Rules Of Engagement

The recent debate on 'Birthright' suggests that it might be useful for me to spell out the manner in which I administer comments posted on this site.

First, I dislike censorship. As soon as I start deleting comments I open myself up to charges of distorting the debate and suppressing views with which I don't agree. Frankly, I don't want to go there. In addition, if someone has responded to a dubious comment before I have seen it, removing that comment breaks up the debate for anyone who comes to it later. I don't want to do that, and anyway by that point the damage has been done. Moreover, even if someone holds an opinion which may be considered objectionable and expresses it in an incoherent or unpleasant manner, their inarticulacy or boorishness in no way lessens the truth of their feelings.

That said, I have no intention of tolerating a low level of debate and I do occasionally delete comments. I usually do this only if I spot the comment shortly after it is posted and if I believe the content is seriously out of line. One-line, unsubstantiated attacks on another person's opinions fall into this category. I will also delete any comment that I feel may be libellous as soon as I become aware of it, regardless of whether anyone has already responded to it.

Persistent offenders and libellous posters will also find themselves blocked from commenting, but thankfully I've not had to do this to anyone yet.

The only rules of engagement for this site are these. Explain why you feel the way you do, not just how you feel. If you disagree with someone's viewpoint, try to understand why they hold their opinion before you launch into another explanation of your own. And if reconciliation is impossible, agree to differ with grace.

If everyone does this I think we'll all get along just fine.

Comments

[Graeme Outerbridge on 31.03.04 at 18:21]

Well UN Phil seems like another version of the ten comandments...They all seem fair--I think the Wolf will have to roam away to the real world soon and leave the virtual world for awhile..Well done on Birthright as it certainly got people thinking.