Comment Policy

I had never thought about a comment policy until Discus suggested it. I'm starting with mostly the recommended policies but plan to evolve this over time.

The intent of the Discus integration into my blog is to foster and spark conversation.

New York Times Test

Ask yourself how you'd feel if your comment made the front news of the New York Times. Comments have consequences.

Always strive to add value to every interaction and discussion you participate in

There are a lot of discussions that happen every day on Disqus. Before joining in a discussion, browse through some of the most recent and active discussions happening in the community, especially if you’re new there.

If you are not sure your post adds to the conversation, think over what you want to say and try again later.

Keep it civil aka don’t be a jerk

We may to get into the thick of a heated discussion and that’s okay. These discussions often entail topics that we all personally care a lot about and will passionately defend. But in order for discussions to thrive here, we need to remember to criticize ideas, not people.

So, remember to avoid:

  • name-calling
  • ad hominem attacks
  • Responding to a post’s tone instead of its actual content.
  • knee-jerk contradiction
  • Comments that we find to be hateful, inflammatory, or harassing may be removed. If you don’t have something nice to say about another user, don't say it. Treat others the way you’d like to be treated.

Keep it tidy

Help make moderators’ lives easier by taking a moment to ensure that what you’re about to post is in the right place. Don’t post off-topic comments or discussions.

If you see something, say something

Moderators are at the forefront of combatting spam, mediating disputes and enforcing community guidelines and, so are you.

If you see an issue, contact the moderators if possible or flag any comments for review. If you believe someone has violated the Basic Rules, report it to Disqus by flagging the user's profile.

No Self-promotion

A discussion or comment that contains only a link to your blog, a product, or your article on another site will almost always be removed.

Choose Your (Curse) Words Wisely

Comments that contain profanity are automatically held for moderator review before being posted. Depending on the context of the comment, it may be removed. Profanity used to insult, antagonize, or inflame will always be removed.

Natasha Tomasik (a.k.a. Natasha As A Service)