Grandma's house, Grandma's rules

My grankids know the rules at my house are a little different than the rules at home. I'm easier on them in some ways, but I do insist on civil behavior. They are not allowed to call each other names or be mean-spirited toward each other. At home, they get their cell phones taken away. Here, they're told civility is expected of them, and they comply most of the time because they don't want me to walk away from them.

Last night, I was the live blogger in the newsroom for the Sarah Palin event, and I was bent on being fair.

As a journalist, I'm called to leave my opinions at the door and respect each person's views, whether I agree with them or not.

I'll admit that most of us in the newsroom lean toward the Democratic ticket, but we were determined to give Sarah Palin the same degree of hooplah we gave Obama.

Danny -- the Republican in the family -- told me he didn't believe we could be fair in our coverage and I sent him a long e-mail talking about this being more than just a job, and how it requires balance, how my father taught me how to do it, and how proud I am of reputation as a fair reporter.

So, I sat down at the blog and took vignettes and scene setters from reporters at the Civic Center, two blocks away. We quoted people who drove for hours to get there and see Palin and we quoted a couple of the protesters who oppose her.

But 8,000-plus people came to see Palin and 200 came to protest. The main focus was on the bigger crowd.

Within a half hour, people were putting nasty comments up.

Now, day-to-day, the paper doesn't refuse to post mean-spirited comments, but this was my live blog and my rules. I refused to post mean-spirited comments and soon they got meaner because I wouldn't post comments calling Sarah Palin rude names or racist comments about Barack Obama.

One comment called me a right-wing tool. I was so mad, I posted the comment, answering him with my condescending, "Listen, Honey, you don't know anything about my politics and I'm happy to keep it that way. I don't care what your views are; if you're nasty, you don't get posted."

I insisted on a civilized, adult discussion, and I got personal attacks in return. They attacked Palin, they attacked Obama, they attacked the newspaper and they attacked me. I didn't cave in.

At the end of the evening, we got a ton of comments thanking me for keeping things civil.

We're never going to solve this country's problems if we continue to simply allow this nastiness. None of us should tolerate it when we hear it. Refuse to listen to it. Challenge it. Insist on civility.

My kids' friends knew they were welcome in my house as long as they behaved in a civil manner. If they didn't they were asked to leave.

You do have free speech, and you can use it in the city park. You are not allowed to be rude and uncivilized when I'm moderating.

Grandma's forum, Grandma's rules. Play nice or leave.