It pains me to have to write a guideline for commenting on my blog, but recently we had a troll jump on and argue incessantly with me about a link I provided.

According to Wikipedia, a troll is defined thus:

Someone who posts inflammatory,extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

So, here’s how this is going to play out.

This is my blog, and you’re welcome to comment and add to the discussion of topics at hand. You are not, however, free to 1) attack me or other commenters, 2) intentionally try to provoke emotional responses by use of language, and 3) what constitutes 1 and 2 is entirely up to me.

My blog; my rules. Your blog; your rules.

If I am so inclined, I may grade your trolling on a scale I will call the Hate Mail Percentage Average (HPA). Score a 4.0 and you might make Dean’s List.

End of discussion.