I can understand why some blogs censor. No one likes to be criticized, and it's even worse when you don't know the person or have an opportunity to discuss the matter like polite adults (the Internet brings out the worst in people). I'm reminded of this comic on xkcd:

http://xkcd.com/386/

I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it, but it has gotten easier. Now some of the meanest comments are actually more amusing than hurtful. I think, "That guy has such poor social skills that this is the best he can muster. How pitiful."

Here's why I don't censor: We all make mistakes. I'm usually happy to update a post with more/better information. If someone calls me names or resorts to insults, that's unfortunate, but better that people see I can take some criticism and work to do better than create a false image of perfection. Building yourself up on a pedestal just attracts more attempts to knock you down.

I appreciate your position, but I don't think anyone would fault a blogger for censoring vulgarity or inappropriate content so to make it a decent atmosphere. What I do not appreciate are the blogs (like deltapoints) who censor comments that disagree with him. I think that is poor taste as it suggests that you are not secure enough with your content to allow people to suggest opposing views or analysis. However, his blog, he can do what he wants. I give a blog like that lower credibility though because of it.

100% Wrong. You are welcome to disagree with me all you want and I will post it as is and often do. I dump those that personal attack me, the blog or other readers. Oh, and my blog is PG-13 so if you disagree with colorful wording then yes I will dump that too.

sometimes they just get lost in the shuffle and sometimes, yes, we do censor inappropriate comments.

I remember posting a comment about how a referral link wasn't the best offer, and how a publically available offer was better for the readers. It was rejected.

How one can be proud of that is beyond me, but ymmv I suppose

Does the company you work for encourage employees to point out competitors with better and/or cheaper products?

That is quite different from blogs. A) readers are not employees B) blogs are trying to help readers with the best information. If they are not providing the best offers, the reader does not know whether it is because he is doing it to make himself money or because he does not know about the better offer. The good blogger (and one that will retain loyalty long-term) is the one that allows such a comment and even mentions the better offer, even if he/she still offers up their own referral offer as well.

Not necessarily. You can't assume anything until the bloggers who censor and those who don't reveal numbers and obviously they aren't going to.

I once commented that perhaps your daughter would be better off not buying a new car. (It was part of the content of the post a few years ago.) Got censored. Never understood why, as I tell anyone that will listen how bad of an investment a new car is!

Agree, new cars are bad investment. Sorry that happened to your comment. I know in the time we have had comments, I have actually hit the wrong button a few times and deleted a comment instead of actually publishing it. not many but it happens with almost 3000 posts to date. And yes, we do delete comments on purpose when they are inappropriate. I think it is the responsibility of the blog to keep the conversation civil and helpful to all readers not just the guy that is pissed off at me and needs to vent.

That's an interesting perspective.

If a points and miles blog cares more about its own revenue than about providing the best possible points and miles information, I'd say it is not a blog I would want to read.

I've never worked for such a company, but I patronize businesses that do.

It isn't about telling your customers to patronize your competitors. It's about being helpful so that they think of you first. Sometimes they'll find what they want and buy it from you. Other times you'll point them elsewhere. But they'll always think of you first because they know you know where to look.

A few blogs point you to other application links for credit cards. Maybe they won't make any affiliate income on that one, but you'll check their site anyway and maybe also click on an offer that does.

As illustrated in a movie!

Actually I'd be fine with censoring that type of stuff - not out of thin skin but because many readers are seeking websites with reasoned discussion and are turned off by useless material like that.

When I see personal insults or profanity in comments, to me that says more about the person who makes the comment than whoever they are commenting to. I don't get many comments (hopefully my spam blocker isn't blocking humans) but I won't censor anyone and if I don't like what they are saying I will simply thank them for taking the time to comment and move on.