Here’s my favorite from the correspondence I’ve gotten in the early days of this blog:<\/p>\n
Dear Father Ruff,
\nYour blog is testament to your forty years of failure and the destruction which your ilk has sown upon the liturgy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nWow. 40 years of destruction? I guess I started when I was six. After a comment like that, I had to go sing a few Latin chants from my Antiphonale, just to regain my spiritual balance.<\/p>\n
Our comments policy, which will no doubt be refined as we go forward, is this (and then see my comments further below).<\/p>\n
We invite reader comments that contribute to civil, thoughtful discussion.\u00a0 In that spirit readers who post comments are required to use their real name and location.<\/p>\n
PrayTell does not permit personal attacks, libelous statements, or the use of vulgar, hateful, or harassing language.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>PrayTell Comments Procedures:<\/strong>Readers posting comments for the first time are required to register.\u00a0 Their comment will be posted on the blog after their registration is approved by the moderator.<\/p>\n
1. After registration approval subsequent comments will post immediately without moderator review.<\/p>\n
2. Readers who post comments are required to use their real name and location.<\/p>\n
3. Readers who post personal attacks, or libelous statements, or use vulgar, hateful, or harassing language will be blocked by the moderator from further posts.<\/p>\n
4. Readers with a bona fide need for anonymity may submit posts along with their real name and location, and an explanation of the need for anonymity to the moderator via email.<\/p>\n
As much as possible, comments will be reviewed and posted within 48 hours. The decision is made by an editorial committee of five individuals. Because of the sometimes heavy volume of blog comments, it will not always be possible to reply individually to those whose comments are rejected or removed.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
If\u00a0you don’t use your full name, we won’t post your comment.<\/p>\n
An editorial committee advises and decides about what to post and what to delete. But I understand that I get to be the lightning rod as the most visible target, and I accept that. I much appreciated\u00a0a supportive email from my friend Jeffrey Tucker from over at CMAA<\/a> and NLM<\/a> advising thick skin and a sense of humor.<\/p>\n
We delete comments not because of their opinions, but because of their lack of civility. You can be as ultraconservative or radically progressive as you want, but you can’t be mean or disrespectful.<\/p>\n
We can’t send emails to\u00a0individual commenters explaining our decisions.\u00a0The reason? Time. I don’t want to be married to\u00a0a computer 24\/7. I’m a celibate.<\/p>\n
awr<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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