Comments on: Keep Comments on Topic

By: David Jacobs

David Jacobs — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:59:59 +0000

Steve,

In the last few months, I’ve noticed other bloggers finding it necessary to take the time to stop and discuss topics similar to this. One blogger commented that she had considered ending her blog because of “personal attacks”. To keep this short, I say – (1) it’s your blog, you can choose to allow comments; (2) as for freedom of speech, that isn’t necessarily a “market” concept – it is YOUR choice to allow, accept, and publish comments (when you complete your book, will you send it to the world for comments and incorporate all comments before publication?); some folks, especially the anonymous commenters, seem to use other’s blogs as their own way of blogging (as a sort of host-tumor relationship).

By: Steve Pavlina

Steve Pavlina — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 16:12:24 +0000

@Argenberg: I don’t recall ever seeing such a comment. I can’t see why I would have deleted it, especially if it was funny. It’s possible I clicked the wrong button by mistake though — I’ve done that once that I’m aware of (when I was trying to work with my son on my lap).

By: Argenberg

Argenberg — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 15:42:19 +0000

> Humor: I feel that humor adds value, so if you want to try to
> stretch the rules, make it funny.

It’s a shame you have not approved my post regarding an LP set of remixes to one of your articles. It was both funny and kinda’ on topic.

By: Michiel le Comte

Michiel le Comte — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 07:53:49 +0000

Interesting post. The thing which interests me most isn’t the concrete guidelines on posting though, it’s the fact that you make clear what your standards and rules are, and what you do when these are not followed. I wonder whether that is something you do consciously, or that it has become a standard way of approaching situations for you. I noticed that a lot of people who are starting with personal development usually are surprised to “learn” that they can make their own rules and follow them, instead of waiting for someone else.

By: Anonymous Coward

Anonymous Coward — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 06:51:48 +0000

Random thought: for me it’s a positive turning point in the quest towards accomplishing a goal when I start scrapping other goals or fundamentally changing plans to achieve it. I’ve realized that I couldn’t write a good paper supporting argument X, or that feature/design Y in a program was incredibly scary, or that I couldn’t move into my apartment on time without taking time out during work hours. And did something about it.

Reminds me of your posts on “throwing enough _____ at the problem” and making a quantum leap (and zero-based thinking and…), but it suddenly seems awful vivid when I realize it myself.

Not meant to test your comment policy. I submitted in English — doesn’t that get me some points?

By: Yynatago

Yynatago — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 04:20:28 +0000

When the time comes that comment maintainence become excessive, you could probably utilise volunteers from your fan-base to filter the bulk of the comments before it gets to you.