The Rules

Like other sites I have moderated, I will moderate the comments section with the lightest touch possible, as I want to allow for the most freedom within reason. At the same time, I don't want the comments section to become the cesspool of idiotic rants that virtually every other online forum on earth becomes after awhile.

MY GOAL: To make this blog a place where anyone can post any opinion, as long as it is intellectually honest and strives toward objectivity. I also want this blog to be a forum free of mindless biased rants, personal attacks on other users, and arguments that are based on emotion instead of reality.

The goal of this blog isn't to win arguments -- it's for all of us to learn as much as possible so that each of us is better equipped to reach the best conlcusions possible. We reach that point by way of spirited discussions and debate. In the end, we all win.

This will be a place for people to share their intellectually honest ideas and insights in a place with mutual respect for everyone who follows the rules.

RULES SPECIFIC TO ME:

1. I will moderate the comments objectively and in the spirit of the rules laid out here. The degree to which I agree or disagree with a comment will have no bearing at all on whether I moderate a comment (moderating comments means editing or deleting comments). That said, I surely reserve the right to disagree with, and attempt to refute, any comment at any time ... just as everyone else will have the right to do the same to each other and to me.

2. As I write out each post, I will do my best to view each issue completely objectively, setting aside any emotion-based biases I may have (and yes, we all do have them). When I write something based in emotion, I will try to realize that and acknowledge that. Only by successfully doing this will I be able to reach the best conclusions.

3. I will never know everything about any topic, and will often not know very much about a particular topic. There will always be information and perspectives relevant to anything I post about that I haven't been exposed to, and it's my job to embrace it when commenters present it to me. There is ALWAYS a chance that my original position on a topic is wrong, and I will remain open to changing my mind on an issue as better information becomes available to me.

RULES SPECIFIC TO COMMENTERS:

3. When you see my violating either of the above rules, please call me out on it. However, don't abuse this. For instance, don't pull the BS construct of claiming I'm not being objective simply because you don't agree with my conclusions. You must come from a place of sincere objectivity in order to call me out for failing to do so.

RULES FOR EVERYONE:

4. Remain as objective as you can be at all times. The following will be tests you can use as a mental checklist to determine if you are being objective:

• NEVER allow emotional loyalties to any person, organization, political party, religion, ideology, etc., etc., to dictate your argument on any issue.
• ALWAYS base your arguments on reason, using the best facts available.
• NEVER make an argument that you know makes you a hypocrite, even if the evidence of your hypocrisy is only in your own mind. For example, if one claims that a politician in the "other" political party is at fault for doing X, even though you would never have faulted a politician in your own political party for doing X in similar circumstances, that's a betrayal of one's objectivity and credibility.
• ALWAYS seek out the most credible and substantive information available.
• NEVER ignore credible information simply because you don't agree with opinions of that source or because that credible information contradicts what you want to be believe on an emotional level.
• ALWAYS be willing to support arguments you make with credible facts. An inability to do that proves an opinion to be nothing more than emotion-based rhetoric, which is only useful in very narrow kinds of discussions.
• NEVER refuse to provide credible evidence to support your arguments when asked by be or another commenter.

5. Never post anything abusive toward any blog participants. We are all adults and should be able to discuss, debate, and even disagree while still being respectful toward one another.

6. When another person proves that we are wrong about something we've said (and this will happen a LOT, as we all have things in our heads that aren't right), it is incumbent upon us to immediately ADMIT that we were wrong, and even thank that person for providing us with better information. There is no shame at all in admitting that one was wrong. There is only shame in being informed that one was wrong, but still refusing to acknowledge it. After all, our goal should always be to obtain the best information so we can reach the best conclusions. If we are hostile toward anyone for providing us correct information that contradicts what we previously believed, that's a sure sign that we are failing to be objective, and are instead allowing our emotional biases to destroy our ability to tell between fact and fiction.

7. Never hold back. If you think I'm wrong, or misinformed, or uninformed, or just talking crazy, please come strong with your own ideas and perspectives and facts and arguments. That's what will make this exercise constructive and informative for all of us!

8. Have fun! This isn't going to be one of those venues where it's stressful to post there because it's filled with mindless dolts yelling talking points at one another. This is a place where we can all really engage in interesting and engaging intellectually honest discussions. I will do my best to set the pace, but I'm sure each of you will ultimately be the ones who set the bar far higher.