I never thought I’d have to do this at this blog, but we have to talk about a comment policy here at Ecosystem Gardening due to several folks who have been abusive.
I know that most of my friends and clients are totally unfamiliar with blogs and social media and are unaware that you CAN leave comments or other feedback at the end of each post.
So first, let’s address what comments are for:
- You can ask questions. If something I’ve said, or another commenter has said, isn’t clear, please ask
- You can make suggestions for other ways of looking at an issue.
- You can relate how you’ve solved a particular issue in your garden
- You can tell me you disagree with me and back it up with other sources
- You can share your garden successes and wildlife sightings
- You can share your gardening mistakes and tell us what you’ve learned from them
- You can review other viewpoints and suggest further reading
- You can tell me what topics you’d like to know more about
- You can pretty much talk about whatever is on your mind as long as you’re respectful of other commenters and it is relevant to what has been discussed in the article you’re commenting on.
I welcome your thoughts, ideas, suggestions, and contributions to the conversation here. Comments are a way of building a community of folks who are interested in creating habitats for wildlife in our gardens.
Unfortunately, there are some who view the comments section of a blog as a platform to attack other people, to address another agenda that is unrelated to the subject of this blog, and an outlet for spreading their own message.
I tend to think of the readers and commenters here as similar to a gathering around my kitchen table. During the meal we can share, debate, respectfully disagree, laugh, cry, relate our mistakes, and make suggestions.
Normally this is great fun, but every so often a person shows up for dinner who is abusive to the other guests, unaware of personal boundaries, disrepectful, or otherwise disruptive to the enjoyment of others. These folks are not invited back to my kitchen table, and I reserve the right to delete their comments at this blog.
With that in mind, here’s what will not be welcome at my kitchen table:
- While debate and discussion are welcome, I have a zero tolerance policy for rudeness, insults, personal attacks on other commenters, and any verbal abuse. Be respectful, please.
- Comments should be relevant in some way to the topic of the post. I’ve been having an ongoing debate with someone who has his own agenda that does not relate to anything that’s been discussed here. It is my suggestion that this person begin his own blog where he can pursue any agenda he wants.
- If you include links in your comments, they should contribute to the discussion at hand or provide some value to other readers. Links should not include affiliate links, spam, or advertising. I reserve the right to delete them.
- This is not the place to publish full-length articles you’ve written in the past. Summarize your thoughts and link to the article on your blog.
I’ve been told that freedom of speech is a right and that censorship of any kind is repugnant. I agree. We are all free to set up our own website or blog where we can say anything we want.
There, at your own kitchen table you can enforce (or not) any standards of behavior you choose. But when you are a guest at someone else’s kitchen table, you must be willing to respect that person’s boundaries. At my kitchen table, I reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason I choose.
I’m open to any suggestions or feedback you may have regarding this comment policy. I want to create a safe place for everyone to share their thoughts, suggestions, and respectful disagreements. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
© 2009 – 2010, Carole Brown. All rights reserved.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow — it’s amazing that adults need to be reminded to be, well, adults. Good for you for stepping up to the plate, Carole.
Bethe´s last post ..What Will Your Children Remember?
Family time around the kitchen table is a good time to learn the skills required for being appropriate when visiting others, be it in their kitchen, or on their blog. Rules of courtesy apply online just as they do face to face. And apparently some people need a time-out, or to be asked to leave the table. Good for you for enforcing rules of courtesy. I’ll be doing the same at my blog.
Alison Kerr´s last post ..Chasing the Beauty of Red Maples in Kansas
It is unfortunate that people need a reminder to treat each other with respect… Bravo for standing up for good behavior!
Wendy´s last post ..Four Questions with Carole Brown
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