Since my friendly hints in some recent posts about keeping the comments here on topic and specific to the points raised in my posts were apparently too subtle, this blog is now instituting formal ruelz for comments and commenters. (I always wondered why some blogs have elaborate and detailed rules pages–now I know!) Since all but two of you have always been extremely well-behaved, I feel a little sad at having to do this. It’s like catching a cheater in a class–you’re pretty sure that there was only one offender, but you’re forced to assume that there might be more in the future. But, since traffic here has jumped recently, it’s perhaps best that we all start at the same place.
As most of you know, this blog is only lightly pseudonymous. Anyone who clicks on “About Historiann” and has the Google can find a wealth of information about my non-virtual professional life. Other academic bloggers make different decisions, but I thought it was best that people know who they are dealing with, since my posts are informed by my academic training and fields of expertise. You are all free to be pseudonymous here if you choose, but because this blog is linked to my life in the “straight world,” I prefer to keep everything on the up and up here:
- Historiann is my blog. This seems obvious to me, but apparently it’s not to some people. Please note the tag line in the header above: “History and sexual politics, 1492-present.” When you comment here, you’re a guest. I try to make everyone feel welcome, but I am not obligated to comment extensively on issues that are important to you, and you have no right to demand that I do so here.
- This is a feminist/womanist blog. Non-feminists are free to comment so long as you follow the rules, but please note that when I post about bias against women, people of color, and GLBTQ people, it’s more than a little obnoxious to start out a comment by saying, “well, as a white man, I’ve been discriminated against too.” I’m sure there are blogs out there that are all about the problems of the downtrodden white man, so please share your concerns there. This is not the place for you.
- Please keep your comments relatively brief and on topic. 400-500 word essays are for the op-ed pages or posts on your blog. They’re not appropriate for the comments on my blog. Some exceptions will apply occasionally, but pay attention as to how your comments are recieved by other commenters and by me. If you’re not generating a lot of discussion about your ideas, posting an even longer and more belligerent comment demanding that we respond to you is probably not the way to go. (I’m just sayin’.) UPDATE: See Dance’s comment below. If you find that you’re repeating yourself, maybe it’s time to acknowledge that the discussion has run aground.
- Be respectful of the other commenters and me. Pointed questions, challenges, and spirited debate are welcome, but attacks on people’s integrity, reading comprehension, and intellectual capacity will get you a one-way ticket to my spam filter.
One last thing: I love my commenters–some of you are friends, some of you I know only through blogs and comments, while others of you are enigmas whose identities are complete mysteries to me. I’ve enjoyed and learned a lot from you and from some of the conversations we’ve had in the comments here (and on your blogs too.) I’m sorry if this post seems like a wet blanket–let’s shake this thing out and let it dry at the beach, since it’s Memorial Day Weekend, m’kay?
Historiann 
Not a wet blanket at all — this is why I moderate my blog.
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I have a personal rule about repetition and moving things forward. That is, if I find myself saying the same thing I already said, clearly nothing is moving forward and it’s time to exit the debate. That might be a useful rule to consider.
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Dance–great point. Thanks for the tip!
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You’re not a real blogger until you get a troll in your comments. The best thing to do is not to feed them.
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I know, I know–I tried being dismissive, then I tried ignoring…I think it was my overly tolerant, stereotypically female compulsion to be nice longer than I should have. My mistake!
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I don’t think you need to apologize at all for instituting rules. Life is short and you have every right to run your blog as you like. Hope this is adequately brief and on topic! :>)
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Thanks for the backup, Ann and everyone. One of the things I think obnoxious commenters do is discourage people from contributing! Kind of like the guy at the party (or in the department meeting) who doesn’t know when to STFU.
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Hi Historiann! I’m glad you’re well! I just learned about the tornado today.
I’m glad you’re enforcing some rules on your blog.
You’re last comment is on the money. One of your commentators reminds me of the guy at the party, and it’s always a guy, who wants to talk about some TV show about vampires that I have not seen.
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Yeah–always a guy–why is that? (I have known some female bores of course, but they’re much less presumptuous.) Hope your paper went well at the conference.
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And p.s. to the banned commenter: you’re just ending up in my spam filter, so knock it off. You’re done here.
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Actually, I think I’m the woman at the dept meeting who doesn’t know when to STFU. 🙂
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Great idea Historiann- I hate it when I have a great class except the prof who won’t tell the one loud mouthed arse to be quiet and to stop running his/her mouth all the time (you know the one who dominates every discussion, thinks he/she is the most intelligent, is condescending to others and believes that the rest of us really want to hear him/her pontificate on everything). Those folks take something educational, interesting and stimulating and make it awkward and frustrating. I’m glad you’re taking control of your blog and telling “that guy” to STFU.
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Yeah, you’re right, Nicole. I’m frequently too wimpy about calling students on that kind of behavior, and should probably get tougher on them next fall…
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Actually, in my experience, you deal with folks like that very well. You’re diplomatic yet firm. In all honesty I was impressed with all the profs I had in your department with regard to this issue. I think liberal arts brings out the “know-it-alls”. My sister was very impressed with the way you handled the idiots in her survey class with you as well.
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Well, you’re nice to say that Nicole, but I’m resolving to kick more a$$ and take names next time, out of consideration for the the students who are trying to pay attention and take notes. I’m sure you could probably give me some tips, since I think H.S. teachers have to be much more on top of these things than university faculty. (The “broken windows” theory, and all.)
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Phew, when I first glanced at this, I thought Historiann was administering a slap to my French-cuff’d wrist, but now I see that my jocular ramblings are surely non-threatening.
Note to self – do not compare passers-by yelling “dyyyyyyyyyyykes” at Wellesley students to passers-by yelling “foooooooooore” at Monocle when he is practicing golf along the wayside.
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Are you chipping along the wayside? I think the passers-by would instead scream, “Duuuuuuuck!”
And thank you for following teh ruelz before they were officially ruelz.
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