The Firearm Blog Comment Policy

Recently a number of people have been trolling the comments, intentionally inflaming arguments and, making very vulgar remarks about other commenters and, worst of all, impersonating other commenters.

A reminder of the comment policy …

Comment Policy: I reserve the right to remove comments at my discretion. Think of comment threads like a dinner party at someone’s house. If you make the party unpleasant for others or me, you won’t be invited back.

I am happy to tolerate a wide range of viewpoints, even extreme ones, but I’m not going to tolerate nastiness, rudeness, trolling, vitriol, or excessive snarkiness toward the author(s) or other commenters. You may make your case passionately, but civility is expected.

Please stay on topic and respect the technical nature of this blog.

TFB has a unique culture, I don’t want to lose that to trolls. Please downvote comments which do not belong on TFB. If enough downvotes are accumulated on a comment, it is hidden from view.

We will be keeping a close eye on comments over the next couple of weeks.

Frank Martin

I believe its your blog and your right to do just that. Its too bad that many have a habit of trying to use the digital scene to “bait” people into arguments on the Internet..

I am glad you are clarifying the policy!
- Phil White
  
  I’m also moderating after yesterday so between the two of us they may make an off color comment but it won’t be there long!
Nadnerbus

It was more like one guy posting under several different names to try to get a rise out of people. It sucks because often times that leads to the necessity of heavier handed moderation, or email verification for accounts, etc. I guess the thing to do is just downvote and ignore, since any reply is a victory for a troll. I’ll do better next time and let it go.
- Zermoid
  
  Email verification helps, but there are alot of free Email sites where you can get unlimited Emails as well, I used to be an Admin at a web game and we had alot of problems with people making multiple accounts with “throwaway emails”.
Chris B

You have the right to delete any post – we read and contribute little Delete to all trolls.
GAOsmer

I have seem a few websites go down to idiots; do not apologize; hamer them
nikonmikon

Comment voting/rating promotes feel-good stupidity instead of irrefutable objectivity.
- Flounder
  
  Hey look a view I don’t agree with!
alannon

So far the “walk softly and carry a big stick” approach to comments seems to have worked well.

Internet conversations sometimes get a bit out of control, but the participants should recognize this (eventually) and step back. On the other hand, there’s just not much else one can do about trolls other than apply the stick.
- Phil White
  
  alannon,
  
  It was out of control yesterday but I have to admit that’s rare. We will be fair but consistent off topic comments etc. as stated above will be deleted.
Reverend Clint

please delete away… including the faux me that showed up
- Phil White
  
  Rev Clint,
  
  We did delete that individual. I’m also moderating comments each day for any further foolishness. If it’s on topic and respectful fine even if I don’t agree. We all are entitled to our opinions but yesterday was over the top.
  - Reverend Clint
    
    Sorry if I went off a bit half cocked… sometimes I get a little amped up
Jeff Smith

Steve, have you considered setting up the site where you have to create a user profile to post comments? That would allow you to delete profiles instead of just deleting posts and prevent people from impersonating other posters.
- http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/ Steve (The Firearm Blog)
  
  I have indeed, and am still considering it. The problem is that wordpress (our blogging platform) does not have a great user registration/management system.
  - Zermoid
    
    Sadly, you are right, wordpress seems to be one of the least user friendly forums around, could you change hosting to a better forum and make user profiles?
Brian

Some people lack the civility to have a open forum about what we come to this site for to learn about and discuss what I and a majority of other people who come to this site for. Our passion in the employment and engineering of firearms. I truly enjoy when I come out of the field the articles on this site. Keep up the good work and hopefully the unwanted will go back to youtube where they belong.

2/2 Warlords
No Better Friend No Worse Enemy
A guy

In agree
Charlie

Good call. Seems like there was quite a bit of vitriol lately. People can agree to disagree about it. No reason to get nasty.
Mike Knox

You know, rules are meaningless without enforcement..
- Phil White
  
  Mike,
  
  We are watching Mike:-)
Nicks87

I think the problem lies within commenters trying to police each other.

I’m all for spirited debate but if you cant be civil just give the comment a thumbs down and move on.

I know we live in a “mines better than yours” society but lets leave the policing to the police.
- Phil White
  
  Nicks87,
  
  I agree Nicks and I hope the method you stated will be the way it will work in the future.
B

Sorry to see that some kid found the blog and out of boredom decided to troll. It was bound to happen eventually though.
Whatever is decided about future postings, I’m on board for – probably some sort of registration process I am assuming.
I’d rather become a member of TFB registered community than lose the ability to comment on articles that spark my interest.
- Phil White
  
  B,
  
  I hope it was a kid. I’d hate to think an adult would be the idiotic.
  - B
    
    Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.
    Albert Einstein
mosinman

trollguy:man i just gotta troll this….. TFB: you know i cant let you do that dave……..

The Firearm Blog

The Firearm Blog Comment Policy

Steve Johnson

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