Re: The League, Commenting Policy, and Code of Conduct
Subject: Re: The League, Commenting Policy, and Code of Conduct
From: Erik Kain <erik.kain@gmail.com>
Date: 11/22/10, 23:05
To: "<lisakramer1979@aol.com>" <lisakramer1979@aol.com>, Austin Bramwell <awhaleyb@gmail.com>, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com>, "daridgely@sbcglobal.net" <daridgely@sbcglobal.net>, David Schaengold <david.schaengold@gmail.com>, "davidaruggiero1973@gmail.com" <Davidaruggiero1973@gmail.com>, Jason Kuznicki <JKuznicki@cato.org>, "jhanley@adrian.edu" <jhanley@adrian.edu>, Logan Wall <jlwall88@gmail.com>, Mark Thompson <mwthompson88@yahoo.com>, Matt Schmitz <matthewschmitz@gmail.com>, Ned Resnikoff <nedresnikoff@gmail.com>, "rowjonathan@aol.com" <rowjonathan@aol.com>, "Rufus F." <rufus138@gmail.com>, Scott Payne <scott.h.payne@gmail.com>, Will Collins <williamf.collins@gmail.com>, William Brafford <williamrandolphbrafford@gmail.com>

Everyone - I apologize if that last email came across too strong. Some days things come at you from all sides. We just very much want the site to maintain its original intent and character even as we grow and change, and congeniality even in disagreement is part of that. Thanks for your understanding, and don't hesitate to shoot me an email if you have any concerns, questions, or what-have-you.

Thanks

Erik

On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 2:42 PM, Erik Kain <erik.kain@gmail.com> wrote:
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are saddened to see some of the comments in recent posts. The League is not above a good debate, but lately there have been comments made by writers here that go well across the acceptable line. We have a commenting policy that we have long prided ourselves in and enforced. Writers should hold themselves to a higher standard. 

We have been able to avoid banning almost entirely through a community-enforced code of conduct, but that community enforcement will be impossible if we can't hold ourselves to the same and/or higher standards. By all means, argue with force, but do it within the bounds of the commenting policy (which you can find at the site). Same applies to posts. The entire point of this site is to rise above, to foster mature conversations about sometimes-contentious issues.

Ignore trolls or have a conversation via email about banning them. And above all, treat one another and the commentariat with respect. We have a lot of long-time commenters who are justifiably upset with the direction the site has taken. It needs to stop. The reason the site exists at all is to have a conversation, not to mock or ridicule our commenters. We are trying to start conversations, not lay waste to our opponents. Plenty of other blogs do that.

Them's the ropes. If you don't like it, you can turn in your badge.

We are going to write a post apologizing to our commentariat and readership for this and assuring them that if things don't change quickly, we will make the necessary changes.

Erik, Mark & Scott