Saturday 22 September 2007

CairnsBlog comment Posting Policy

Following a nutter who posted a comment here today, I thought I'd take the lead and develop a policy on posting and moderation thereof.

Over the short time that I've been scribing on CairnBlog, I've only had to remove two comments. The latest one was of concern because s/he wanted to set the agenda instead of contribute to it. It was trying to incite hatred, and that I won't allow, under any circumstances.

Orwell may have said that "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others." Well, welcome to open democracy "Anonymous".

I'll leave this with a permanent link on the home page. So, here goes...

CairnsBlog Comment Posting Policy.

1. Who has the right to post comments on this blog?
Apart from me, no-one at all has the right to post comments. Posting is a privilege, not a right.

2. Okay, so who is allowed to post comments here?
Anyone at all, up until the stage I ask them to stop.
I welcome comments, and they add a lot of enjoyment to the blog for myself, and I am sure others. In the interests of open debate, which I actively support and genuinely believe to be vital to our community, I allow 99.9% of comments to go up exactly as posted.

3. Have you ever banned anyone from posting?
I have had to delete 2 posts to date.

4. What is the easiest way to get banned or have a comment deleted ?
To post comments which are obscene, degrading or are simply just a collection of insults with nothing else of merit to justify posting them.
Also, I won't tolerate personal attacks. I welcome people to disagree with my views, to correct my errors, to debate what I assert, but if you attack my integrity, my character etc, I will terminate your privileges.
And before you scream out 'but you attack Byrne all the time personally'... This is not at all the case. He is our Mayor, and his decisions need to be held accountable, debated and questioned. He is responsonible for spending $200 million of our money annually. Plus, he makes a good character to satirise.

5. Isn’t this the opposite of your desire to have an open public debate ?
No, I encourage people to post comments that disagree with me, or who wish to correct any of my errors. Open debate is what we need in Cairns.
However in keeping an open mind, it is important not have a mind so open, that your brains fall out. People who want to simply ignite flame-wars can go start their own blogs anytime they want. That is the beauty of the Internet democracy.

6. How long does a ban last?
It has been my experience that the few comments that I have had to delete have been posted anonymously anyway. It seems to me that a potty mouth, limited vocabulary and cowardice go hand in hand.

7. You deleted my comments / banned me – what can I do ?
Go to Google and type in the words “starting my own blog” and then you can make up what ever rules you like in your own forum.

8. Will you delete everything I comment on?
It is up to me, but my policy at the moment is to monitor comments on a case by case. The theory is people learn from this. The theory is sadly lacking empirical evidence.

9. Cross-posting
With the advent of my CairnsBlog Twitter, Facebook, YouTube profiles, I reserve the right to cross post messages sent to those forums, onto the relevant story on the Blog. When or people choose to communicate with me via these mediums, I reserve the right to record and / or publish any or part of conversations. This goes for emails sent directly, unless specifically requested that it is not for publication.


Alternatively, contribute comments that enhance the debate – do it intelligently, without using obscenities ensure that your comment is on track with the thread of the conversation and you need not be worried about you comment being published other than exactly as you wrote it.


-with thanks to KiwiBlog

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

will fart jokes, including those about Kevin Byrne's big smelly farts, still be tolerated?

Anonymous said...

and, the posts are one of the great fingz about this blog, coz there from locals and are virtually live. Itz all very dynamic and entertaining and posts add color to the main post by moore. Though saw the post u referred to and it was very nasty and moronic, eh? Whereas the farts ones are just morinic and provide a 'balance' to the intelligent, serious posts, keep up good work on entertaining us all.

Anonymous said...

Good one you Mike. You are living proof that every Kiwi that moves to Australia increases the IQ of both countries.

Fiscal Fred.

Anonymous said...

Reads like a fascist manifesto, there Mike. Interested to know the kinds of comments you're now censoring in the interest of manipulating the readers. I won't rush to the "nazi" accusations as quickly as you do - because fascist fits like a glove.

Michael P Moore said...

Well, if you read what I wrote "anon", I won't censor anything. Only crap that is offensive... and there's only been one of those in 10,000 views.

Anonymous said...

Judging by the above posts 4(maybe 3 or even 2) wankers out of 10000 isn't that bad really.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
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