Complete Blog Commenting Guidelines

Anyone who has looked at blogs, (and I assume you have, or you wouldn't be reading this!), has also been attracted to the "comments" often left for blog posts. On smaller blogs, these comments are usually from friends, "Hi Pastor Jim, I liked your comments on this issue." But on larger, and especially more political blogs, the comments can be like a trip through Dante's circles of hell.

Comments can be kind, and cruel. Comments can be perceptive, or naive. Comments can be appropriate, or not. Comments can be cool, or on fire. Comments can be pertinent, or personal. Some comments argue the issue, some just call names. It is fascinating, and disheartening, to watch how we respond to one another in commenting on blog posts.

I was led, strangely, to this post by a couple of teenagers, who have developed eight rules of leaving comments. I think their list is very well done, and is worth a read. I will post their eight points here, but please check out the link to see their explanation of each point. You might learn something, I did. From teenagers! Wow!

1) Understand the ‘classical’ view of tolerance.
2) “No ‘ad hominem’ attacks, you moron!”
3) Eschew Obscenity & Prohibit Profanity
4) He who asserts must prove.
5) Respond to the argument, not to the spelling.
6) Debating When Less Is More.
7) Do your own research.
8) The fallacy of the majority.

It can be pretty fun to leave a comment on a blog, or on a message board. Sometimes what we have to say is drivel, but sometimes it is important. Sometimes our views add to the discussion, and clarity gets closer. All too often, we repeat the tried and tired old mantras that we are used to. This does not help provide clarity, it just adds to the dissonance of discourse, and satisfies our own sense of moral superiority over those with whom we disagree.

What do you think? Feel free to leave a comment here! Oh, and thanks, Alex and Brett, for your thoughtful post.