1. BE COURTEOUS.
If everyone will follow this simple rule, the other two will take care of themselves. You don't have to share my point of view. Debate can be fun. But politeness is a characteristic of civilized behavior. TRUE tolerance is the ability to disagree without going to war, but we should be polite and respectable of one another at all times.
2. DON'T MAKE IT PERSONAL.
Name-calling and impolite labeling are unnecessary. Further, besides being discourteous, name-calling displays one's inability to adequately articulate a point of view.
3. KEEP IT CLEAN.
A wide variety of people read this blog--people of all ages. My MOM reads this blog! Please keep your comments rated G to PG.
4. DON'T BE A TROLL.
Disagreement is both tolerated and welcomed. But don't come here JUST to disagree with everything said. That becomes not only annoying, but boring. A troll is defined on the Wikipedia as "a person who enters an established community such as an online discussion forum and intentionally tries to cause disruption, often in the form of posting messages that are inflammatory, insulting, incorrect, inaccurate, absurd, or off-topic, with the intent of provoking a reaction from others."
Haloscan is set to alert me to any new comments, so I read them all. I value your opinions. Please respect these guidelines. Violators will be tolerated up to a time (with the exception of #3), but then will be banned without warning if unacceptable behavior persists.
Thanks!