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Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Mon Jan 02, 2006 at 03:41:44 PM EST
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It's a new year. Let's get started on the right track.

There are too many right-wing chatterers commenting on TalkLeft who are making noise without substance. Several are new in the past few months, and may not have read the commenting rules. They are here. Please read them. If you continue to comment in disregard of the rules, you will be banned.

In particular, there is a four a day comment limit for right wing chatterers. Readers should let me know when a new chatterer pops up or violates the rules. I will then find their last or their offending comment and add a warning. So, if you are a contrarian commenter on this site, check back to the last comment threads you've posted on. Once you are notified you're a chatterer, it's four a day max for you. If you disregard the limit, you will be banned.

Next, and this goes for all commenters regardless of your political philosophy: Lose the insults, the name-calling and degrading responses to other commenters. You may think you are being witty, I don't.

Three more important ones: if you include a url in your comment, put it in html format. Otherwise it skews the site. Instructions are in the comment box. And don't reprint whole articles. That's what the link is for. A paragraph (or two if absolutely necessary) is sufficient.

Your comment must relate to the subject matter of the thread. If you want to introduce a topic, wait for an Open thread. Those are for readers to talk about what they want to talk about.

Last, TalkLeft is not a place for you to advertise your own sites or reprint your own articles. You can include a link to your site in the name section of the commenting box. It will show up in the comments as a hyperlink. Do not reprint it at the end of your comment. We'll all see it in your name and click through if we're interested.

Thank you all. I hope enforcing these rules will encourage more people who share TalkLeft's views to participate. And a note to sympatico readers who get irritated by commenters from the other side: Ignore them when you can. They are here because they provoke a response from you and you engage them. If you don't take the bait, they'll find another left-wing site to comment on.

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    Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft | 34 comments (34 topical)
    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#1)
    by manish on Mon Jan 02, 2006 at 04:12:16 PM EST
    Happy New Year to you Jeralyn..keep up the good work!

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jan 02, 2006 at 04:14:50 PM EST
    Thanks, Mannish and same to you. I wish you would start blogging again. Your voice is missed.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#3)
    by demohypocrates on Mon Jan 02, 2006 at 09:54:09 PM EST
    I am one of the right wing posters you talk about. More power to you. I think this blog is run very fairly. I realize I am steppin on toes here by the graciousness of my my hosts , and I thank the, I am sure I will be obnoxious and get banned after a while, but I recognize that, and, until then, look forward to keep posting.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 06:07:36 AM EST
    Happy New Year, Jeralyn. Keep up the good work. However, I do have a question: Your rules state: "TalkLeft will limit commenters to four comments a day if, in its sole discretion, the commenter is a "chatterer," loosely defined as one who both holds opposing views from those expressed by TalkLeft and Posts numerous times a day with the intent of dominating, re-directing or hijacking the thread; or Posts numerous times a day and insults or calls other commenters names or repeatedly makes the same point with the effect of annoying other commenters." Does this mean that those who hold similar views to your own are free to post numerous times a day with the intent of dominating, re-directing or hijacking the thread or to post numerous times a day and insult or call other commenters names or repeatedly make the same point with the effect of annoying other commenters? The word "both", and your own emphasis on it, would seem to imply such, and given past experience, this would seem to be the case, but I figured it's worth asking for an official stance, as it were. If so, it's a strange position to take unless you're really just looking for an echo chamber, but it's your blog and you are always free to set your own rules. And given that bit about "with the intent of dominating, re-directing or hijacking the thread", it's easier to understand why we keep seeing whines about people "hijacking" threads when the discussion doesn't go their way. Say something and have enough people respond to it and you're accused of "hijacking" the thread even if you've only made one comment on it. Thank you for having a more open mind than many of your regular commenters.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dadler on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 08:08:48 AM EST
    Have a good New Year, J. The site's a gift, and I appreaciate it. Hope it, and the comments, only get better. Peace.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#6)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 11:11:45 AM EST
    "Next, and this goes for all commenters regardless of your political philosophy: Lose the insults, the name-calling and degrading responses to other commenters." Does this include calling others "shmendrik" (a yiddish insult) and it's variants (shmen, etc.) ad nausium?

