If you're planning on making comments, please read below...

I set the comments so I have a chance to review them before I post them. I reject posts out of hand when they seem spam-like, don't make sense, attack other posters (rarely me), engage in long "is too! is not!" arguments, or seem really "fishy". "Anonymous" posters get double-secret probation because I'm not sure if they're legit or they're trying to jam up the comments board with verbal bovine effluvia - as in one post I had rejected flat out because they decided to key-word and link-farm their entry to the hilt.

It also means I have to exercise some benevolent censorship; one person's well reasoned comment is fine; a five-page manifesto on why Alfred E Neuman should be elevated to King of America is not. Those of you who do follow the rules are not affected - at least you have the common sense not to test your BS skills on the comments board

If it gets out of hand, COMMENTS WILL BE DISABLED.

White guilt and control freaks are "retarded"

"Retarded" is a politically incorrect word - only if you use it incorrectly. If you're growing tomato plants and the growth has slowed down to a yield of maybe one or two green tomatoes, that's the correct use of the word "retarded." If you don't like your teacher, or your friends did something unusual, then you can jokingly use "retarded" among yourselves. (Just don't use it on a talk radio program to refer to one of your rivals or like-minded guests.)

The gray area occurs when someone has Down's syndrome or any other developmental deficiency. The correct way might be to use the syndrome connected to the person. Using PC terms like "differently abled" might elicit eye rolls and even more questions you might feel uncomfortable answering.

The incorrect way to illustrate that "retarded" may not be helpful? Having an arrogant, elitist tone to dictate to others how someone should talk, while attempting to relieve your own guilt (see "The Right Response?")

Having two last names separated by a hyphen and plagiarizing a PBS slogan doesn't help either, and using Paris Hilton as an example is no excuse.

Some rules for the comments section

If you're going to comment on any of our fine blog pieces, please remember the following:

1. NO phone numbers (prevents crank calls, protects privacy)
2. NO "If you go to _____, it says..." (shilling/promotion)
3. NO Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say On Television (swear words)
4. NO attacks on other posters

One comment that we deleted had a person's cell phone number on it, and we consider that a breach of privacy, even if it is perfectly safe number - not to mention an open invitation for prank calls. Don't put in email addresses, either - those meddling kids may take it and you might find yourself inundated with emails for "male enhancement" pills or offers from Morgan and Taylor to "join them for fun" at $2.50 a minute. Or worse, your computer goes kablooey from nasty spyware after you click an innocent link for cursors.

So, be careful out there, eh?