Two weeks ago today, I wrote here that I would “probably” close comments at this site in two weeks. Most readers seem to have missed that “probably,” and took me to mean that I was absolutely going to shut comments down. However, in fact I wrote “probably” because I wanted to see what the reaction would be, and it has indeed been most interesting. Many, many people have written me to express fervent approval or equally fervent disapproval of the closing of comments.
Several offered to moderate comments, and one of those who offered has actually done so. Accordingly, in the last two weeks I have deleted comments that call for genocide, use foul language or derogatory terms, are off-topic in various ways, etc. I want to thank the moderator for volunteering to do this, and as long as this moderator and/or others can continue to watch the comments, I will keep comments open. I will not yet change the comment heading that says comments are moderated, as this arrangement is still on a trial basis. But for now, we’ll continue the trial.
I also want to thank all those who have contributed intelligent comments that have contributed to the discussion of how we can protect the equality of dignity and rights of all people from the jihad threat.