Well, I think other commenters are poopy.
Dennis | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 12:39 am | #

The rude and mean ones, that is.
Dennis | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 12:39 am | #

LOL, Dennis.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 12:40 am | #

and i think you just pulled their stool [oops! can i say stool, now?] out from under them.
disagree ... yes! condescend ... not on this forum!
now you can spend your time crafting your art and your message, and not wasting it on those for whom you can now reserve the 'delete' key.
i think it sounds like a good call - let's see how it plays - atta gurl!
uncle jim | 09.16.06 - 1:12 am | #

Thank you, Uncle Jim. You got it!
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 1:16 am | #

I imagine there was a time (circa Socrates) when one could admit to changing one's mind, but that just doesn't seem to be "cool" anymore. You hit first with atomic rhetoric and go down in a blaze of gunfire before moving on to your next topic...and the less life experience you have, the better. The argument is the purpose unto itself.

That said, does this mean I can swear as long as I'm nice about it?
saintkansas | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 6:20 am | #

When you comment on my blog, be nice to other commenters and to me.

That is basically the only rule for commenting on my blog. (Although I may make exceptions...for example, if one of my commenters is "not nice" to a troll, I certainly won't mind.)
Susan B. | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 8:17 am | #

Ah, just out of curiosity, has anyone seen Invasion of the Body Snatchers lately?
Robert N G | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 8:54 am | #

Robert, are you testing your newfound freedom to comment off-topic?
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 9:56 am | #

That said, does this mean I can swear as long as I'm nice about it?

With strategically placed asterisks and other symbols, yes, I would say, as long as you're #@!$ nice about it. I don't want to set off anyone's obscenity filter.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 9:59 am | #

Robert, are you testing your newfound freedom to comment off-topic?

Not at all! I'm directly on topic, inquiring as to whether this new policy might be reflective of a, how shall I say this, "new" or, um, "different" Dawn Eden, and, if so, I'm merely suggesting that if such is the case there might, perhaps, be the possibility that the REAL DAWN EDEN HAS BEEN TOTALLY CONSUMED AND ASSIMILATED BY ALIEN PODS DETERMINED TO DESTROY LIFE ON EARTH AS WE KNOW IT!!

That's all.

I'll be watching carefully.
Robert N G | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 11:11 am | #

Clarification request, concering the point you raise at the end: can someone be banned for something they say about this blog, or its commenters, on another blog?
L. | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 12:06 pm | #

This is off-topic, but I'll ask anyway: When is your book coming out? I mean, the actual date.
maria horvath | 09.16.06 - 12:36 pm | #

Just seeing if I've been banned :)

[You were -- but you can have a second (actually, third) chance if you stay nice - Ed.]
Neil C. | 09.16.06 - 2:56 pm | #

The original Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one of my favorite movies. "Our only hope is to get to the highway!"

Just to keep this on topic: is there an obligation to be civil to entities which are pretty obviously pods? Just asking. Not that there's anybody who comments regularly on one of my blogs who has given me cause for concern on that score.
Maclin Horton | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 4:56 pm | #

"Just seeing if I've been banned" :)
Neil C.

Why, Neil? Do you want to be the leader of the banned? ;-)
Patrick | 09.16.06 - 5:29 pm | #

I think having a page of rules for commenting is generally not a very good idea. Reasonable rules tend to kind of go without saying, and expecting people to go read some other page before commenting on a blog is kind of unreasonable in itself. It can lead to things like piling on the guy who followed a link directly to the post (and thus, did not see the rules page) for writting anything other than a paraphrase of "Yeah!" (I'm thinking of a specific blog where I left the comment "wa", because I thought of the blogger as sort of a friend in a way. That was taken as anti-feminist trolling.)

Meant to mention before that something I like about this place is that Dawn allows me to practice my Protestant faith here, which by definition requires me to treat Papists as my brothers and call them on their florid errors. Not many Protestant bloggers allow that.
Dave Munger | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 5:50 pm | #

"Just seeing if I've been banned" :)
Neil C.

Why, Neil? Do you want to be the leader of the banned? ;-)
Patrick | 09.16.06 - 5:29 pm | # >>>


ACK! Must...get...Dan Fogelberg tune...out of....mind!
Neil C. | 09.16.06 - 6:11 pm | #

Clarification request, concering the point you raise at the end: can someone be banned for something they say about this blog, or its commenters, on another blog?

No. I'm just saying that I suffered certain rude folks for a while because I thought an atmosphere of politeness might rub off on them. Clearly it hasn't -- so from now on, they have to abide by the house rules, which are based on what used to be called common courtesy.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 7:56 pm | #

This is off-topic, but I'll ask anyway: When is your book coming out? I mean, the actual date.

Maria, that's my kind of off-topic question. The answer is here.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 09.16.06 - 7:59 pm | #

Thanks for that link to the Amazon page of your book, Dawn. The December 5, 2006, publication date does not seem far off at all.

