So I got a bunch of (relatively) nasty comments today. I try to respond to every single comment so it's pretty hard when those comments are very detrimental to the atmosphere of the post.

I've sent an email (and I think this is going to be my policy now) to the commenters with why I have not allowed the comments and I have offered to allow a comment that is more conducive to discussion.

I'd love everyone to chime in on this and tell me whether I'm doing this right or not (hem koko). Completely open to feedback :)

Actually, I can attest to one of the things you said. I have once emailed a person who posed a question as a comment. It was something that had to do with the post but something that no one else would benefit from. It was like an individual routing comment. I didn't approve it but I emailed him on the email he left the comment with and answered his question. So that might be considered making it easier for newbies? Idk but there were times when bad feedback was left on some of my posts and it's still there. I approve them all. Well, I approve for whatever I write.

I don't get the point of censoring like that. How do you know if there is not another individual that will "benefit"? Maybe someone else wants to post about not liking that you guys are wearing flip flops and shorts on a 1st class A380 flight? Unless it is super nasty/rude, it is just the opinion of your readers. (I did not post this opinion, but I've seen some similar ones disappear)

Personally after reading about the throw away ticketing and only a small warning about how this "might" violate the rules and get your account shut down... I saw that there really was no looking out for the newbies. You guys are giving advice that you wouldn't even use (these are the blog's words and not mine). When you censor comments... who know if other people posted their negative experience using a "trick" like that.

I never deleted any comments about what I (Tahsir) was wearing or anything like that. Yes, I understand that people will say things like that and I have come to accept it. I don't know about the comments with throw away ticketing and what not but I was just trying to enlighten how I deal with comments when I have control of them. I always approve them regardless.

Because you posted a FD! That is more forbidden here than making a step-by-step guide how to purchase VRs.

Fortunately for you, it wasn't one that we all use frequently, for that would've really hurt your reputation. Thankfully noobies have no idea how to FD, for that would really hurt...

It's this right?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milea...h-hipmunk.html

That's why I didn't explicitly mention that it was an FD.... but I guess that can't satisfy everyone....

Is there a way to quickly recognize you found a FD instead of a mistake fare so as to not do this in the future? What are the criteria for this?

Surprised no one has mentioned flyertalk and some overly sensitive mods.

you really shouldn't publish fuel dumps, even if you call it something else. it wouldn't have lasted 2 minutes if it was able to ticket

Lol, amen to that. But blogs =/= IBBs.

Oh come on... if someone tags an obscure segment in Asia onto a transatlantic flight, its certainly not a mistake fare ;)

My post wasn't about the FD at all. It was about how instead of priceline pricing 1 J TATL ticket at 3k, it was pricing 4 J TATL tickets at 3k so, 750 each.
Seemed to only work with the 3x, so too bad.

Maybe, maybe not.

I don't, but I also don't run your site. You have apparently decided to censor the content and edit what I've written and you're comfortable with that. Good for you.

I will edit content that blatantly attempts to steer readers into another bloggers affiliate links, especially when the post already deals with (arguably) the best form of rebate for that solution and is a non affiliate link.

I put the reader first.

I do the same when I get spam sending the reader to some dodgy Viagra site, the only difference is I delete that outright, where as I allow comments like yours to stay, so we can discuss the merits of your actions.

Also, I will edit personal attacks that are not relevant to the post and overly offensive. I think though, that based upon the criteria here that doesn't put me in the 'censor' category as that was originally aimed at people trying to remove/edit comments to protect their own revenue over the readerships wellbeing. But if people want to think of me as a bad guy for it then that's cool.

I'm happy with that solution.

But, then again, I should always be able to improve my practices, and if this is wrong I am happy to review and see if I can get better.

You made a subjective call on what you think is better for your readers and rather than engaging in a conversation about that edited someone else's content to "prove" your point. That's fine if you want to go that route, but that's also censoring.

You cannot have it both ways.