About a month ago, I posted about The Hing discontinuing on-site comments in favor of a PHPBB messageboard.

It was an experiment and honestly, it failed pretty miserably. It devolved into a mud-slinging bitch fest that was more embarrassing than it was offensive.

I didn’t feel the comments (how they used to be) were enough, but clearly a full message board is too much.

The Hing is based upon The Onion. The Onion doesn’t allow comments at all. For The Hing, however, I wanted there to be some sort of dialog. But, anymore, I’m not sure that’s possible or even a good idea.

Please don’t misunderstand me. Devotees, myself very much included, need a place on the internet where we can say what we like and not be censored or banned. However there are already a couple places that come to mind (Gaudia Repercussions, Pariprashnena, and others).

The Hing is a humor site. At least it tries to be. And I fully realize that with satire, you are dealing with specific real topics that are often times very serious and need to be discussed.

But I’m not sure that I can facilitate this discussion. Like I said, I’m not at all against discussing these things. I’m all for it, as should be obvious. But I’m certain that The Hing is not the place for this.

Let me tell you a story that has something to do with this. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. His first six albums are brilliant. I’m not a huge fan of anything made after the “Born in the USA” album (though it’s good in it’s own way). However, I’ve always respected how Springsteen was a populist. He was for the workin’ man, against “the establishment” and sang songs from the point of view of The Everyman. I loved it. But in 2004, he came out in support of John Kerry for president. I don’t really care who he votes for, or that he votes at all. But when he picked sides, to me, he lost his ability to be appreciated by “everybody.”

That’s fine, he can do/write/sing what he wants. Go, Bruce! But when he did that (and again in this election with the Hope Dope Dealer Obama), he lost something. I’d feel the same way if he sided with a Republican candidate. He picked sides. He alienated people. It’s his choice and he’s got every right to do that, but he did alienate people.

And that’s something I feel that I am doing if The Hing is hosting such a forum. The thing that should be really clear about The Hing is that “everybody gets some.” We don’t discriminate when it comes to dishing it out. And thus, we don’t alienate people (or perhaps we alienate everybody… but whichever, it’s equal!).

When I started The Hing, I wanted it to be separate from me. But now I see that that isn’t possible. The Hing and I (which would make a smashing musical, btw) are simultaneously one, yet different (hehe). And because of that, I’m responsible for what’s posted and what’s said on The Hing forums.

And that’s why there are no longer Hing forums.

We’re going back to how it was, except things will be moderated. I have the final say, so if there’s a problem, I’m the one to be held accountable.

For further reading, please checkout the new guidelines here.

Any tips, suggestions, etc are encouraged.

ps – new article tomorrow!