Once upon a time I started blogging about Warcraft. It was not so very long ago really, just under two years.
In the beginning I only saw a very few visitors each day, sometimes none at all. Most of those who did wander past were friends or guild mates who essentially treated stopping in, reading, and the commentary that went with it the same as they would if I had invited them over to the house.
Actually, more like sitting around the fire pit in my back yard having a few drinks and swapping stories at the end of a long day.
Over time that has changed.
The vast majority of those who stop by still treat the place like they are over visiting a friend, however not everyone does anymore.
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With that in mind I have decided to lay down some ground rules for commenting. Not because I don’t want your comments, I do, but there will come times when certain things are simply inappropriate. When that happens, the comment will simply never see the light of day.
Censorship? To a small degree yes.
Then again, it is my house. Or at least the online version of the fire pit out behind it.
Like I tell my twenty year old daughter who still lives at home. “My house, my rules.”
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- Don’t try to sell anything in the comments. If I don’t make a dime off this site no one else should either.
- Try to keep the comments to the topic at hand. If it’s not on topic but you still feel it needs to be said drop it in an email. Who knows, it might become a post of it’s own.
- Refrain from personal attacks directed against myself or the other commentors. Disagreeing is fine, so is discussion, but keep it civil.
- Don’t advocate things which would be against the law or the terms of service.
- Don’t threaten anyone. They won’t get posted, and depending on the nature of the threat will be reported to the appropriate authorities.
- If your comment is really good (and there have been quite a few over the years) It may just become its own post. (with an intro giving credit where it’s due of course)
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Do I feel like a bit of a jerk coming out and posting rules like this? You betcha.
This should all be as simple as just saying “Don’t be a dick”. Actually that would pretty much cover it, but such is life.
Why do it then? Because it needed to be written. In the future it will simply be a link in my sidebar that I can refer to if needed.
Filed under: World of Warcraft |
Dechion's Place 
To quote Monty Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail:
“Come and see the violence inherent in the system. Help! Help! I’m being repressed!”
Understandable to have these rules. Me, I just don’t let anyone know that I rule my blog with an iron fist. 🙂
I’m hijacking my own comment to agree with Elegantdeath below! You shouldn’t feel like a jerk at all.
With increased awareness and traffic to your blog, it also means that asshats will come along and share their asshattery with you in an asshattish fashion.
Good rules… shouldn’t feel like a jerk (hey, is that name calling?)
In all seriousness, I think you have a very good blog. The rules you have added/indicated are very appropriate (and IMHO… albeit they are probably necessary, fortunately most of the replies have been very educating and/or entertaining).
Keep up the good work. I visit your site as well as BBB regularly.
I’ve always said my blog isn’t a democracy. It’s My place to keep my thoughts, and while noone has to agree with them, I have the right to not need to defend them. Good for you!
Occasionally, someone trying to sell something comments on my blog, and it gets through my spam checkers. At that point, I either delete the comment (if there’s truly nothing of value in the comment itself) or, if I’m feeling generous, I simply de-link all the links. 😉
But I make those calls without a written policy; I don’t think I get enough comments to need to warn people ahead of time. Perhaps someday I will. I do like your line, “If I don’t make a dime off this site no one else should either.” I endorse that 100%!
Until last week I would have agreed with you. Some of the comments in the posts about terribad pugs have crossed the line though.
I have a very clear policy in my “About” page that my blog is mine. I am the absolute ruler, and can and will change things with an iron fist.
So far, though, we’ve been able to maintain a great tone. Maybe it’s because I’m not a WoW-only blog? Whatever the case, I will unilaterally edit or excise things I find irresponsible.
It *is* my place, after all. I don’t think that’s any more “jerky” than keeping order in my home or office.
Geez, Dech, you’re such a jerk. I should drive out there and uh…. tip your dog. That would actually be rather entertaining dontcha think? Dog Tipping? Somehow I just got a vision in my head of a statue like dog, just kinda, slowly falling over…. along with other kids of randomness…. potato!
ATTN Draenor server, I haz stuff in the AH for redonkulusly high prices… stop by today and BUY BUY BUY!
Who let that Jess Lady on here? She’s a crazy one I hear!
Darn… I can’t come up with some way to brake the law in your comments section….
I just thought I’d totally undermine you whilst giving an example of what not to do, cause I’m awesome and thoughtful that way.
❤ ya Dechion, hope your comments section takes a chill pill if it's gotten so bad you need a disclaimer. Guess you're pretty famous now then huh?
Not sure about famous, but I do know that I have a habit of irritating certain people. 🙂
P.S. My first ever post where I used IMHO… guess I’m not getting old.