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The house rules

The long, winding thread that opened and closed with Chuck Forrester's fierce rebuttal to Truth and Reconciliation took some interesting turns along the way.

Clearly the most vexing and challenging topic was the issue of anonymous commenters. But it wasn't the only one.

So, now, it seems, might be a good time to establish some house rules. (This is my place. I'm entitled.)

1. Y'all come. All are welcome to weigh in, whatever your point of view. Just keep it civil.

2. Listen.Don't just come to have your say but pay attention to others' views. Feel free to discuss as long as you have the interest and the energy.

3. Don't get personal. Spirited debate is welcome here. Personal attacks and petty sniping are not.

4. Stay on point. Stick to the general topic of conversation. Yes, comment threads can begin at point A and wind up at point Z, but there ought to be some logic and continuity to the flow.

5. Tell us who you are. From here on, you must enter a name and e-mail address to post a comment on News & Record blogs. That obviously won't prevent you from shielding your identity but it may help foster credibility among the voices represented here. Being a traditionalist in this area, I prefer real names but I will accept handles and pen names, especially from repeat customers. Smart alecks who parachute in under fantastical names be warned. We won't play with you. Go to some middle schooler's blog where you'll be more at home.

6. Leave references. Hook us up to other interesting places to go, whether they are Web sites or other blogs.

7. No cussin. No spittin'. And no hackin'.

8. Get your facts right. No urban legends or hearsay, please.

9. Keep fake notes with fake handles to yourself. It's one thing to post an anonynmous comment under a pen name. It's quite another to post a fake anonymous comment under a fake or pilfered pen name.

10. No name-calling and mud-slinging. This is a civil place. It's OK to get riled. It's OK to get spirited. It is not OK to get mean or nasty. We are by definition a community here and in other blogs. You can shout if you want. We won't listen.

Comments (20)

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steve said:

Let's just call it mandatory fun.

Tom Phillips said:

Allen, It's about time for editorial writers to identify themselves. You all can't possibly agree on everything printed and I would like to know who's behind some of the editorials printed. If we have to identify ourselves your people should too.

Allen Johnson said:

Tom, the editorial board is behind the house editorials. Our names and phone numbers are listed on the bottom of the editorial page daily.
If you would like to inquire as to the specific author of an editorial, please call me (373-7010) and I would be happy to tell you and that person would be glad to talk to you. I'll address the reason we don't sign editorials and how the process works in a post that will appear later tonight.

Jeff Thigpen said:

I'd say they are fair rules. Looks like the Truth and Reconciliation process is moving forward even without the Commission. Even the elected officials are weighing in on this process.

haha.

Does that mean I need to stay away from The Chalkboard?

Teddy

Mr. Magoo said:

I agree with Tom. If you'd like to inquire as to the author of this post, please call 545-0000.

Allen Johnson said:

I phoned Mr. Magoo's number and got a recorded message to call during business hours. I will.

Mr. Sun said:

Allen:

Heresy - wrath of God.
Hearsay - wrath of Judge.
Heresay - wrath of Grammarians!

Repent.

The Great 1 said:

To the real Teddy B:

Imitation is the finest form of flattery. Apparently writing skillsets are missing over on the Pigg's Blog and that is why you are desperately missed in these parts.

Please be advised that going forward words greater than 2 syllables in length are prohibited.

Barbara Ann said:

Now Allen, this makes sense. Why can't you repeat these same rules on the Chalkboard and simplify all the legal mumble jumble. I think folks will "get it". I miss many of the blogs over there.

The Great 1, agreed, Teddy is missed.

Mr. Sun, you still have not proven why you are so mysterious.

Allen Johnson said:

To Mr. Sun:
Guilty as charged. Hearsay versus heresay. I'll make the correction. And I'll consider adding a House Rule on spelling.

Mr. Sun said:

Barbara Ann -- I've seen posts of yours that, if I am getting it, seem to suggest I am a teacher afraid to reveal my identity or something bad would happen like Terry Grier not gettin' out of here. I'm just having some fun, but I don't want to play any part in bringing any more negativity on teachers. I am not now, nor have I ever been even remotely connected to the Guilford County Schools or even the broad field education -- except as a parent, of course. Maybe I misunderstood your cryptic remarks, but I don't want any heat on teachers on account of me. Move on to the next conspiracy -- if you TiVo the school board meetings and play them at the same time as "Dark Side of the Moon," you will find that they synchronize perfectly. Coincidence? I think not.

Barbara Ann said:

Allen,

We sure need that spell check. We told Bruce that too.

Mr. Sun, You are indeed mysterious. Not trying to be crptic; just "messin with you" as my daughter would say. Can't TiVo - don't watch much TV; always on the go and busy working on a book. But I sure wished I had taped the budget meeting; can't sit still long enough to watch the whole thing.

Have enjoyed reading your posts in the past too.

The one and only Barbara Ann

The Great 1 said:

Barbara Ann don't sweat the rays from Mr. Sun, just apply a higher sunblock. Based on his babbling there must have been a solar eclipse yesterday.

Barbara Ann said:

Thanks, Oh "The Great 1" whoever you are. Did you used to be Karnac on the Johnny Carson show?

I do use Factor 15, and a visor on the beach I love. But Mr. Sun understands I know he's not a teacher, nor means anything negative towards teachers. What would our kids do without them.

I do not know, however, what "Dark Side of the Moon" is if you or Mr. Sun could help me with that?

Here is a song we always play on the CD player and sing when I sub music. We have motions too.

It goes "Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun won't you come out to play." (repeat verse)

Now, thanks to you Oh Great One, it will take on a new meaning while I get my morning exercise.

The one and only Barbara Ann (unfortunately, I am not mysterious)

By the way, folks, the House Rules work best when we as a community help enforce them. Don't be draw in by a jokester or a troll. Freeze him out. Let her wither away from inattention or loneliness.

The Great 1 said:

Allen, I agree with you about avoiding the trolls and jokesters. It helps that the N&R has a "troll list" on the right side of the screen under the heading "Links of Interest"

Thank you for serving the people.

Barbara Ann said:

Oh Great 1... have to give Allen a break. I think he is just trying to be poetic...."wither away"......now that IS poetic.

It does help when they have their list of everyone: school board, teachers, veteran bloggers, etc.

You can find many trolls everywhere out there. They definitely aren't under their bridges anymore.

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