General Policy
Commenters are responsible for their own comments. Generally comment moderation is turned off, and we run "wide open."
Comment Moderation as Exception
As host, I am responsible for making each person feel welcome, heard, and sometimes forgiven. I welcome (cherish) dissenting opinions, experimental prose styles, masquerade, carnival, satire, as well as sweetly reasonable discourse. I actively encourage people with points of view other than my own. I feel this is mission critical to an open society. Out of such deeply held, emotionally charged differences come new insights, new friendships, and sometimes new alliances, coalitions, and communities.
When people from different walks of life, who do not know one another, discuss sensitive issues the conversation may become inflamed. People may go from wit to insult and from insult to acrimony. Instead of treating others as we would want to be treated, we bring our "shadow side" to the conversation.
My role is to make this a good place for open-ended conversation that leads through energy and uproar to new insights and to new civic friendships. In rare instances I will moderate comments and withhold those that in my judgment foment rancor and bitterness. I prefer people to use a live email address, even if you use a pseud, so I can contact you behind the scenes to keep everyone smiling. (Like everything else here, the comment policy is open to discussion and revision.)
Personal and Business Rationale
I believe that it is generally best to hate the Sin and love the Sinner, hate Folly and love the Fool, and even to hate Knavery and love the Knave. If we begin to hate sinners, fools and knaves, where would that leave me, as a born again Dungeon Master to the Stars? We would be driving away the very clients on which we depend for our daily bread. We may as well welcome Fools since we are one .
