This post has to me made every few months. I guess now is as a good a time as any. We've gotten quite a few new commenters, in the wake of Michael Jackson's death. We've also got some new people responding to our guest bloggers. I welcome the new contributors, as well as the continued input of older ones. I've enjoyed the spirited debate--especially over Ricci.
That said, I'd like to remind people that this is a social space and one that tries to take its cues from the virtual and the real. I've said before that it helps to think of this blog as a dinner party. I'm your host. This week, I have a few cohosts. I'd ask you to speak to your fellow guests with same respect that you'd give to a fellow guest at an actual dinner party.
That may seem unusual or weird given the conventions of the internet and most blogs. But that's kind of the point. If you're feeling pissed off about something, if you want to call people names, if you want to revel in snark, than this probably isn't the place for you. And that's fine--the web is awash in spaces tailor-made for blowing off steam. But this minor stop, on the sprawling, infinite internet isn't one of them.
It's worth thinking before you hit that publish key. It's worth talking to people like they're people. It's worth avoiding straw-men. It's worth assuming the good faith of your adversaries. It's worth considering what they have to say. Do that and you'll be ahead of most people who argue for a living.
Truthfully, I forget those lessons all the time. But I hold them as values. I ask the same of my commenters. Again, I know that sounds weird. But I see my commenters not as mere after-thoughts or appendages, but as a valuable resource. With that in mind, it's kind of hard to ask any less.
Thanks in advance for bearing with me.
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
Copyright © 2009 by The Atlantic Monthly Group. All rights reserved.
"It's worth thinking before you hit that publish key. It's worth talking to people like they're people. It's worth avoiding straw-men. It's worth assuming the good faith of your adversaries. It's worth considering what they have to say. Do that and you'll be ahead of most people who argue for a living."
Isn't there an easier way? That sounds so hard!
It is, though, isn't it!?
Just as long as you're not going to force me to proofread anything.
I don't think he has the moral high ground there. :D
Hah! In no respect.
I guess a way to simplify this is to look at HuffPo's comment boards, and do the exact opposite.
Not trying to start beef, but damn, people say some stupid things on that site.
I actually really love Coates policy for comments in this space. I guess it's pretty draconian, but it actually makes it possible to bear to come here and make comments and even read other people's stuff! Which is actually pretty astounding. I've been on a campaign to get my local paper (The Star Tribune) to take up a similar policy on posters. The internet is like a house with bugs. Sometimes you have a troll infestation, and you need to exterminate.
I don't think it's particularly draconian. I got called out once or twice when I was being a jerk but he gently told me to calm down-- I don't think I was ever even in sighting distance of a ban. And that's pretty reasonable.
Same here.
I prefer the heavy hand and willing use of the ban hammer. Unfortunately, it means more work for TNC, but it makes this space one of my favorite spots around. I used to read Megan McArdle's blog and was astounded at how smart some of her commenters were - it was like an upper-level course in economics. Then a couple of trolls started stirring things up (this was in the heart of the election race last year), and her comments section became unreadable in a matter of months.
I won't call anyone out, but there was one troll in particular that for me brought the whole thing down to a gutter level. A hard smackdown and quick ban might have been just what the doctor ordered.
Please keep doing these occasional reminders. And thank you in advance for your cooperation. (See, it's not so hard to be civil!)
HuffPost isn't half as bad as those vapid and voracious vultures of rumor-mongering at TMZ--they are a pretty sleezy lot, discussing Janet J's upper extremities at a time when her brother hasn't been buried yet. I don't think I've seen anything too bad here, compared with most sites. Sports sites are probably the worst...especially USC--okay, okay, I'll stop...
Hey TNC: I don't know if everyone you assume to be new may necessarily be new because when Atlantic.com went with a sign-on, I had to change my handle, and I assume others may have had the same problem. I couldn't get on for weeks before.
"It's worth talking to people like they're people" -- amen!
HuffPost and Salon are both no fun because you feel like you're just shouting in a room full of (in my case sometimes, fellow) idiots.
I love that the rules are tighter here, and it has DEFINITELY made me refrain from writing things I might have later regretted.
The rules are perfect on this site that's why I come here and blog. This is the first site I ever blogged on. I was so happy once when TNC responded I didn't know how to "act". I also missed several points in certain post (flew over my head) and was never criticized. TNC, however kindly put me back on track. So yes please send the site "Memo" out sometimes to keep all of us on track...........I love it here. But I do miss you. Have fun.
I did not get a computer until a couple of years ago and i have only started commenting on a few blogs in the last couple of months[ work is slow so i have a lot of free time].And i have to say that this blog has the best comments section.
Maybe i am niave, but i am constantly shocked at the rudeness in some blogs comments section.People literally calling each other ass****s ! It is not just the rudeness that bothers me.It is the fact that the name calling completly kills the conversation.
The debates on this blog are actually more spirited because of the general tone of politeness.And people with differing viewpoints can disagree without getting personal.
I might also add that this blogs comment section seems to be very diverse compared to others . There seems to be a lot of female commenters here. On the blogs where people curse at each other , women are almost completly absent ,for obviouse reasons.This has happened at some very good and very well known blogs ,so it is sad.
Part of the reason for civility on this blog is MR Coates willingness to ban rude people.But I think the main reason is that MR Coates sets the tone in his posts.He makes clear that some subjects are complicated and that not everything is good vs evil .On the blogs where everything is viewed as a fight between "red state" and "blue state" and good and evil ,it is almost a given that there will be intolarence and rudeness.
The debates on some blogs, where everybody spends their time bashing either "red states" or "blue states" are especiially tiresome.
I am somewhat conservative in my politics.But i live in Baltimore City which last had a Republican on the city council in 1965.But I do not consider myself surrounded by "enimies". Just because i disagree with someones political beliefs does not mean that i should hate them or be rude to them.
I would just like to finish by saying thank you to MR Coates for keeping this comments section civil . And for making this a great place to have a spirited,but polite, conversation.I would also like to thank the commenters here who help him do this by being polite and making intelligent points .