Inspired by NaBloPoMo writing prompt for Monday, June 2, 2014:
Do you have commenting guidelines for your readers? Today is a great time to let them know the commenting policy for your blog (or set some new expectations).
I have been very, very fortunate – at least to date! – in terms of the comments I’ve received on my posts. Even when my readers may have disagreed with something I had to say and presented an alternate viewpoint, the discussion has always remained respectful… and because of this, I have never had to delete a comment or develop any kind of formal commenting guidelines for my blog.
I am truly grateful for this fact!
But this writing prompt has made me think about the idea of developing a commenting policy for Alphabet Salad. After all, I realize that it would be far better for me to prepare myself ahead of time instead of being taken off-guard and flailing about trying to figure out what to do when the first nasty comment shows up in my Inbox (as I am sure, this being the Internet and all, will eventually happen)!
So let’s do this.
Alphabet Salad Commenting Policy

- To keep Alphabet Salad as a spam-free zone, all comments will be filtered through a spam filtering plugin (currently Akismet). Additionally, the first comment from each new commenter will be moderated. Once their first comment has been approved, subsequent comments will be posted immediately.
- Commenters are welcome to share a link to their latest blog post via CommentLuv, or a link within their comment to a post or page that is relevant to the topic being discussed; however, any comment that I perceive to contain advertising or spam will be edited (to remove the advertising or spam only) or, if that is not possible, deleted entirely.
- To foster dialogue and build community, commenters will be given the option of being notified via e-mail when a response to their comment is posted.
- To show my appreciation for each reader who takes the time to comment on one of my posts, I will personally respond to every comment.
- Depending on my schedule, I will endeavour to visit my commenters’ most recent blog post and return the comment. (This doesn’t – can’t – always happen, but I do my best.)
- Comments expressing dissenting points of view are welcome and encouraged, provided they (and any subsequent discussion) are presented in a respectful manner.
- My desire is for Alphabet Salad to be a welcoming community and safe space for all. As such, any comment I perceive to contain threats, abuse, personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, or hate speech directed at any race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, or disability will be deleted immediately.
So there we have it! I’ll add a link to this post on my “about” page for my readers’ reference, and may add to or edit my policy in the future as things evolve and new ideas surface.
Do you have a commenting policy on your blog?
What would you add to my list? Please share!

Twitter: karenandwendy1
June 2, 2014
All excellent policies, Laurel. We’ve had a couple of issues with nastygrams in our comments section–and a few posts, in particular, have drawn more than their fair share of long drawn-out rants against us, baby boomers, and people who disagree with the guy who wrote Wheat Belly. (Go figure.) On one post in particular, we were forced to close off the comments section to prevent it from being used as a forum for some very nasty age-related discrimination. But otherwise, our policies tend to be much like yours: keep it civil, and all are welcome.
Karen recently posted… Luckiest Grandmother ever!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 2, 2014
Wow, sounds like you’ve had quite the experience with nastiness on your posts! What a shame. 🙁
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 32
Twitter: 1951
June 2, 2014
I don’t have a published commenting policy and have never had a nasty comment that I can remember. If I did, I’d simply delete it. I did have one really commercial comment with a link that I thought was way too blatant a pitch for customers and I deleted it a few months ago. But by and large my blog is just not big enough for me to feel a policy was called for, although i wish it were!
Carol Cassara recently posted… Back to the Sixties
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 2, 2014
I kind of like the idea of setting it up while a blog is relatively small, in preparation for big things ahead. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 32
Twitter: hfert_solutions
June 2, 2014
Good luck on NaBloPoMo! 🙂
Hillary recently posted… The Earliest Signs of Pregnancy
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 2, 2014
Thanks, Hillary!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 32
Excellent policies Laurel.
I just have one – don’t be mean! I have received some really ugly comments and so I keep moderation on.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 2, 2014
That’s such a shame that that’s happened to you! 🙁
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 32
All good things to think about for this new blogger. I have had one nasty comment, and I was so surprised I hit delete immediately!
Lana recently posted… Don’t Fight The Weight(s)
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 2, 2014
I guess I really have been lucky!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 32
I guess I have an informal commenting policy, add it’s not written down, but my expectations are exactly the guidelines you’ve created here.
