Anything you can do to encourage your contributors to contribute more often is a good thing. Good luck and God bless.

On the other hand, Andy Warhol did always say that he never read his publicity but did weigh it.

When throwing your pearls before swine it might be wise to thank the swine for responding, no matter what the nature of their responses might be.

"... basic respect for the time of the folks who contribute, expressed as positive or negative engagement with the subjects of their posts, is something I do plan to be more insistent about in the coming year."

Over the past year, I've become fascinated with the Duke Lacrosse Rape Hoax/Frame ...

... no, really, this is on-topic! ...

... and seen one real-time experiment in unfettered, free-speech comments unfold. That was the policy at the premier anti-Hoax blog, KC Johnson's Durham in Wonderland.

In many ways, Johnson was extraordinarily successful as a blogger, and some of that was supported by things that were brought to light in the comments. In other ways, the comments detracted from the blog's posts. There was a great deal of anger, incivility, and off-topic discussion that contributed to driving away a number of reasonable commenters with valuable insider perspectives. Conversations that could have happened and should have happened, didn't.

The Winds model of encouraging intellectual diversity while setting boundaries on acceptable conduct is much superior, in my opinion. In other words, I concur with David Blue's note above (#2).

Joe, I hope as you do that Marc comes back from his time away with some fresh ideas with how to advance and promote civil discourse. Likewise, I encourage your resolution to pay closer attention to commentary.

That said, WoC remains a remarkable site. All of your contributors and many fine commenters have created something quite unique, in my view.

Keeps WoC a daily read for me.

Andrew Olmstead, who used to post here was killed yesterday in Iraq. (link)

(Fixed link: David Blue)

Joe,

Though off-topic here, I would appreciate it if you would have a post with a remembrance for Andrew Olmstead. While a conservative, he was a favorite of mine to read. I'll have more to say in that thread.

It's acceptable to interrupt with a comment post on a genuine social emergency, and mourning the dead immediately is such an emergency. It is good, it is morally necessary, not to let this pass without note.

This is civility, piety (for some) and common human decency. I'm for it.

So thanks.

And, Andy Olmsted: much respect.

(Edited to correct the name, not to conceal an error but out of respect for someone who deserved infinitely more respect than I can express.

I will also correct anyone else who wants that, as well as deleting the requests.)

"Though off-topic here, I would appreciate it if you would have a post with a remembrance for Andrew Olmstead."

Olmsted. That's Major Andew Olmsted. Not "Olmstead."

It's on the right sidebar of this blog: Olmsted.

I think everyone is devastated just now. God knows I am.

"Andrew," of course.

The last full measure of devotion. Not in vain, Major.

Andrew Olmsted, Rest in Peace.

I just found out from Instapundit.

Damn.

It all seemed so easy and fun. Like we would last for ever.

Rest in Peace Andrew. And if you have anything to report try to get a message back.

Back on topic. Since life must go on.

I was part of the diversity AND OT wanderings (probably incivility too) at Durham in Wonderland.

It was a fun place when it was hot.

However I must say that Polanski was getting too full of himself at the end.