The dreaded "Comments Policy" post

I started this blog as a personal platform for my own views and opinions on social and political events, and it’s both flattering and rewarding that some folks have found my writing of interest. I’ve learned a great deal from the feedback and commentary, and I’m pleased that there are so many rational people who, in spite of disparate views, can engage coherently and respectfully in debate. The comments area has provided feedback, thoughtful discussion, and often, just plain fun.
On the flip side, though — few things about blogging confound me more than the comments.
I’m continually amazed by the language, rhetoric, and sheer bad manners I see displayed by some folks in the blogosphere. For some reason, there are people who cannot resist flaming, attacking, trolling, and general disruptiveness as a matter of course. It’s the nature of the beast, but this blog has been extremely lucky; there have been very few incidents… until the last couple of months.
It was never my purpose to engage in, or promote, poisonous diatribe and hostility. Unfortunately, some recent events have made it clear that I cannot continue to float along in my happy bubble. As much as I detest “rules” in discussions, they can no longer be avoided.
This is, therefore, the dreaded but obligatory “Policies” post.
I have created a comment policy page (link here), and have also added a policy notice to the comment page itself. The guidelines are standard (I plagiarized heavily, with permission, from a number of fellow bloggers), and it’s highly unlikely that the average Polimom commenter will ever run afoul of them.
I’m very sorry to have had to write them, or this post, at all, but it is what it is.
They’ve gone into effect immediately.