We celebrate the blogosphere because it embraces frank and open conversation. But frankness does not have to mean lack of civility. We present this Blogger Code of Conduct in hopes that it helps create a culture that encourages both personal expression and constructive conversation.
1. We take responsibility for our own words and for the comments we allow on our blog.
We are committed to the “Civility Enforced” standard: we will not post unacceptable content, and we’ll delete comments that contain it.
We define unacceptable content as anything included or linked to that:
– is being used to abuse, harass, stalk, or threaten others
– is libelous, knowingly false, ad-hominem, or misrepresents another person,
– infringes upon a copyright or trademark
– violates an obligation of confidentiality
– violates the privacy of othersWe define and determine what is “unacceptable content” on a case-by-case basis, and our definitions are not limited to this list. If we delete a comment or link, we will say so and explain why. [We reserve the right to change these standards at any time with no notice.]
2. We won’t say anything online that we wouldn’t say in person.
3. We connect privately before we respond publicly.
When we encounter conflicts and misrepresentation in the blogosphere, we make every effort to talk privately and directly to the person(s) involved–or find an intermediary who can do so–before we publish any posts or comments about the issue.
4. When we believe someone is unfairly attacking another, we take action.
When someone who is publishing comments or blog postings that are offensive, we’ll tell them so (privately, if possible–see above) and ask them to publicly make amends.
If those published comments could be construed as a threat, and the perpetrator doesn’t withdraw them and apologize, we will cooperate with law enforcement to protect the target of the threat.5. We do not allow anonymous comments.
We require commenters to supply a valid email address before they can post, though we allow commenters to identify themselves with an alias, rather than their real name.
6. We ignore the trolls.
We prefer not to respond to nasty comments about us or our blog, as long as they don’t veer into abuse or libel. We believe that feeding the trolls only encourages them-– “Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty, but the pig likes it.” Ignoring public attacks is often the best way to contain them.
In a word…
No.
I do not need a code of conduct; I’ll run this place however I want; like it or lump it, the choice is yours. Again, via Timmy:
“This blog is my property and runs to my rules, changeable as they are.”
Rather more succinct, I think. 
Update: I rather liked this comment from Jeff Jarvis:
“I don’t have to pledge to act civilised. I just do.”
Update number 2: Again from Jeff Jarvis:
“I don’t need anyone lecturing me and telling me not to be disagreeable,” he wrote. “I won’t take it from Continental clerks when flights are cancelled. I won’t take it from you.”
I’d go along with that sentiment. Interestingly, a comment on this article from Colin Berry makes a valid point:
But if each time I stepped inside my local, the same guy jumped out, grabbed me by the lapels, berated me for being personally complicit in some subject dear to his heart, let’s say the Slave Trade, and then began calling me all the names under the sun, I would expect the publican to step in on my behalf. That’s because the haranguer is abusing someone else’s hospitality, ie it’s not his pub.
Indeed. If someone abuses others here or on my forum, they are shown the door pretty sharpish. I don’t need a code of conduct to do this, my own common sense does it. Also, what is acceptable in one place is not in another. Therefore any policy must be the preserve of the site’s owner; it is not something that should be set by outside decree.
I did not read further than the first sentence; I knew enough already. To use ‘celebrate’ and ’embraces together like that defines the writer immediately as someone I will not agree with. No doubt he would ‘welcome’ some things and find others ‘unacceptable’.
Ah, the Humpty Dumpty word ‘unacceptable’ – cousin of ‘inappropriate’.
Lots of action via the e-mail. Did you get much too?
Interestingly, the email has been quiet. I see you sussed the comments. 😉
We can only hope it stays that way. Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask. In the lower right, you write of copyright. I must have violated that running you in the Blogfocus. Was that OK?
The use in Blogfocus would constitute fair use. My copyright notice is for use against those folk who lift my images and pass them off without credit or scrape my content for splogs. I had a run of it late last year, so tightened up my copyright notices. That said, fair use will always apply.