As I continue to develop my blog, I suppose I may need to have a formal policy as well.
Thanks for the idea! 🙂
Life Breath Present recently posted… Gratitude Linkup – Week of 6/1/14
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 2, 2014
You’re welcome! I thought it was an interesting prompt.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 32
Twitter: BatteredHope
June 2, 2014
So far, I have not had any problems but it is probably a good idea to get something in place ready to go. I just assumed I was not big enough to worry about yet
Thanks for the heads up
Carol Graham recently posted… There Is No Warning Rattle At The Door
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 2, 2014
Glad you haven’t had any problems!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 32
Twitter: BatteredHope
June 2, 2014
Just had a thought and maybe you know the answer. Do you think that advertising on your blog brings a lot of the spam?
Carol Graham recently posted… There Is No Warning Rattle At The Door
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 2, 2014
I’ve had blogs with no advertising at all, and they still got deluged with spam. I have a feeling the spammers will find you no matter what you do or don’t do!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 32
Twitter: MaiaLagerstedt
June 2, 2014
Great blog! Thanks to my spam filter, I’ve never actually had to delete any comments either, but I love the idea of having guidelines in place–just in case–and you make a few excellent points!
Maia recently posted… Hats Off to Green Garlic
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 4, 2014
Thank you, Maia! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… My Blog = My Home
Twitter: kajal_kapur
June 2, 2014
I don’t have a policy and there are so many things that i still need to learn like Akismet.
Kajal recently posted… Mothers Are Awesome
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 4, 2014
There’s always something new to learn, I think!
Laurel Regan recently posted… My Blog = My Home
A comment policy seems to be a great idea! I haven’t received any mean comments, so I guess I’d have just one rule for people to stop posting ads :).
Fab recently posted… Book Review – Sita’s Curse
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 4, 2014
That sounds like a great place to start!
Laurel Regan recently posted… My Blog = My Home
Twitter: leatherandabel
June 3, 2014
I have only received appropriate comments, but if something were offensive I wouldn’t let it stay on the website. Other than that, I like constructive critism – that shows people have really been reading as well 🙂
Vanessa recently posted… Hamburg’s fish market
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 4, 2014
I agree – constructive criticism is great!
Laurel Regan recently posted… My Blog = My Home
Twitter: Wordwrights, Ink
June 3, 2014
A couple of years ago, I picked up a nasty little follower. (I don’t know if he/she truly was little, but the comments were not!) For a year or more, I had to switch my comment policy to the ‘approved by author’ rating. I took it off last year and, so far, have been happy. So glad we have the option!
Diane recently posted… Ted
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 4, 2014
Oh, that’s really too bad… I will never understand why people do that! Definitely glad you had the option to moderate.
Laurel Regan recently posted… My Blog = My Home
Twitter: mnutralicious
June 3, 2014
Thank goodness I have never had a rude comment! I’m still in the stage of blogging where I am overjoyed just to get ANY comments. Seriously, a single comment makes me feel good all day! I can’t even imagine what I would do if I received a disrespectful comment.
I like the idea of having a written commenting policy…hmm. Time for me to get to work! 🙂
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 4, 2014
I’m glad neither of us have had any rude comments – here’s hoping it stays that way! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… My Blog = My Home
The only bad comment I have ever had was in my post about Margaritas. The commenter disagreed with my choice of tequila- he didn’t however offer an alternative when I ask. I don’t have a policy as of yet, but I may if it becomes a problem. Good tips. http://www.notquitewonderwoman.com/how-to-make-2-gallons-of-margaritas/
April recently posted… 3 REASONS TO LINK TO and MENTION OTHER BLOGS
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 4, 2014
There’s always someone, isn’t there?! Glad you haven’t had any others.
Laurel Regan recently posted… My Blog = My Home
Great policies. I haven’t received any negative comment but have moderation on my blog. I think it has been there always, I don’t know how.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 4, 2014
Glad you haven’t had any negative comments!
Laurel Regan recently posted… My Blog = My Home
Hi, I just found your sight through BlogHer. I am looking forward to reading more. You have a very unique title. It really drew me in.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
December 6, 2015
Very nice to meet you, Bernadette – glad you stopped by! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List + December 2015 Gratitude Linkup
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