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#7)
    by roger on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 01:31:42 PM EST
    Sarc, Seems a bit thin skinned to me, after all, you can definately hold your own around here! TL, Thanks for all the info this year, and thanks for the rules update. It will be nice to catch a break from some of the nastier wing-nuts (is wing-nut still acceptable?)

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#8)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 01:43:28 PM EST
    Roger, funny, he's never used to me, afaik.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#9)
    by Edger on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 02:09:05 PM EST
    Sarc: funny, he's never used to me, afaik Sarc, You are not generally a chatterer commenting or making noise without substance. I've had some good discussions with you, and while I don't always agree with you and I'm sure you don't with me, we've been able to both differ and agree and learn from each other without usually attacking each other. Shmendrik is a term that I've seen used here only for people making noise without substance or sense, who have deserved it, IMO, and used more in the comedic sense of ridiculing something said, than in the sense of insulting the speaker.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 02:10:08 PM EST
    Sarcastic, yes, the smendricks commenter is trying my patience. He needs to stop. Just Paul, those who share my views don't seem to chatter and try to take over the threads.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#11)
    by Lww on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 02:46:15 PM EST
    I have a nagging feeling this little reminder relates to me somehow. If you want to ban me because I call on the carpet some of the more strident anti-Christian spokesman in here, ban me. The "liberals" in here, not all of them, have a hard time keeping their biases in check. If I go off on them it's because what's good for the goose is good for the gander. I see "white trash" used alot in here also. I guess the country folk trapped in the mine in WV would be considered white trash. Dirty hands and red necks are not popular in here.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#12)
    by Edger on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 02:55:22 PM EST
    LWW: I guess the country folk trapped in the mine in WV would be considered white trash. How does this relate? Other than as transparently "making noise without substance" to bait and insult?

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#13)
    by roy on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 03:31:53 PM EST
    TL,
    Lose the insults, the name-calling and degrading responses to other commenters.
    A cutdown on personal insults will be a nice change, but are we still allowed to deploy ideologically based insults? Such as calling a commentator "racist" for wanting to require ID to vote? And my day wouldn't be complete without being called "brownshirt" for claiming that some use of government authority is justified.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#14)
    by Edger on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 03:38:34 PM EST
    Rabid commie pinko extremist lefty BHAW? ;-)

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#15)
    by Sailor on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 04:21:58 PM EST
    uhh, I would suggest that labeling a fellow commenter is out of bounds; suggesting folks at large who post stupid comments isn't. I could be wrong;-)

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#16)
    by roger on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 04:36:57 PM EST
    When did anti-semisim become "calling out the anti-christians"? Just wondering

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 04:37:42 PM EST
    No you may not refer to anyone as a racist. A policy can be deemed rascist, but not a person. There are libel issues with that.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 04:43:33 PM EST
    TL: A policy can be deemed rascist, but not a person. If commenters really implement this distinction, and generalize it where appropriate, it should, in a helpful way, lower the temperature in many threads.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#19)
    by Edger on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 04:51:53 PM EST
    it should, in a helpful way, lower the temperature in many threads. I agree... discussions about and opinions on issues and topics rather than about commenters... will take them to a much higher level

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#20)
    by swingvote on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 05:36:54 PM EST
    those who share my views don't seem to chatter and try to take over the thread You must be joking. Those who share your views make every effort to take over every thread every chance they get, up to and including the lame outbursts about other commenters having done so because they posted something with which that person does not agree and someone else responded to it. Why else would we be treated to the daily diatribe about how this is a liberal site and anything that is not hard-left is unwelcome and inappropos? I know you get a lot of comments, and no one could review them all, but you might want to consider reading seom from the people you simply assume are nonoffensive once in a while in addition to those you assume are trying to "take over threads". You've been missing a lot of what goes on here. But as I've always said, it's your site and you can do as you please. If you wish to give free rein to those whose calling card is name calling and wild conspiracy theories as long as they agree with you, it's your prerogative. What it achieves is open to question, but it seems to work for you and I'll just continue to appreciate the input you provide.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#21)
    by jimcee on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 06:38:31 PM EST
    TL, I think I just broke one of your new rules above (in a later thread) and I apoligize. In all honesty, to be able to correspond here without invective will be a pleasure even though I do tend to be a contrarian. All in all your rules should work out fine. Thanks again for the forum.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#22)
    by BigTex on Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 10:55:46 PM EST
    as par for the course as it is for a wingnut fella who employs sarcastic in his handle to be able to dish it out but unable to take it, I'll ease up on the shmendriks at your request.
    You have a gaping logic flaw here Charley. You go after those you see as politically opposed to you, regardless of if they use sarcasm or not. Also, that's not where you stop the line either. I was going to be silent about your posts, but you aren't as innocent as you are posturing to be here. Since people have been asking questions on what is and is not allowable, here's a question to make sure my understanding is correct. In general we are not allowed to use Biblical support for our positions. But what about, if we are asked, simply stating we are using the Bible to come to our decision?

