I had a very interesting, very intellectually stimulating "live" discussion with an individual from JU last night. We disagreed pretty fundamentally on the topics we discussed, but when all was said and done, it was a pretty cool conversation. Neither one of us "converted" the other, and the individual gave me several very insteresting, very compelling points for discussion.
And so, I got to thinking: while it occasionally happens on my blog, there are several good, compelling articles I've written where almost no discussion takes place. I would like to make it very clear that, if the comments on my articles are not disabled, I encourage, and welcome healthy debate. Sure, I may strongly disagree, but if you hold an opposing position just as strongly, you should, frankly, respect that.
Despite what you may have read or believe, I rarely blacklist anyone. When I do, it is almost always because the attack got personal, on my end or theirs, and that I need a "cooling off" period, or that the individual is basically a troll and not really a healthy contributor to my blog. My reputation for blacklisting has come about because, in all but a few situations, the blacklisted individual was offended enough to feel it necessary to blog about it, and I was offended enough by their indignation to respond and thus "out" myself as the blacklister. because most of my blacklist has thus become public, there's a general perception that I do it more often than I do.
There are some individuals on here with which I STRONGLY disagree. And they know it. In fact, there's kind of a running "mini-feud" going on as we speak with a particular blogger. But the individual, though almost diametrically opposed to my position, is one who I respect because the debate never becomes personal. I can think of several individuals who fit that classification.
So, if you disagree, post away. If I didn't want dissension, I wouldn't have posted the article in the first place. If you have a well thought out point, you just may help me reconsider my position. And by bringing your POV out in the first place and allowing me to respond, I just may help you reconsider yours. The net result is that we BOTH grow.