Comments Policy
Baguio Insider uses a blogging platform that allows, among others, an interactive discussion via the comments section on the topics on each post or page. Sometimes, there are comments to comments.
This site is privately owned, and although comments and discussions are open to the public, this site is not public property. Comments become part of the site and it is the owner-webmasters duty to make sure that only useful information is published on the internet.
It is thus important for the owner of the site to inform visitors and readers of the policies regarding comments:
1. Moderated Comments. The comments on this site are moderated. This means that the owner-webmaster reads and checks all of them and there will be some waiting time prior to approval, so folks are asked to check back within 24 hours to see if their comments appear on the blog. Sometimes it takes a few minutes, sometimes hours, depending on whether the owner-webmaster is online or not.
2. Duplicate Comments. These fall into two categories.
a. Those submitted by folks who do not realize all comments are moderated so when they do not see their comment published immediately they send a duplicate comment. The webmaster usually deletes publishes the earliest comment and deletes the succeeding ones.
b. Those comments made under different, sometimes fictitious, names on the same topic. What folks have to know is that the IP addresses are registered per comment, so the owner-webmaster can tell who is sending what. So when one person sends a succession of comments on the same topic, pretending to be different persons, only the first comment is published and the rest are disapproved.
3. Approved Comments. Most comments are approved, whether or not they agree with what is written in the article, provided they do not belong to the types of comments that are included in No 4 below. It is the owner-webmaster’s personal policy to encourage a healthy discussion on all the topics, providing all interested parties with a venue for the exchange of ideas.
4. Disapproved Comments. Since the beginning of this site, only a relatively few comments have not seen publication and these generally fall under the following categories:
a. spammy (these are nonsensical and are usually written to provide a link to another site),
b. malicious/libelous (these contain derogatory remarks about specific persons and are usually off topic),
c. totally argumentative (these are those people who want to have the last word and will not listen to reason or respect contrary views; they generally respond to comments to their comments and will not stop);
d. just plain snide (usually these are comments that are disrespectful to the author or another commenter, but mostly to Filipinos in general, although sometimes the owner-webmaster may allow the occasional publication of the same, if just to show folks that there are such creatures on earth).
5. E-Mail Addresses. Commenters are required to include email addresses that will not be published for privacy reasons. They will also not be contacted directly by the owner-webmaster to be sold any product or service as a result of this submission. These are required in the extreme event that the commenter must be contacted via email, such as when one requests for more information, or when there are some things that must be discussed in private.
The owner-webmaster may contact the person via the email address submitted but not without first revealing in the comments section of the intention to do so (usually, “I will contact you via email. No need to write yours here. I have it on file.”)
On certain occasions, the owner-webmaster may try to contact the person via email if just to check the validity of the email address submitted. The submission of a bogus email address may cause the comment to be disapproved.
6. Edited Comments. The comments are edited or corrected only as far as spelling is concerned and this is usually at the request of the commenter sent via email or subsequent comment. Sometimes a second similar comment is sent by the same person with the request to delete the previous one, and this request is usually granted.
7. Deletions of Published Comments. The owner-webmaster reserves the right to delete any comments previously approved for publication for any reason whatsoever, and without notice.
8. Opening & Closing Posts or Pages to Comments. Generally, all pages and posts are open for comments but the owner-webmaster reserves the right to disallow comments in any area of the site, at her discretion and for reasons of her own. Likewise, the owner-webmaster reserves the right to close comments for any page or post even after having allowed some comments to be published already, in which case all previously published comments shall remain but no new ones will be allowed.
9. Language and Spelling. This site is written in English and most comments submitted are written in the English language, although Filipino, Spanish, Tagalog and Ilocano words are sometimes used. It is the personal policy of the owner-webmaster to respond to the comment in the language used by the commenter as much as possible. Folks are encouraged to write out their comments using words spelled out completely, to avoid the use of abbreviations (including those normally used in text messaging /sms in cellphones) so that they may be understood better by a greater number of readers.
10. Disclaimer. The information and opinions contained in the different pages and post of this site are the peronsal views of the owner-webmaster, while the comments are the personal views of the commenters. The former exercises prudence in the approval of all comments but does not warrant that the facts contained therein are accurate.
11. Non-Solicitation. All the comments on this site are unsolicited and are voluntarily submitted by persons who are interested to make their views known on certain topics.
The owner-webmaster, in recognizing the importance of this site as a venue for productive discussions on the topics contained herein, actively encourages the submission of comments by the general public by opening most topics up for comments, by responding as much as is humanly possible each comment, and by causing the publication of comments that may not necessarily agree with her personal views.
12. Policy Changes. This policy may change (i.e. commenting may become completely open or unmoderated) because it is based on current practices, visitor behavior, industry practices or blogging platform limitations, thus this policy may be modified at anytime at the discretion of the owner-webmaster without need for prior notice to the public and such modifications thereto shall be immediately in full force and effect upon publication.
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Lisa’s Notes:
1.This Comments Policy is my original work and, like everything else in this site, may not be copied by others. But if you have a blog and want to publish a comments policy it is suggested that you develop your own based on your experience. These policies do not necessarily apply to all sites with comments enabled.
2. Those persons who feel they have something to contribute to the internet are strongly encouraged to run their own blog sites. It’s actually a lot of fun and a great learning experience.
3. The same way I try to be as open about everything is the way I encourage everyone else to be as transparent as possible. Those who submit bogus emails or fictitious names are noted.
We just...
Hi Lisa,
We’ve been to baguio last March 6-8, 2009. We had a great time visiting those places you have recommended. And we were able to witnessed the capability demonstration of the PMA Cadets it was really terrific! I salute the management of PMA and Camp John Hay for keeping the place clean and orderly. The only setback in Baguio is its cleanliness, as we can see trash thrown anywhere. LGU should keep the city clean for tourist will surely flank to the area for this reason just like what Puerto Princesa City did.
Thanks very much for all the tips you have shared and we were able to save and enjoy our stay in Baguio. God Bless You!
Hiya Mel,
Great that the sites were helpful to you. And, yes, the city has been having a problem with cleanliness. You’re not the only one who has noticed. Our government is paying more attention to money-making projects that housekeeping, which is their primary job by the way — alas! Maybe next year we can elect a team that will perform better. Or maybe, even before that, they will learn to engage the citizenry through proactive leadership.
One can only pray.
Hi Ma’am Lisa. I want ot invite you to visit our newly opened pizza pasta resto at the South Drive Baguio Manor. How may i contact you personally?
hi ms lisa,
got lazy trying to find out how to email you without having to go through the “comment” page. anyways, here goes:
what is the best wheelchair- accessible place to stay in in baguio? no hurry really. am not going there soon what with the recent events.
soncerely,
rudy
ps do those establishments accept the “LSG card?” LOL
pps miss you, missie.
Rudy!!!!!!!!!
The big hotels with lifts — The Camp John Hay Manor, Hotel Elizabeth, and the like. Or you can come as my honeymoon guests as I have the Atenara Suite on the ground floor and give you and Kimmie breakfasts in bed. Pet-friendly too so you can bring your big baby shepherdess along. (LSG cardholders like you get a 100% discount at Atenara House).
But if a huge group… or during the Christmas break ….
I MISS YOU!!!!
Lisa
ps. got your email, will send you a message now.