Codes of conduct

Debate is central to our political system. An civil exchange of ideas is necessary for civil growth. However lately "civil" debate has been less than civil.

"It began with a very brief item – exactly six sentences -- I wrote on the Corner, a blog hosted by National Review Online. I questioned a talking point that was being asserted by many on the left: that in the last election the voters sent a clear message: "Get out of Iraq!"
...My inbox was soon filled with emails castigating me in vulgar terms. Few had read what I had actually written. And most hadn't read Greenwald's column carefully. I asked a Mr. Vincent M. Muller, what exactly was the "false statement" to which he was so furiously objecting? He responded: "Almost every public utterance you have ever made requires correction."

In some cases (think Michelle Malkin for one) disagreement has turned to death threats!

"As I type this, I am supposed to be in San Diego, delivering a workshop at the ETech conference. But I'm not. I'm at home, with the doors locked, terrified. For the last four weeks, I've been getting death threat comments on this blog. But that's not what pushed me over the edge. What finally did it was some disturbing threats of violence and sex posted on two other blogs... blogs authored and/or owned by a group that includes prominent bloggers."

While I don't find myself falling into the camp that is calling for a "Blogging Code of Conduct" (you simply can not legislate morality or common sense or civility) I certainly understand the thought process that went into the call. What happened to Ms. Sierra is simply beyond the pale!

In a previous post, I commented on the atmosphere that I strive to maintain on this site. Many of the blogs I frequent also strive to maintain a similar atmosphere. Even at Anti-Strib (a site that a recent commenter said was no place for a lady) maintains a certain "decorum" when it comes to debate. There are many times when Dennis or Ed will vehemently disagree with Tracy or the rest, but at no time do any of the commenters decend into uncivil debate which is one reason why I joined their crew.

I'm sure a day will come when I post something that sends someone on the "other side of the aisle" over the edge. If, on that day, anything is left in the comments that is threatening or is in any other way falls into the category of "cyber-bullying" I will remove the offending comments and (if necessary) contact the appropriate law enforcement organization. However, rather than demand that my particular sense of decorum be imposed on others, I will monitor my "cyber-home" just as diligently as I would my brick and mortar home. After all, that is part of being in the "public eye". Thankfully, the readers that I have now are smart and savvy enough to be of the same mindset.