The core concept is still the same:

2.  Please refrain from personal attacks.  Treat this as a discussion among friends.  Debate vigorously and play nicely please.  If necessary, I will moderate comments as needed to keep the discussion civil.   I will star out vulgarities, and strike personal insults directed at other commenters.  You will see < redacted by kbh > where I have done this.

It’s quite simple.  Just don’t attack other commenters personally.  “Bob, I disagree with you …” is great.  “Bob, you’re completely wrong and here’s why …” is fantastic.  “Bob, you’re an idiot and you probably kick small animals …” will get you redacted or banned.

During more than seven years working in the United States Senate, I developed respect for the rules of decorum in speaking on the Senate floor.  Senators must always address the Chair, rather than speaking directly to each other.  Personal attacks are a violation of the Senate rules.  Members from radically different ideological perspectives refer to each other as, “My good friend, the Senator from [State],” even when they despise each other.  Over time, this artifice creates an environment of vigorous, impassioned, yet civil debate that focuses on policy questions.  It infrequently descends into gutter attacks.  I hope to create the same environment here, and will do what is necessary to enforce a polite discussion.  If you’re a jerk, I’ll ban you.  Permanently.

I hope you will join the discussion in the comments section, even if you have never done so before.

Updated comments policy

© 2010 Keith Hennessey - Your guide to American economic policy

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