It is with deep regret that I announce my first (and hopefully last) official banning. Dwight Leister is no longer welcome to comment here. I may give him a pardon or a reprieve someday, but that someday won’t be soon. The tribal council spoke loudly in favor of a ban, and while that’s not dispositive (ultimately I decide, and any ban is my responsibility) I’m inclined to give my readers what they want on this matter.
For those who just can’t get enough of Dwight particular genre of public discourse, he still has his own blog (which I pay for BTW) where he is free to say whatever he pleases to those who are interested. I just will no longer allow him to say it on my blog.
If Dwight were actually adding something other than annoyance, frustration, offensive personal attacks and not-so-vaguely anti-Semitic remarks to the conversation, I would be inclined to tolerate his less savory forum habits. But he seldom did. I won’t have anyone run roughshod over me, my guest authors, or my readers in the name of pure freedom of speech. Every freedom includes responsibilities, and those who fail to use this forum responsibly will lose their freedom to use it.
I haven’t banned Dwight because I disagree with him. On the contrary, I value the opinions of those who disagree with me. I banned him because he is rude, offensive, consistently ad hominem, has lousy manners, and has proven himself incorrigible regarding these complaints. I don’t, and won’t, ban someone for one or two instances of poor judgment; only for proving that they lack any judgment at all.
Now, for your entertainment, and maybe your edification, here is a good summary of the etiquette I expect. Don’t let what happened to Dwight happen to you.