Comments Policy

I've had to nuke a little late night nastiness in the past couple of weeks. While (shocker) the offending parties haven't been by again to complain, I think it's time to be clear with a comments policy. I love discussion – good and bad. I have no problem with disagreement. (My traffic goes through the roof when you guys disagree!) But occasionally, I'll get a comment that's just over-the-top nasty. Typically, I just delete it, but I think it's time to formalize a comments policy. Blatant personal attacks (on me or others), profanity laced nastiness or anything that crosses the line of reasonable discussion will be deleted. Think of it this way, if you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't post it here. Or, as Michael Ruhlman said last year when he posted his own policy:

If you're going to be foul or rude, you'd better be funny or at least elegant. If someone tells me to stick a cauliflower up my ass, and nothing more, then that's something I would delete. If the poster then goes on to discuss low heat cooking of cauliflower over extended periods, I'd be inclined to keep it.

Comments aren't deleted just because they criticize a restaurant or chef I happen to like. However, I do expect you to be more specific than "That chef/restaurant/product SUCKS!" Just know that I intend to keep cleaning up after the rude people who pop in, raid the refrigerator, and leave. It just seems like a few more have been popping in lately, and I want the rest of my guests to enjoy the party.

Here is my draft comments policy. Input from you as readers -- and members of this community -- is welcome. Otherwise, I'll add update the template this afternoon. (Off to a chef's presentation at the International Culinary School.)

Food, wine, and the restaurant business are passionate topics and we invite passionate response. However, it is our policy to delete posts if they contain blatant personal attacks or profanity laced diatribes that offer no substantive addition to the conversation. Think of the readers of this blog as your colleagues and friends. Feel free to offer both positive and negative opinions using the rule that you should only post words you'd say to a person face-to-face, even with cocktails involved.