New Comments Procedure

If you posted a comment in the last few weeks, you have undoubtedly noticed that there is a lag before the comment actually appears. What is going on is that ALL comments now come to me first. If I approve them (which I generally do, except for SPAM, animal rights nonsense, and sedevacantists, or other irritants), then they appear as they normally did.

However, if I am away for a couple of days, or simply too busy, then they sit in limbo until I get back. I realize that this impedes the flow of conversation that can make comments boxes enjoyable, but it works wonders for spam control, which has been a persistant headache.

A side effect is that I am more inclined to delete comments that would have slid by in the past, like the anonymous folks who find this site with a google search and then get angry because I am not offering the easy answers to their term paper, or whatever it is that they are looking for. I am also more inclined to send private replies, because the configuration just makes that easier. To post a reply, I have to go to the actual site, post my comment, then come back to the editor to approve it. I will do that if the comment seems of general interest, but if someone is asking for some specific thing that I cannot see anyone else caring about, I am much more inclined to just send an email out.

One last thing. In getting used to this system, I may have made mistakes. I may have neglected to send email replies or have accidentally deleted comments that were fine and should have been approved. If this happened to you, sorry. I think I have the procedure down now.

So, with that, I must finish two restaurant reviews (got to keep the editors at bay), get enough sleep to go to the bullfight in Gustine tomorrow night, and manage to organize two of my bookshelves.

Oh yes, if you ever get a chance to go to confession from one of the priests of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, by all means do so. I have only done it with one priest, but he is outstanding. I imagine that it reflects a certain level of formation that happens with the order.