WE have begun drafting a commenting policy, as promised last night due to increased site abuse. Here is a first draft.

Everyone is welcome to post comments. However, we are sometimes encountering anti-GNU/Linux propagandists. They are those who regularly post argumentative, insulting, distracting, untrue, and generally unpleasant articles to the site containing propaganda designed slow and even prevent to acceptance of GNU/Linux by the general computing public or even acceptance of the site (ad hominem attacks). For more information, see Common Troll Tactics.

In addition, cursing, libeling, and intimidation are seen as unacceptable in the comments as these disrupt discussion. People whose professional affiliation relates to the subject of the posts (e.g. Novell or Microsoft employees commenting on a post regarding their employer) are strongly encouraged to post disclosures. This is intended to prevent corporate influence overwhelming impartial voices without it being known to visitors.

That last part also refers to SLAPP, which Wikipedia defines as:

A Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation ("SLAPP") is a lawsuit that is intended to intimidate and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defense until they abandon their criticism or opposition. Winning the lawsuit is not necessarily the intent of the person filing the SLAPP. The plaintiff's goals are accomplished if the defendant succumbs to fear, intimidation, mounting legal costs or simple exhaustion and abandons the criticism. A SLAPP may also intimidate others from participating in the debate.

Comments insinuating SLAPP will not be tolerated here. The same goes for IRC. Most importantly, please do not feed the trolls. ⬆