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#23)
    by roger on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 07:33:23 AM EST
    Tex, At least for me, knowing that you are using biblical support is enough, I dont need the citation. No disrespect, but I dont care what the cite says, as I reject that it has any authority in a rational discussion.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 07:43:48 AM EST
    BT: on what is and is not allowable,... we are not allowed to use Biblical support for our positions. What makes you think so? There's nothing in the TL Comment Policy to that effect.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#25)
    by Edger on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 09:16:04 AM EST
    There are good and bad thoughts in the bible as in any other human writings. I do not take the bible as the word of god. I have nothing against people using biblical citations in attempt to support a view. It let's me know where they are coming from at a basic level, makes it plain that they will try to use meaningless circular arguments, and I usually just discount what they have to say, or take them with a great amount of skepticism.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#26)
    by BigTex on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 09:57:12 AM EST
    What makes you think so? There's nothing in the TL Comment Policy to that effect.
    While there is nothing in the comment policy about using Bible quotes etc, TL has from time to time asked via the comments to have the "[B]ible talk" or other such sentiment stopped. Since it comes from TL directly I treat it as equal to comment policy.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 10:35:04 AM EST
    BT: TL... asked via the comments to have the "[B]ible talk" or other such sentiment stopped. Could you provide a link to some of these? I'd be interested to see how that transpired.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#28)
    by soccerdad on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 10:45:15 AM EST
    BT: TL... asked via the comments to have the "[B]ible talk" or other such sentiment stopped.
    I was involved in one of these cases. My feeling at the time was that TL thought we had gotten off track, not that there was a bible reference per se. Other opinions may differ ;-)

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#29)
    by Edger on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 10:52:16 AM EST
    Soc: You're right - that thread was about Tookie Williams but was going off topic and devolving a bit into a debate about catholicism from here down...

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 10:58:00 AM EST
    SD: My feeling at the time was that TL thought we had gotten off track... As TL is free to change the TL Comment Policy (TLCP) at her leisure, my expectation would be that TL would not arbitrarily ban comments that are acceptable under the policy. I'd expect that when the policy feels no longer adequate, that TL would simply revise the policy. I would be astonished to find that TL has a secret, extra-TLCP, anti-Bible policy. But I'm open to the possibility. Just show me the link.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#31)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 11:04:51 AM EST
    There is no prohibition against mentioning the Bible. You just can't quote from it at length any more than any other site. Also, people who quote the bible tend to take the topic off thread make the Bible the topic. That's hijacking the thread. If you think my rules are onerous, check out those that Daily Kos posted yesterday. (scroll down)

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#32)
    by soccerdad on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 11:11:18 AM EST
    As TL is free to change the TL Comment Policy (TLCP) at her leisure, my expectation would be that TL would not arbitrarily ban comments that are acceptable under the policy
    Roaming off the topic of the thread has always been subject to TL halting the discussion even if its not been "hijacked" per se. I have always believed it was due to conserving bandwidth and therefore limiting costs. It happens during threads where the discussion has wandered and has not involved religion. Short diversions seem to be tolerated but long drawn out off-topic discussions usually aren't. This has seemed reasonable to me, even though I have been involved in a number of those off topic discussions. I've not noticed any bias against religious discussion per se as long as its on topic. How far away from the topic a discussion is, is, of course, open to interpretation.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#33)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 11:14:32 AM EST
    TL: If you think my rules are onerous, check out those that Daily Kos posted yesterday. It's interesting to have the opportunity to see how these things evolve.

    Re: Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft (none / 0) (#34)
    by BigTex on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 02:43:58 PM EST
    Thanks for the clarification.

    Commenting Rule Update on TalkLeft | 34 comments (34 topical)