Don't be shy ask your questions. This is the time and the place to find out what you need to know :)

I'll be available intermittently to address concerns for the next hour or so

"Our competitors" is the key there. In very general terms we can't think of many good reasons to link to our 'competitors', and particularly those who are more hostile and seemingly bent out of shape about WO's existence. Why would we?
That said, sometimes, an entire thread here may be based on another sites post if an important issue has been raised, but outside that we don't obsess about them, like some of them do us.

I should add if it wasn't obvious that general..err.. "news" sites, are OK, its specifically the political blogs that's being referred to.

Why are the Mods after us if we stick to one topic? What's wrong with being obsessive?

By all means be obessessed with one topic but don’t dominate the conversation. Look at as, do you want to be the person who turns up at very function going on about the same old thing. People slowly get turned off and walk away. And at the end of the day there is only one person left having a conversation with themself.

I read the Times every day and occasionally in the comments people will express exasperation with the initials WTF and FFS without being moderated out. I haven't used them but in certain circumstances they can be quite useful. ??

OK, I got the message. Shouldn't have brought it up. 😬

No that's fine. But Carl is spot on.

Essentially it's a foot in the door and a case of nipping it in the bud

Fair enough, I understand that.

To me using letters like that is swearing and if the mods starting allowing it people would just get cute and it would be a free for all again.

Just back from being banned for 4 years. Not entirely sure why I was banned but moderators have a job to do. Life's too short to quibble. Awesome blog and a privilege to be able to be able to add my opinion at times.

4 Years?!? I think they just forgot about you.

I just didn't ask to be forgiven .Still followed the blog in silence.

I read this article and have a burning question...

Who in the picture is Nige.?

The tough one. Now mosey on, pardner

Just a comment. I have no problem with sorting out any mod issues by email. However, having once been banned some years ago (under another name) for criticising a disgusting non-mod comment by a mod no longer here I still remain cautious about what I say at times.

Yeah hey look ....

While that mod taught me everything I know and I have used his wisdom (he really was a genius at what he did) to train the others, we have a completely different approach.

Our fuses are much longer.