Comment Policy

Unfortunately, thanks to a few hotheaded visitors who refused to communicate their thoughts in a respectful, non-profane manner, I’ve decided that I now have to engage a comment policy.

For visitors who don’t have a problem leaving comments (whether you agree or disagree with me) with respect and courtesy, the following doesn’t apply to you – and I’d rather lose a few disrespectful troublemakers than the rest of you, so please don’t take this too much to heart.

I’ve always been VERY lenient about comments. Until I was called one of the worst insults you can call a woman, and now well… I’m so angry that I had to do this.

1. I love comments on this blog.

I really do! I love when people voice their opinions, share recipes or thoughts on certain foods, ask me for more information on certain things… comments are just as important as anything I write myself and I would love to have a hundred times more than I get now!

2. Spammers and people just looking to get a link to their blog get deleted.

Eventually, if they keep it up, I set up my system to move their comments directly to the trashcan. I feel that if a comment doesn’t add to a discussion, or is simply something even like “Great site!” with a link – it’s as bad as spam, and will hit the trash. Comments sections are for discussions – that’s why there’s a “subscribe to comments” option so that if anyone responds to you, you’ll get notified. You can opt out of that of course, but I encourage you to take part and return to voice your opinions or thoughts. Just don’t post a link to a BBW dating site or to some acai-goji-pomegranate magic pill (or whatever the flavor of the times happens to be) or you’ll hit the trash too.

3. A note on links…

Relevant suggestions are completely welcomed. If you know of another post or site that has information to be considered relevant and helpful to the topic of a particular post – feel free to leave that link in the comments section with an explanation of why you think it’s a good connection to make. Blatant promotion of your own or another’s site is NOT okay.

4. Inappropriate language and insults or attacks WILL be trashed.

I’ve run into seriously less than 3 instances where I’ve had to enforce this kind of thing, but basically if your comment includes language you wouldn’t read in the New York Times¹, you need to rethink it or it’ll get deleted without exception, without announcement, and without drama. If you then come back to me and ask me why your comment was deleted, I’m going to respond with a link to this page.

I’m an opinionated chick. But after 30+ years of life on this planet, I’ve learned that profanity only serves as a distraction against making a valid point. A whole paragraph of sensible commentary loses 100% of its effect when even one f-bomb gets dropped inside it. Add insults and vile attacks to that, and you’ve not only lost me, but you’ve lost my respect, and likely you’ve served to piss me off.

I’m not a Bible-thumper, I’m not stuck in Smalltown, USA. I’m definitely no stranger to profanity, and I’ve been known to use it in the heat of an argument myself – but over the years I’ve just learned that it’s truly ineffective as a medium for making a valid point. It’s an expression of frustration, anger, or hurt – and since I’m not here to frustrate, anger, or hurt anyone then there’s simply no need for it.

5. Comments made to frustrate, anger, or hurt anyone will be trashed.

This means at me, another commenter, anyone really. It’s one thing to state an opinion about someone’s comment or behavior or what have you – it’s entirely another to purposefully use sharp-edged words to try to make them bleed. Not happening here, sorry. I’ll hit the delete button as soon as I’m notified of such a comment, no questions asked.

The bottom line is this:

I don’t want to come off like a goody-goody or a dictator here, but I work hard on this blog and I’m not about to let anyone take me, or my readers, on an uncomfortable ride. If you take these “rules” into consideration when you’re crafting your comments, we’ll all be better for it.

If you have any questions about whether or not your comment is appropriate or will be accepted, please feel free to contact me first. It’s by no means required, I’m just offering another venue of contact for you.

1. This blog and it’s owner are in no way affiliated with the New York Times. It’s simply a reference point made by another blogger who IS affiliated, and I thought it highly appropriate as an analysis.