Please note the following:
Any comments thought to betray these rules will be deleted without comment. I’ve done this previously when, to follow the analogy given in the link below, someone came to my blog and said, “I don’t like your couch. It’s not comfy enough. Would you mind buying a new one for me to sit on?” Thanks to all those who are courteous enough to know these rules without my posting them. Good luck to the rest of you.
Also, try to remember these ideas when inviting yourself into others’ “living rooms,” if you will. The entire online community will thank you.
- Stay on topic. This also means to read the original post and all subsequent comments carefully and for complete comprehension before going off half-cocked and showing how little you understand what is truly being said.
- Contribute new and useful, not simply inflammatory or useless (“First!” or “Yeah!”), information to the discussion.
- Know when to email and when to comment. Emails are private interactions and comments pertain to the post at hand.
- Be respectful and contribute kindly. Do not lash out at people or be insulting to any other commenter. Also make sure that if you are being sarcastic, it is completely obvious to anyone. Words are more easily mis-construed in writing than when said in front of one’s face.
- If you comment, own up to it. I do not like anonymous commenters who post inflammatory information and then hide.
- As with any writing, document your sources* and don’t personally claim information that isn’t yours. Use links or other ways of citing sources to let us know where you originally found the information.
- Do not post something online that you are not willing to say aloud in the physical presence of people who know you or to the writer’s face.
- Do not spam the comments even if you are saying something that pertains to the original post (and especially if you aren’t).
(Adapted from this site.) *As I’ve done here.
What have OTHERS said in response?