With the switchover to a more bloggy style format, and the ease by which readers can comment on articles, I figure enough experimentation has gone by, to spend this piece defining a code of conduct that I think we can all agree on and hopefully abide by. It's probably not perfect, but it'll do, for me anyways.

As I am sure you have by now seen, there are several problems. First, the sniper comments exploded. These are those pointless, harm intending, vicious, often personal attacks on the site, by those tortured souls in our midst, who feel the inexorable urge to express what is obviously their own deep demonic torment. Except that they do it with comfortable glee.

Requiring them to register, when they can do so easily, using fake names and fake email addresses, will do nothing to stop the behavior. Threatening banishment will only encourage them to merely open another account using a different fake name.

Additionally, some writers seem to misunderstand the format of the internet with it's short attention-span functionality, and forget the (funny enough unwritten) 750 - 1500 word per article rule. Concise, well crafted, spell and grammar checked articles and blogs have been overshadowed by long boring manifestos and overly wordy theses, which I can promise, no one reads.

So for the betterment of this esteemed pub, I offer the following suggested Users Guide. I will follow it from now on, I hope you do to.

Editorial Policy
Before posting it, do what I do and read it out loud once. Keep it to 750 or 1500 words max. Pick topics you can defend with 3rd party data and facts. Mention the sources of your data in the article or at the end. Do not slander ANYONE. If you do not know the definition of slander, it means to make a false statement that damages someone's reputation. Basically though, remember that slander is actually a crime. If you can however, prove someone's idiocy, by all means feel free to call them an idiot. Add an adjective to it as well, if you wish. The idiots in our midst need to know how much we care about them. Also Please, Please, Please do not copy and post articles from other publications. Reference them, link to them if you must, but stop the rampant republishing.

Language
I tend to swear a bit too much myself, but I usually try to do it as humor, and not to make it personal or to make it hurtful. However, if you can't think of a better word to use, go for it, if you must. You can also apologize to the readers for the profanity if you think you may have gone too far.

Comments
Don't attack the writers or readers personally. Keep your comments related to the topic. Always remember that if you really feel strongly about the piece, or if you think that you have a better way of saying something, or if the piece gives you an idea, keep in mind that your comment might actually be better received as an article. Remember that anyone can become a writer here. It's not an elite club by any means. That's what makes it special. Argue if you must, but only if it is absolutely crucial. Sparring for fun at the expense of someone else, is cruel, cowardly, and takes little effort or intelligence. We'd all rather read your brilliant wit as a full article.

Comment deletion
If a comment is obviously a personal attack, or obscene, or pointless, or off topic, or malicious, it should be removed whenever it is discovered. I will take the wild stance and suggest that the people who should have the authority to remove comments should be the writers, who need to test the comment for the ingredients listed above, and exercise good judgment and be brave enough to take their lumps when fair. The point is not to be right, the point is for the article to be made better by a valid comment. If a reader points out a flaw or detail that you missed, take the criticism. Even if it stings. Pain makes you a better writer. "Life is Pain, anyone who says otherwise is selling something." - The Princess Bride.

Finally, please check your blessed hot blooded Persian egos whenever you come to this site. Remember that this is an up to the minute sampling of our collective cultural psyche. This is not the National Iranian Arm Wrestling Championships.

And always remember, I Love You Man. No, seriously, You.