open threads and commenter posts – Overlawyered

What to read next?

Walter Olson — Tue, 26 May 2020 12:09:08 +0000

Several people have asked what blogs or other media might be worth turning to after Overlawyered ceases posting this weekend. You can probably guess what some of my own favorites are from the frequency with which I link them: Reason magazine including the Volokh Conspiracy group law professor blog, Cato at Liberty, Marginal Revolution, and Lowering the Bar, to name a few. It’s also true that a lot of activity that was once on blogs is now on Twitter, and Twitter isn’t for everyone.

What are some of your suggestions?

Tags: open threads and commenter posts

Comment thread: Overlawyered adjourned

Walter Olson — Thu, 21 May 2020 10:15:20 +0000

This is a comment thread on the news we’re announcing today about the end of Overlawyered’s long run.

I’ve had much cause to appreciate our commenters over the years, who have made me laugh, question my premises, and realize when subjects were more complicated than I thought. Overlawyered’s commenters are remarkably well informed on all sorts of topics, often much more so than I am. This has served not just to amuse and entertain, but to improve and correct my own writing. For that, and for everything else, I thank you.

Comment thread: Overlawyered adjourned is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

A note to commenters

Walter Olson — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 15:32:51 +0000

The Overlawyered comments feature, like a letters to the editor section, is subject to moderation and editing.

All comments are subject to moderation delay. Some never run, and others run in abridged or edited form, as with letters to the editor. If you ever feel that such editing has resulted in misstating your point, please either delete the comment or advise me that you would like it deleted.

People regularly try to turn the comments function here into a general gripe forum over national politics, its issues, parties, and personalities, the shortcomings of the mainstream media, opinions about celebrities, and so forth. That’s not going to happen if I can stop it as moderator.

There are thousands upon thousands of forums that welcome general U.S. political discussions. They offer a place to post to your heart’s content about issues not raised by our posts here.

Tags: about the site, open threads and commenter posts

A note to commenters is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

From the comments: Braille at drive-through ATMs

Walter Olson — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:05:22 +0000

From reader Matt S., on a phenomenon people have been musing about for years:

No, if you think about it, it’s fairly easy to understand that one..

They have to have the braille on walk up ATM and it’s just easier to have one set of buttons on a given ATM model that can be installed anywhere, than to manufacture two different sets of controls for any one model, one for walk up installations and one for drive through installations.

Once you have to have braille on some ATMs, basic economics says that it will be more cost efficient to have it on all ATMs.

It’s part of a lively reader discussion of accessibility rules.

Tags: banks, disabled rights, open threads and commenter posts, web accessibility

From the comments: Braille at drive-through ATMs is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

Overlawyered’s 50,000th comment

Walter Olson — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 05:05:32 +0000

Our 50,000th approved comment is this one, by Gitarcarver late yesterday. Thank you to our commenters, both veteran and new, who add greatly to our discussions.

Tags: about the site, open threads and commenter posts

Overlawyered’s 50,000th comment is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

Open link thread

Walter Olson — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 09:26:15 +0000

We haven’t had one of these for a long time. Feel free to nominate links to stories that might interest our readers.

Tags: open threads and commenter posts

Open link thread is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

Gone fishin’

Walter Olson — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:08:20 +0000

I will be taking a week or so away from the blog to enjoy the summer and will be holding comments until my return. See you soon.

Tags: about the site, open threads and commenter posts

Gone fishin’ is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

Comment of the day

Walter Olson — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:07:24 +0000

By Scott Jacobs, on a guest post by Aaron Worthing (regarding class actions over Apple device location tracking) at Patterico:

How the hell is it that I didn’t have Overlawyered bookmarked?

How, indeed?

Tags: accolades, Apple, class action settlements, open threads and commenter posts

Comment of the day is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

“Please Send News Tips By E-Mail, Not By Posting Off-Topic Comments”

Walter Olson — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 13:11:22 +0000

Advice given at the Volokh Conspiracy blog, and good advice here too.

Tags: open threads and commenter posts

“Please Send News Tips By E-Mail, Not By Posting Off-Topic Comments” is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

Blog comments by law firms

Walter Olson — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 05:11:14 +0000

When are they commentary sincerely reacting to posts? When are they mere spam? And how should one draw the line? Dan Filler wonders at Faculty Lounge.

P.S. From UK lawyer-blogger Charon, Q.C. a while back: “Fed up with law firms putting ads in comment section of my blog. I am now editing and re-directing all such to dodgy websites.”

Tags: blog mechanics, legal blogs, open threads and commenter posts

Blog comments by law firms is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system