TTAG commentators are free to criticize my posts. Or anyone else’s posts. They may do so as vigorously as they please. But they are not free to flame the website, its authors or fellow commentators. The definition of flaming is like the Supreme Court’s definition of pornography: I know it when I see it. And yes, ultimately, it’s my decision. It’s also true that I tend to remove comments about TTAG’s editorial stance or style underneath an unrelated post. Experience tells me that navel gazing hijacks the thread and, eventually, the whole site. When an editorial issue reaches a certain critical mass, I break it out into a separate post and allow more freedom to let slip the dogs of war. As I’ve done here. As for Bob S. . . .
The man had a conniption about the Oleg Volk post and a previous one about the Glock porno mag (so to speak). I invited him to discuss TTAG’s editorial policies via email. This we did—to no avail. He seemed to believe that I should proactively contact the subject of critical posts to get their comments before I press play.
I/we do reach out to objects of our ire from time to time, and the comments section is always open. But TTAG is not the New York Times. Thank God.
If you feel that TTAG is unfair or wish to discuss ANY aspect of the site’s administration, you can contact me directly at guntruth@me.com. Or leave your kvetch here. Except for Bob S. whom I’ve banned for his email intemperance and persistent flaming.