what i missed, i break rules and my usual thinking pattern is to run big round crazy circles until i get to the middle(the point, the meaning). most people don’t have the patience, which is why the institutionalized education system didn’t like me much I guess, but it could have been my crappy attitude too certainly. I thank you for your honest response though and i guess all I am as asking is to error on the side of caution, because what might not be relevant to you might be totally relevant to me. dunno..just a thought and it’s late, and uhh..you are the skipper here,

journey on…

I think that it is a very good policy to try to keep comments to the point and, I might add, civilized.

[Hoping I am not diverging from the subject here ]: I read another blog on which there is presently some kind of legal controversy http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2008/08/albritton-v-p-1.html, in part because of alleged diffamatory comments…showing that you never know what can come up. Some comments were made by lawyers or people working in the field of the law…believe it or not. (I think that the whole story related to the above link is very entertaining. )

Julie

I have been banned from myspace for using “proper” language on my profile; i really needed to journal tonight tooo hard shift, cancer and stuff..I guess the eff word wouldn’t have aggravated off the holy rollers as much. Censorship at it’s finest.

I am mad..if anyone has Jonny Hetherington from the Art of Dying on myspace..tell em Stormy is locked out, the storm is brewing, and IT IS REALLY ON now!!

this is far sure inflammatory David..delete delete delete..

David, makes big senses..
I am one of theses persons who reads every single blog you post, but not commenting..( mostly because I feel like my English is not enough strong to really tells my thoughts). Anyways, just commenting now to say that I do skip the long never-ending comments (just because it’s too much time consuming and most of the time, it’s getting honestly boring).

It’s a great idea to keep it short; readable. I’ll prolly be reading more of the conversation that way.

I think it’s fine, but I think there should be a general forum. For example, I wanted to wonder how your facebook ads have been going, and there’s nowhere really to ask. So how are those facebook ads going?

I know this is a great topic to blog about because not very many , well we need more to be exact to start talking about the censorship that the powers that be (for now) try to take away from us. Remember that they try to take away something that we had yesterday. Makes u wonder why? Its their illusion to think that this will stop all of the amazing people from speaking and communicating to one another. Never stop trying and people keep doing what you are doing great job keep up. Wormwood