Reluctantly, yesterday, I deleted a comment for only the second time in the 18 months or so that I’ve been blogging. I also took the decision to ban the commenter concerned as he is a serial blogroach.
I don’t generally do rules. However, if I have one, it is this: when you are here, do not insult your host. If you visit someone’s home and insult them, do not be surprised if they ask you to leave. That is what has happened here.
Before anyone complains about free speech, be aware that free speech does not apply on private property – we abide by the rules of our host. If you come here and disagree with what I have to say, then you are welcome. I relish informed debate and you may change my mind in the process. If, however, you wish to use this as a platform to insult me, then don’t be too surprised if I remove that platform pretty sharply.
I came across rather a good analogy over on the comments section of a similar discussion on Samizdata:
The way I put it on our blog, is that the comments section is like our front porch. It faces the street. You may drop in and join the conversation. But you are on our property and if you cannot respect the basic rules of civility you will be asked to leave or if necessary compelled to leave. There is speech which invites a conversation or at least a response in kind, and there is “speech” which is nothing more than vandalism. We harm rather than help the cause of free speech if we pretend the latter should be given the same respect as the former.
I’m sorry to have to write this policy – but, I guess, there is always one person who spoils things for everyone.
In order to minimise comment SPAM all posts with more than 5 days of inactivity are automatically moderated. Don’t worry about this; genuine comments will be approved when I log on. After 20 days, comments are closed as comment and trackback spammers like to hit old entries in the naive hope that they can get in under the radar. You have to smile at the stupidity of such bottom feeders… 