Now that doesn't mean you can't disagree with me. I have a conservative commenter (yes, that's you Curious Texan) who comments here regularly and almost always disagrees with what I have said. But he is never guilty of the sins listed above, and always at least tries to make a sensible and coherent argument. I have no problem with that and always post his comments (even though he's usually wrong). In fact, I look forward to his comments.
But there is something else I have been thinking about for a while now. I don't get a lot of anonymous commenters, but I have to admit I don't like them. It makes me wonder why a person is even bothering to comment if they are so ashamed of what they're saying that they want to hide their identity. A commenter could at the very least have the courtesy to invent an internet pseudonym and use it when commenting.
So, starting today, I am no longer going to publish any comments from anyone identified as anonymous. You don't have to use your real name -- go to blogger and create an internet identity for yourself. It's easy. And it allows me and the readers to identify your comments and put them in the context of previous comments you have made.
You may not think that's fair. But it's my blog and that's the way it's going to be.
That is our comment policy, too.
ReplyDeleteBravo.
ReplyDeleteI've thought about doing the same - especially since there have been so many comments I've had to reject lately.
I have not taken this step yet, however.
Since you deal with more provocative political subjects than I do on a regular basis, it seems like it would be more likely to raise the heat level in here.
Throwing out the anons will likely get rid of all of the racist remarks altogether. The rest of it... Well, there are some awful people running around out there...
Best of luck. I'll be around to see how it goes!