Commenting: More than a Suggestion.

Moderators have been informed that they are allowed to move comments from member writing to the general writing forum with a title: "Conversation inspired by .." with a link back to the work if the comment offered is not related to the work directly.

This instruction in no way affects suggestions, and critiques of writing, questions about a work or the like. Nor does this mean comments will be 'deleted' -- the entire idea here is that we'll be trying to form a general work-flow on all posted pieces that makes sense for the community, the authors, and the adminstrators.

Since we're not talking about deletions, please refrain from accusing me or any of the staff of 'censorship' because this isn't that at all. In fact, it's an attempt to create proper avenues for each type of reaction to a given work.

I am not at all asking anyone to refrain from conversation comments and posts. What I'm asking is that such posts are posted in the proper areas.

1) Regarding 'I like it' comments -- please do not stop with those, however, they aren't properly 'comments' that should be posted under a work. Instead I ask that you write the author directly and let them know. They will love to hear it, and appreciate the pat on the back. Don't hesitate to let them know, but please write the author, do not add it as a comment.

2) Regarding non-writing posts. -- These instructions do not apply. The only Posts that have this protection are works offered up under the site areas directly related to writing such as poetry, short fiction, long fiction, or non-fiction. Any journal entry in the personal category is assumed to be a conversation starter of some sort, and all comments and such will be left right where they are.

3) Private messages are always a great alternative for the cute little remarks that engage the the author, and let them know your fondness for their work and the content of it, and you're always welcome to start a topic in the general writing forum entitled "Thoughts Inspired by " with a link at the top of the world. Also, you can use your favorites to encourage people to check out the work of your friends on this site.

I realize that some of this policy needs to be fleshed out and considered carefully. To that end, I very much welcome comments and feedback on this new information.

And please remember: No posts are going to be deleted, the absolute limits of administrative intervention will be to move inappropriate comments to the general writing forum with the proper title and a link back to the writing. I would also expect that moderators will post a comment to the work that links to the forum alerting members that the post has inspired conversation.

By the way, the inspired conversation are a great compliment to any work, and I do not in any way see this as a negative for the site. If anything it's the best type of issue to be dealing with.

I'm merely trying to protect the authors without trampling the commentors or stifling the comaraderie.