New policy: Golden Rule v 2.0

My involvement with the new project I had mentioned previously requires a step-up in the efficiency with which I handle this blog.  As a result, I need to post a frank message about how I'll be handling some comments, and some commenters, from now on.

I will be following Golden Rule v 2.0:

Do unto others as they deserve. 

Almost all of you are welcome here.  Reason: almost all of you, regardless of your ideological leanings, have exhibited an honest desire to engage in objective, respectful debate.  Almost all of you possess enough self-confidence and backbone to use your real name in private messages.  That's the community I enjoy the most in this blogging activity; that's the best forum I've ever found for advancing knowledge; and that's the community that keeps me intent on continuing this blog indefinitely.  Thanks to all of you for making this an enjoyable two-way street.   

However, there's a tiny minority that isn't like the vast majority described above: a few who apparently made a commitment to their chosen ideology at an early age, then learned how to keyboard and name-call... but, sadly, never learned manners, decorum, or respect; a few who prefer to be able to throw their objections, barbs, and smart-ass remarks around, while carefully guarding their own personal anonymity.   

So, especially for that tiny minority, here's the new policy: If you run and hide when I ask you privately for your real name, I will consider you a low-integrity coward.  Expect to be ignored, and expect your comments to be deleted and banned.  One of the best things about the freedom to blog is the freedom to choose who I hang out with.  Low-integrity folks are not on my list. 

Golden Rule 2.0 will be applied from here on out.  Most of you have been abiding by it for years; I thank you for that.  I will trim this community as necessary from now on, with a goal of achieving 100%.  Not much trimming will be necessary, but it's not zero, either. 

Comments

[Steve Dalton]

Got it. I was using my typical screen name "daltonsbriefs" but I can play along with the rules.

[Steve]

Steve:

I don't object to aliases in comments, but I'll need a real email address in case I want to follow up with anyone privately.

I've been trying to do just that with a few people, but they have fallen silent -- afraid to reveal their names privately. I've had enough of that.

[Dave]

"and that's the community that keeps me intent on continuing this blog indefinitely"

best news of the day!

thanks Steve!

[Chris]

Steve --

Oops, sorry. Typically, when blogging, I use a fake email address to avoid being spammed. I recognize that your blog doesn't publish email addresses, but some do, and I've just gotten into the habit. I'll stop.

[Bob]

Starve the trolls. Sounds good to me.

Any chance we get some additional insight on your project?

[gunthestops]

I have to hand it to steve, he may not know what he's talking about when it comes to the national debt, but he does have some way cool charts and graphs!!!!!

[Ethan Allen]

Excellent policy. It's your blog; you should determine what's acceptable and what's not.

I have two reasons for using pseudonyms when I post: spam avoidance and career protection. In academia (my field), any heterodoxy can result in lost opportunities and even job loss. Conservatism and traditionalism don't go down well with the leftists in the Ivory Tower.

If you choose to block me because I don't use a real e-mail address, I'll respect that wish, but still enjoy reading your blog.

[Neocon Spin Master]

Steve,

We need an optimistic post and a few charts to show the on going crash in the markets is actually an unstoppable economic boom

[Gil]

But you'd be nice enough not to publish/share real names and email addresses, right? ;)

BTW: Your site is one of the few that are actually optimistic of the future of society. Take two opposite economics blog sites - Mises Economic Blog and Economist's View - all their issues are pessimistic even though their arguing from different angles. :(

[Gil]

But you'd be nice enough not to publish/share real names and email addresses, right? ;)

BTW: Your site is one of the few that are actually optimistic of the future of society. Take two opposite economics blog sites - Mises Economic Blog and Economist's View - all their issues are pessimistic even though their arguing from different angles. :(

[Gil]

P.S. Why would you want to privately email people anyway? Unless their ideas were really good or really bad. :\

[Steve]

Gil:
I won't reveal identities publicly. If posting email addresses here is undesirable for anyone, the alternative is to send it to me privately if I ask for it.

Private messages remove the grandstanding factor; they are more conducive to objective dialog in my experience. And I usually start such conversations by saying either one of us is free to (subsequently) post any portion of the conversation we wish.

In other words, there will be no secrets, but there will be civil conversation without anonymity, and without showmanship by spineless weasels. Those last two factors ruin other blogs; they won't ruin mine.

[JorgXMcKie]

I've been posting as JorgXMcKie for longer than the web has existed. I've never tried to hide my real name, and it's not that hard to find. I just like my handle. I am an academic, but if expressing my most idiotic opinions gets me in trouble in my career I'm working in the wrong place. The email I use on Typekey is legit, and I answer email I receive there.

[Don Parker]

All Praise to the God of:

Well whoever/whichever(?) God is in charge of fair play.

I have been on the internet since before it was the Internet. My biggest gripe all those years is the hit and hide commentators and those that allow it.

Even so, I do understand that the internet is/was supposed to be about the free exchange of ideas. However, truculent rudeness and personal attacks are just unacceptable ideas.

Thanks for your courage.

And, your work. You've done better than me financially. So, I figure the occasional thought or two about what you have to say can't do me any harm.

[Andy]

I'm legit, even if my email address is derived from your blog. It's my domain, so I have a specific email addy tailored to each and every site, that way if I get spammed, I know where it came from.

In any case, I will answer any email sent to me there.

Thanks for an excellent & optimistic site.