New comments policy

I've fixed the comments and will use this opportunity to do something which is long overdue: institute a few forum rules.

Some people seem to think the comments section is there to spout bigotry. A while ago there were people who thought it would be a good idea to nuke everything from Jemen to Iran, or, in another case, everything from Trondheim to Gibraltar. Now, I am all in favor of nuking the moon, but that's because (a) it's uninhabited and (b) I really like huge explosions from (c) a safe distance.

Other people like to give their emotions free reign if they run out of arguments. Since I started this blog I've been called such things as a coward (by an American who thought I was too left wing) and a Nazi (by a European who thought I was too right wing). Unfortunately, I still haven't received the brown shirt he promised. How rude.

I run this blog for fun - in fact, despite 2,000 unique visitors a day it only costs me and my hoster money (since he never sends me a bill for exceeding data traffic allowances). That's fine, because this is a hobby. But it also implies that I like this to stay fun.

So here's the new comments policy. I think most reasonable people will feel it's reasonable.

1) Comments must be civil. It is perfectly possible to make a point without saying or suggesting something nasty about the other party, or deliberately distorting/twisting what (s)he said. Furthermore, no ad hominems or semi ad hominems will be permitted. This includes cowardly ad hominems, such as 'This kind of behavior reminds me of...', in which the person is not 'officially' attacked, but 'only' his behavior. 'The way my neighbor dresses himself reminds me of a rapist' is still an insult. Moreover, it shows you're both uncivil and a coward. Don't believe me, believe Margaret Thatcher.
2) Trolls nor bigots are welcome. Both shall be defined as those making statements which combine a minimum of arguments with a maximum of annoyance. Statements such as 'Nuke the Middle East', 'Biden is a traitor', 'Bush is a moron' or 'Theo van Gogh was no better than Al Qaeda or Goebbels' (I am quoting from emails I've received) will lead to an immediate revocation of commenting privileges. (As will the violation of any other rule in this list.)
3) While we're at it, Godwin's Law applies here. Meaning: no Nazi references will be tolerated, unless we are discussing the Nazis, or unless you're one of those very rare people who has actually come up with an analogy that couldn't possibly have been found anywhere else.

On the bright side, I won't have any part of Jeff Jarvis' 'seven dirty words rule'. So you can say shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, tits and motherfucker as much as you like. As long as it's on topic (which won't be often, except perhaps on semi-nude Friday. New entries are welcome, by the way.)

And in line with my continued appreciation of Andrew Sullivan I'll throw in dick as well.

22:28

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