The Rules
This list is to keep everyone on the same page. I will update the list as needed. I’ll post on the site when a new rule is added.
Comments
Comments will be open on all posts, but they will be moderated. That means that your comment will not be visible right away. This is mostly to prevent spam, which is a huge problem and, without moderating the comments, would turn this site into a giant advertisement for mail-order pills. I will make every effort to get comments approved as soon as possible. Comments containing threats or legally protected information (SS#’s, etc.) will not be allowed. Mild profanity is allowed but don’t go nuts, people. Speaking of which…
Profanity
This is a grown-up site about a grown-up topic. I will occasionally use mild profanity on this site and, knowing a little something about my audience, it will show up in the comments. I do not intend to use profanity towards anyone, such as name calling*. However, this is a site largely for discussion, and sometimes that’s how I talk and it’s also how other people talk. I hope everyone will recognize that and keep it civil.
*Except when people do things like the North Carolina SBI. Then I reserve the right to call you FOTAs.
If you are concerned about strong language, read this.
Politics
I talk a lot about legislation and associated topics that are likely to be viewed as partisan or political issues. While I definitely have opinions on these issues, I am not making any political statements. Any attempts to read my words and assign political views to them are a waste of time. My intentions here are to get people engaged in the legislative processes that affect them in a meaningful way. I don’t really give a damn what you think, just as long as you’re thinking.
Contacting Me & Anonymity-UPDATED
A lot of people contact me: by e-mail, by phone, and through the contact page of this website. Some of them even have the presence of mind to request anonymity before I finish saying “hello.” It is astonishing to me who does not.
I regularly hear from people at all levels (high and low) of every branch of our government, many local governments, state governments, law enforcement organizations, prosecutors, defense attorneys, lots of academics, private citizens, members of every forensic organization you can imagine, journalists, and others. And those are just the Americans.
Everyone has anonymity unless:
- You and I both know we are speaking about something that is going to be showing up on my website (e.g., we’re doing an interview and we both know it)
- You do something stupid like try to get my family threatened, a la Mandy Locke of the News & Observer.
I’ll even take care to couch the information you give me so that it doesn’t come back to bite you.
You should also know that I often don’t publish information right away.
NEW- If I send you an e-mail specifically asking for comment and you respond with anything other than “No Comment”, that is publishable.
NEW- Know the difference between “Anonymous Source” and “Off The Record.”
Comments containing false information
This situation has come up several times since I started this site. I will not publish comments (in the comments section of a post) that contain false information. Period. Whether you are trying to argue using bad information or you are just ignorant, I do not care. If you try to post a comment using false information I will simply delete it.
