You may have noticed that I left your comment. I didn’t mind it because you’ve already commented and I recognized your handle.

Here’s a tip: Never post anything in anger, and never assume that someone is yelling at you online unless they’re using angry words. Or all caps. Or exclamation points.

Trust me when I tell you that when I get angry with someone, they know it in no uncertain terms.

Blogging etiquette is for those who view the blogosphere as a community, those for whom blogging forms an important part of their lives. I’m not one of those people. I only recently took up blogging, in the middle of the Lebanon War, out of the sense of my duty to contribute to Israel’s uphill battle in the media arena.

Blogging isn’t my life, it’s something I do because of the current need. Since I’m not in it for the community, I’m not beholden to blogging etiquette. I do hat tips to other blogs because I want to, and I let anti-Zionists comment on my blog because I’m in it for refuting their lies. My only concern is that I maintain intellectual honesty; etiquette is not my concern, and if it gets in the way, then out it goes.

“What I don’t like [...] are people who simply put links to their own blogs in comments without contributing to the conversation.” – must be very tough going, then, because I see people do that a lot. So much so that I can’t conclude the part in the ellipsis to reflect reality.

I’m also fine with commenters pointing us to other blogs (not their own) covering the same topics, because I rarely do linkfests any more.

Sorry about the self-tipping, Meryl, but I just wrote on the same subject, and I think you’ll find it agreeable too:

Critics of Israel and the Benefit of Doubt

Shabbat Shalom! (Actually, in about five hours for me)