New year, new comment policy – same Live and Let’s Fly.
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With the new year, it’s time that Live and Let’s Fly amended its commenting policy. Matthew mentioned this yesterday but we agree that we both need to add our own dialogue to the rules we will enforce going forward.
Rough Speech
We believe ardently in free speech – perhaps, to a fault. However, there are more than 170,000 words in the English language. There are a few that we have to remove whenever we see them. We know our passionate readership is smart and creative so please find more ways to express yourself than obvious words unfit for publication.
There are so many times when a beautiful point is made in the comments that I, myself, benefit from along with our readership, but we have to severely edit the content because of the choice of words and not the pattern of the commenter’s thoughts. That’s frustrating for us, and most likely the commenter.
Find another way to express yourself that keeps the sentiment (even during vehement disagreement) without the words we cannot and will not tolerate.
Controversial Posts
We live in challenging times, travel has been especially difficult during this period and appears to have exasperated even the most patient and certainly the less patient.
We often write challenging posts and many times we represent views that are counter to what’s published elsewhere whether we personally support those positions or not. Sometimes they touch political areas and sometimes they do not – but regardless of what we write, conversations turn political in the current environment.
We have left the guardrails off these winding roads but quickly comments turn from politically agnostic to charged with vitriol. We are unapologetically democratic in nature and encourage challenging discussion in the comments, but these should avoid personal attacks and language you could not see printed in the New York Times.
Our commenters should (and do) hold diverse opinions and are encouraged to state them and create dialogue, but we can do that in a civilized manner. Going forward, personal attacks are not going to be permitted. I know what you’re thinking. – “Do we really have to move away from ‘you’ statements?” After more than a decade of answering “no” to that question, we now have to answer “yes.”
Our Blog and Your Blog
Matthew and I work tirelessly (he more than I) to bring content we hope is relevant, challenging, and presents ideas that are not elsewhere published. We have been a home for free thought and exchange of comments but ultimately this is our blog – this is our content, and this is our house.
If you disagree with us, we welcome that, but just like other rules for commenters, we aren’t going to allow disrespectful comments that are aimed at us with no value to the argument. If you don’t like our content, you’re not forced to read it and certainly not forced to comment. We value our readership that has grown over the years into such a wonderful community, but we won’t be personally attacked for the content that we produce.
We are driven by a desire to create content that we know our readers will enjoy or find relevant to their travel experience. You have the power, as our readership, to affect what is researched, developed, and ultimately created on this site. Our readership has challenged us to continually improve and alter the content we produce – that makes this your blog too.
Comment Policy Amendments
The following policies will go into effect along with those that Matthew introduced yesterday. Violation of these terms is unequivocally up to the author of the post.
- If a commenter writes something that has no value to the argument, attacks other commenters, and/or uses language that is not fit for print – we may delete the comment, and/or ban the commenter.
- Violation of these terms may result in a warning (in addition to this post which is, itself, warning).
- Consistent violation of the terms may result in a full ban from the site.
- We initially stated that we would not allow consecutive posts in an effort to allow the discussion to extend to others but have since rescinded that direction.
Lastly, few are blameless with regard to this issue. Even Matthew and I have gotten carried away in the past. We are open to concerns via our contact form.
We do not want to police the comment section and feel this has been a growing portion of our responsibilities as travel bloggers. We don’t enjoy it, and we believe in the talented, smart, and informed readership that has been so good to us over the years can elevate their discourse to a reasonable level. We have been far more liberal than others in the travel blog space with regards to what we allow and don’t allow but that has led to a lack of decorum that we need to move away from.
We appreciate your patronage, and continued readership as well as a strong engagement in the comment section.
Conclusion
Matthew and I have amended our comment policies going live with immediate effect. We love our readership, whether long-time patrons or first-time visitors, and believe all will benefit from these changes. Out with the old, in with the new. Please continue to state your opinion, tell us we are right or wrong or offer an alternative perspective – we greatly value the exchange of ideas – with civility. And, of course, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for choosing to read Live and Let’s Fly.
Good Policy, esp. if evenhandly applied.
Thanks Kyle – Longtime reader and first time commenter. Full support of the above, as the comments section has gotten a bit unruly in the past.
@Collin
What a stupid opinion you worthless loser. Just kidding!
“That’s a Yellow Card on “Not For Real”
Sounds good to me. I like following the discussion in the comments, but tend to navigate away from the site when they turn really dishonest, personal and mean.
I have been doing the same but with almost 6,000 followers I wish Matthew and Kyle luck.
Good idea. Thanks!
I just find it unfortunate that you’d even have to consider such a move in the first place. But, given the nature of human reactions to others through a computer screen, I expect that the blog will be better for it.
Good! Thanks!