One of the things that I like to think has most changed between my first iteration of blogging and this is that I’ve attempted — and please let me know when I go astray — to remain civil and temperate, even as I become impassioned and driven all the more toward the goals of my writing.
Read on if you comment at Law Dork, you’re a regular here . . . or would like to become one!
With that in mind, and in light of the increased numbers of commenters in the past month — which truly thrills me — I would like to ensure that we all do what we can so that all commenters and readers can feel that it is a civil and temperate discussion taking place at this blog. And though I don’t respond to every comment — and though I have myself fallen into intemperance in comments — I do respond to many comments, and I don’t want the comment threads here to turn into the intemperate, uncivil sniping attacks that I’ve seen at some other sites. I am less liberal than other bloggers and readers and far more liberal than many more, and I would envision the discussions here open to both groups.
At the same time, civility is not the same as squishy. Strong, aggressive debate is important and predictable in many of the topics discussed here, and I don’t want people to feel that legitimate criticism is in some way discouraged. Please, go for it. Just be civil in doing so.
With all that in mind, I truly have appreciated many of the comments — and have seen those comments add nuance and twists to my own thinking, and for that, I thank everyone for their thoughtful comments.
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Chris Geidner is the award-winning senior political editor at D.C.'s Metro Weekly and has written for The Atlantic Online, The American Prospect, Advocate.com, Salon and other publications, as well as at his blog, Law Dork. In 2011, he received the Excellence in News Writing Award from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his coverage of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal. Prior to moving to D.C. in 2009, he served as an attorney on the senior staff at the Ohio Attorney General's Office and had earlier worked for a leading Columbus law firm. An extended biography can be found
Chris, as someone who has ‘just arrived on the scene’ here but who has been my usual long-winded self, let me say that I have been amazed at the civility I have found here, and hope it continues. I do try and argue respectfully to most people, however, I tend to be less respectful to those who come here for no other reason than to cause dissension. (A wave in the direction of South Carolina.)
But even when someone comes here and starts discussing ‘your people’s issues’ — and I am making a distinction between someone like that and someone who is entirely ’straight’ but is supportive and still conscious he is discussing us ‘from the outside’ — his arguments should be responded to because there are always lurkers who may have heard and believed them. Trolls may be, by nature, unreachable, since they are not engaging in a discussion, but their followers may have their certainties questioned.
I began reading when I saw someone else who could objectively look at an issue in an intellectual manner regardless of your own opinion. Specifically in regards to the DOJ brief on DOMA.
That to me is the beginning of civil discussion. I may not want mushrooms on a pizza, but I’ll gladly listen to why and even accept that someone else is allowed to like mushrooms on a pizza, no matter my refusal to eat them. So too can I listen to why someone may oppose abortion or SSM, and I can accept they are entitled to their view without calling them a fascist,etc. Yet my discussion does not mean that I cede my own opinion or final say-so to them.
For myself, I have an endless array of thoughts on many issues and find it helpful to bounce my thoughts off of other people’s thoughts both to further explain my existing thoughts as well as actually develop new ways of looking at things.
I enjoy your point of view, it’s refreshing
Your writing style IS “temperate and civil,” and I agree that it’s refreshing in light of other blogs that are full of strident histrionics and flagrant attempts at money-making/fund raising.
This site is, for me, one of the best finds of 2009.
This site is, for me, one of the best finds of 2009.
Ditto. I really like this blog, and your tone.