Have you visited the page lately? They ask the usual question: "What do customers buy after viewing this item [your book]?" Not surprisingly, 87 per cent buy the item featured on this page. But some wag over at Amazon has determined that 13 per cent buy Leonard Cohen's "I'm Your Man."

Now, I like much of Leonard Cohen's work. But judging from his reputation as a romantic and charming poet and singer, I would guess that he is just the kind of Ladies' Man a girl's mother warns her against.
maria horvath | 09.17.06 - 1:17 pm | #

Your book has a great price, and I've pre-ordered. I hope to get it before Christmas break begins so I can read it over break, then determine which friends it might be helpful to give to as a present...

Good luck with the comments!
Jeff Geerling | Homepage | 09.18.06 - 6:56 am | #

Hi Dawn ! Never heard about you until today when I read The Times article on line, and consequently your profile in Wikepedia, and your site.

So far, from what I've seen from the article and your site, I share your views and admire your dedication.

Have you ever thought about doing a similar take but from a man's experience ?

I know you that you can only speak from your own experience, however it would be interesting to do a take on the same principles, but from a man's point of view.

It seems to me like the gender roles have inverted somewhat: that more men now long for a family (just like women did pre-sexual revolution), while women want to be more hedonistic.

Anyway, best of luck with your book !
Jorge | 01.14.07 - 1:09 pm | #

Dear Dawn,

Like many, I heard your interview on Radio National, Australia several days ago. It was repeated again this afternoon (Friday 16 Feb). I had a look at your website also.

A couple of comments: don't feel as though you have to try to build a relationship by sharing everything of the real you inside. Build trust first and this takes time and time allow you to test the relationship to see whether you are both going in the same direction in life.

As an Aussie looking in on American culture, I find it has a big emphasis on 'appearance' and seems somewhat superficial too. I think the cultural values as such, set couples up for failure from the start by an emphasis on things which are not particularly helpful.

Like you, my parents divorced, but when I was 18. I became a Christian when I was 21 after exhausting all the other religious and lifestyle options. I married at 25 yrs old after going out with my now wife for about 2.5 yrs. For me, a reasonably happily married bloke of 24 yrs, its been a long learning process of learning to trust, to remain commited when I don't feel particularly like it. My default response is to emotionally withdraw. I also made a point of marrying my best friend so as we move in and out of romantic love, a deeper love and commitment remains. We also seek to find what we have in common in each stage of our lives. This meant early on in our marriage, spending 3 yrs together doing theology degrees, so that intellectually we could share a common language. I find marriage a good spiritual discipline, it both supports me and keeps me from being totally self centered. I have also found that in being married that I am responsible to be 'chaste' also: I am not free to persue other women. This came out of a conversation with a friend, a Catholic priest (I'm Anglican/Episcopalian). We both noted on reflection we shared a common commitment to restraining impluses or unhelpful desires because of a commitment to our particular values: for him it was chasterty and me my marriage. I've eventually come to the conclusion that adultery is the pursuit of any meaningful relationship that provides intimacy outside the marriage. One's best friend (male or female) is secondary to my spouse. My enjoyment of my hobbies, my work, even my children (I have 3), are secondary to my primary relationship to my spouse. Many of these things are good, yet they can compete with my spouse for my affection and focus in life. If I am giving my energy and attention to the nurture of other people to the detriment or neglect of my wife, even if it is the most noble cause in the world, is to commit adultery. Why? I promised to forsake all others in my vows. By embarking on marriage together, we go together, not as two individuals (whereas the American way seems very individualistic). Now my first responsibility in life is to her and the children, and everything else is secondary. This was seen in the way Christ gave himself for the Church.

Every blessing, Rob
Anonymous | 02.16.07 - 6:10 am | #

Just read your article about the hippies. you mentioned th pop, so glad to read it. Pope jsut came out against the war, so glad you must be against it also.I really admire him for speaking out about it and think all us catholics must now add this to our campaigns in addition to chastity. love your work!
laura | 06.18.07 - 4:10 pm | #

Laura, where did the Pope come out against "the war"? He is always for peace, and he may have criticized certain U.S. military actions, but I haven't seen him make any all-encompassing pronouncements opposing "the war" in the same way that the Democratic Underground folks do. As for why I "must be against it," I don't know where that follows from what I wrote.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 06.18.07 - 8:24 pm | #

Dawn,

I saw you tonight on EWTN's LOR. You were excellent in every way. Was I projecting my own regret that time did not permit a more detailed response to some of the more deep questions. I think you presented the issue in a engaging and compelling way. I've bought a couple of your books for my daughter (28) and a friend's (25). Thanks so much for your commitment and effective witness.

Pete

P. S. I dropped out of listening to "pop" music when the Kingston Trio folded in 1967. I could never "get" most of what came later!
Pete | 09.28.07 - 12:56 am | #

I´ve reading your book in México, and I really want to congratulate yoo. God bless you. I will distribute your book among my friends and students
Xavier Ginebra | 06.28.09 - 4:29 pm | #