To best of my abilities, I maintain an even tone on this blog, especially when addressing particularly contentious and controversial issues (and when am I not?). I find that convincing people of anything is extraordinarily difficult in any case, but it’s virtually impossible if your tone is strident, your writing flippant, or your attitude patronizing or condescending.

I can get worked up with the best of them, though, and even I need to let off some steam from time to time. I therefore introduce this new category. Of course, ranting on blogs is as old as writing on blogs. It would hardly be a blog without a rant or two, right?

Warning: these aren’t your mama’s rants—unless your mama swears a lot.