I’m tired of reading comments where posters are calling each other names like idiot, sweetheart, moron, bitch, or any of that ilk.
From now on, I’m just going to start deleting comments with name-calling insults. It’s ridiculous that grown men can’t get through a discussion without puerile mudslinging. If you want to play the neener-neener game and call each other names, take it off the blog.
Haley's Halo 
Will you now?
Aren’t you at all curious as to what’s going on in your own mind?
What I mean is this — these … what was the phrase, again? … “grown men” … have been directing that sort of thing at me for days, and you only just now, after I have mildly (but effectively, and humorously) turned a couple of the intended insults back upon their owners, appear to disapprove of their behavior. AND then, to make matters worse (from my point of view), you “even-handedly” seek to lump my mild (and humorous!), and much delayed, responses in with their provocations.
Really: would you *ever* have written this post had I not finally turned some of those provocations back upon their owners? To be more blunt, had I not, with a few simple-and-non-obscene words, turned what was intended to be a group-effort mockery of me into unanswerable ridicule of the original poster, would you have said *anything* at all?
It’s a well-known fact of the schoolyard that it’s the reprisal punch that gets punished.
And you weren’t as funny as you thought. Comedians aren’t paid according to how much they make themselves laugh.
You underrate his comedic value, sir!
Ilion, when you post nine replies in a row and start sounding emotionally hysterical, which you did the other day, I have little compunction about nipping that kind of behavior in the bud when it starts to cross over into schoolyard insults.
Cool down and write like a grown-up, and others will treat you like a grown-up.
http://artofmanliness.com/2008/09/21/how-to-debate-politics-civilly/
Here’s a guide for civil discourse, it’s geared toward politics, but it can be used more broadly. Some commentators could definitely use it to brush up on their debating skills.
Excellent link. Thanks for posting, Lando.
Interesting link. I prefer to abstain discussing politics with anyone who clearly disagrees. In our political climate, there’s almost no upside to doing so, I have found. Politics is now mostly tribal — discussions generally convince only very seldom.
I prefer to abstain discussing politics with anyone who clearly disagrees.
So do I, after almost ten years online. Still, remember this:
discussions generally convince only very seldom.,
Discussions don’t convince your opponent. They convince the silent observer – very important.
“You underrate his comedic value, sir!”
So, what you’re saying is that Mr Caldo’s humor chip needs to be recalibrated?
“Ilion, when you post nine replies in a row and start sounding emotionally hysterical, which you did the other day …”
You’re dishonest, aren’t you?
Good point.
I’m being fundamentally misunderstood.
I’m not, and your further comments are going in moderation for the time being.
The thing about dishonesty
Not to worry … I quickly lose interest in dishonest persons (and their blogs). And you are dishonest.
With a hammer!
Caldo: You always have been.
Aha, so to the “No neener” policy we can add the Ilion-Ozzy corollary: “No more tears.”