Although we will not be censoring comments on this website, I do think it is important to call personal attacks when we see it. The ground rules of this forum call for honest, civil discourse — this means sticking to the issues, and refraining from personal attacks and namecalling. I ask everyone who visits and participates in this forum to treat each other with respect regardless of whether we agree or disagree on the issues. 

Disagreement and criticism are important elements in dialogue — they keep us on our toes, challenge us to defend our ideas, perhaps move us to change our minds and our behavior in a positive and constructive way.  Open, honest dialogue brings us all closer to identifying solutions for all the problems we face; personal attacks get us nowhere.   If anyone sees a personal attack on this site (or anywhere, really),  please don’t ignore it or be discouraged from visiting this site again.  Go ahead and speak up.  Point it out.  But do it respectfully, and show by example what constructive criticism looks like.       

Thank you very much, and may the dialogue continue!

Tina