In my Libertarian reluctance to assert authority, I have allowed this forum to get out of hand. That stops on publication of this post.
This forum has a handful of regular posters, but about 40 people who read it on a daily basis. I have received emails from readers who were leaving the forum because it had become so toxic it was no longer enjoyable. That defeats the purpose of the blog.
Effective immediately, posts that are uncivil will be reverted to draft status for revision. Republished without correction, they will be deleted and the poster placed on moderation.
Uncivil comments will be deleted.
I do not want to be arbitrary, so I will list some causes for rejection, subject to change with experience.
Titles will describe the subject of the post. If I can’t tell what a post is about from the title, it will be unpublished without reading.
Allegations of racism or lying must be supported in the post or comment. Guilt by association will not be accepted. Any insulting characterization of anyone must be supported with fact or reason.
A lie will be defined as knowingly making a false statement. An opinion can be debated, but it cannot be a lie. A statement that proves to be incorrect is not necessarily a lie unless it can be established that the statement was known to be untrue by the person making the statement at the time it was made.
Public officials must be addressed by title in the first use, and by either title or last name thereafter, derogatory nicknames (Ex “Obummer”) will not be tolerated.
Ad hominem arguments and topic hijacking will also cause a post or comment to disappear.
Mr Roberts and Mr Rothman also have administrator authority, so they can apply these standards to me.
So, be civil and make your points.
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