Check Yourself at the Hyperlink: Proper Commenting Etiquette

I am a very passionate fan.

Read almost any of my stuff, and you'll figure that out.

You'll also find in many of my comments sections that I have a very low tolerance level for unprepared and sloppy comments.

If you have input GREAT!

Let me hear it.

But if yous thinks dat stuff likes dis are going to cut it, think again (this is not to say that I require perfect grammar, just a legible sentence).

If you mangle the English language like the fine piece of literature I provided there, I will be sure to come back and make you look at least a little bad (chances are, your ideas aren't that great anyway).

The surprising thing is, comments like that are more common than I'm comfortable with.

So, I decided to provide a list of guidelines that I would like to see abided by on my articles.

• Know what you're talking about—to an extent.
  
  I understand that not everyone has the time to be a baseball nerd like myself, but at least know a little about the topic you're commenting on.
  
  If you say something like: "I think the Braves should bat the pitcher leadoff every third Tuesday of the month."
  GET OUT!!!
  
  I take the time to read every comment I receive, and to post garbage like this is just wasting my time.

• Spell the names right.
  
  Once again, baseball nerds aren't exactly plentiful, but if you call yourself a fan, at least spell star player's names correctly.
  
  As a Braves fanatic, these are a few that erk the hell out of me: Jair Jurgins (supposed to be Jurrjens), Garrett Andersen (supposed to be Garret Anderson), Jordan Schaffer (supposed to be Schafer), and Tommy Hansen (supposed be Hanson).

• Don't put too many stats into your comments.
  
  This kind of goes back the the "Know what you're talking about" bullet.
  
  For me, a lot of stats serve as a shield for fans who have poor points and even poorer observation skills.
  
  If your comment looks like this: "Bob Bobertson hit .274 every eighth at-bat against left-handed pitchers with last names starting with 'Q,' WHIPS under 4.179, and fielding percentages over .999."
  It's confusing and, when that many numbers are involved, nearly meaningless.
  
  A batting line (i.e. .298/.314/.401), however, is acceptable.
  
  
• Actually read the article you're commenting on.
  
  I hate it when someone repeats, nearly verbatim, what you said in an article and act like it came out of their head.
  
  It probably took me/the writer a while to develop an idea into a readable article and for someone to come along and say the same exact thing in a two line comment (without any of the back-up I/the writer provided) is a slap in the face.
  
  There isn't that much more to be said on this other than DON'T COPY ME.
  
  
• Know who you're talking to.
  
  I don't want to sound too pompous with this, but if you're trying to talk down to a top-five writer in the community for which the article you're commenting on was written (a little confusing, I know), you are a little out of line.
  
  I'm not saying that you don't necessarily know what you're talking about, I'm just saying that those guys have worked hard and PROVEN to know what they're talking about.
  
  Criticizing BabyTate in anything or Joel Barker on the Braves only makes you look bad after they come back and destroy you with all the knowledge they've attained through their months (or years) of dedication on this site.
  

I hope you got my point out.

But, just to clarify some more, here's the jist of what I'm saying: Be concise productive when commenting on people's articles (especially those who have worked harder than you).