I’ve made some tweaks to the comment policy – like all aspects of this blog, it’s a work in progress – and I thought I would share them in a brief post. I’ll make changes in the sidebar, too.
First and foremost, I’ve decided to stop replacing comments with [inflammatory] – instead, they will not be published at all. This is primarily because it will make it possible to archive comments that have been flagged, both for my own records and to allow easy re-posting if I choose to un-flag (is that a word?) a comment. It will also prevent embarrassment on the part of the author (really, who wants to have it announced that they broke the rules?)
That said, don’t jump to conclusions if your comment takes some time to appear. I am a full-time student and, while I make an effort to check comments multiple times a day, it doesn’t always happen.
A lack of appropriate citations in the comment will generally still be noted as before.
Also, here’s a slight reworking of the rules:
Cite your statements appropriately – peer-reviewed sources for scientific claims, primary sources for quotes/current events/etc.
Don’t smear someone’s reputation based on pure speculation. This includes, but is not limited to, climate scientists.
Please refrain from personal attacks on myself or other commenters. Mean comments about how much you hate this comment policy are also kind of pointless.
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Thanks for your patience. Input is welcome.
ClimateSight 
Seems that second and third rules are just common sense–you don’t smear reputations, and you don’t launch personal attacks. Well, second rule is common sense anyway. Sometimes I lose my patience with the willfully ignorant and can get a little snide.
Hope you’re enjoying your courses. I envy you that sense of exploring a whole new world of knowledge, but don’t envy the money and career worries that you’ll have (but those will be temporary–that’s because you just won’t care anymore, not because they’ve gone away). :-)
Hi, Ken – thanks for thinking of me! I am already halfway through my first term, which is kind of scary. My courses are pretty interesting, I’m especially enjoying comp sci, which is probably a good sign given my career aspirations! Hope your research is going well. -Kate
This is worse.
I’m sorry you feel that way, but, in my opinion, this policy increases my accountability – I will still have comments on record if I am challenged. -Kate
Kate
It seems to me that folks could be mindfull of the fact that this is your blog. You are the editor, writer, and moderator. If you were to decide that you only wanted to post comments from your sister it would be your choice. You have no obligation to post anything you find objectionable.
For my own part I am happy to read a blog where every conversation does not devolve into a shouting match.
Thanks for all your hard work, and as a fellow college student I hope your course work is going well for you.
Cheers!
Thanks Patrick, I really appreciate the support.
I didn’t know you were still in college (I assume this means “university” as I believe you are American – in Canada “college” means technical or community college). What are you studying? -Kate
-Well, that is true, but only by half. What about the commenter’s input, and what about other readers who would in all likelihood think those comments that are appearing are the only comments that have been submitted…
If controversial information is submitted, they usually come packaged in strong language – this is unavoidable, isnt it?
Kate you are welcome.
When it comes to my education, I have returned to school to study engineering. I am doing so both because the subject matter is of interest in and of its self, and because the economy being what it is this the most profitable use I could make of my time. I have the option (or rather the obligation) at the sixty credit hour mark of choosing an area of specialization, the question will be what type of engineering to do. Given the availabilty of meteorolgy, biology, statistics classes, I have more choices for electives than I know what to do with. At my school I only have 9 credits of free technical electives, for the first two years of my program
In the United States the distinction between, university and college, is about the same. Although I have done some of my work at Rutgers, and NJIT, I am studying at a community college. It is the least expensive way of doing what needs to be done, and the faculty are, for the most part, very good. My calculus professor has been teaching for 42 years. He remains enthusiastic, and is a kind man, although his tests do tend to (metaphorically) eviscerate his students.
Eventually, if I can find a way to pay for it, I will finish at one of the local schools. There are a lot of choices.
So, now its time to get back to work. Next week I have a test in calculus, chemistry, micro economics, and a lab report to hand in.
There is no rest for the wicked!