Be gracious. Steer clear of ad hominems, sarcasm, grinding axes, and all forms of nastiness.

Be brief.  Shoot for fifty words or less.  Note to folks who give lengthy comments on blogs: watch how your comments are addressed more frequently by being brief.

Be teachable.  All of us have much to learn.  Alexis de Tocqueville observed most people “either believe things without knowing why, or do not know what it is they ought to believe.”

I will not be able to respond to every comment.  When I do, I will seek diligently to follow the gracious, brief, and teachable triumvirate above.