How to join the conversation
Ground rules, AI moderation, and the first questions on which I invite your response.
By Jacobus van Merksteijn · 5 min read · 23 May 2026
At the table — waiting for your voice
Four simple rules
A newspaper without debate is a sermon. That is why every publication in The Open Visor has its own discussion thread — not as an afterthought, but as part of the editorial work.
By name
No anonymous accounts. Whoever stands behind their argument also signs it. A GitHub or email account is sufficient — no passport required, but a name you would also give in a conversation.
On the substance
No insults, no insinuations, no personal attacks. Attacks on the argument are precisely what is welcome — the sharper the better.
One argument per message
Long treatises discourage reading. Keep your point short and clear. Respond separately to another point if you also want to say something about it.
Sources welcome, claims careful
Whoever asserts something verifiable is welcome to add a link. Whoever suspects something writes "I suspect that" — not "it is well known that".
Three layers, no arbitrariness
Three concrete questions for this edition
Your response can go in three directions:
- It stays — permanently, searchable in the archive.
- I respond to it — briefly or at length, openly below the response. Sometimes supplementing, sometimes disagreeing, sometimes conceding.
- It inspires a future article — the best counter-arguments often become the subject of a follow-up piece. With attribution if you are happy with that.
No advertising, no tracking, no heat
The discussion runs via Giscus (open-source on GitHub Discussions). Your email is not sold anywhere. The system does not promote responses based on engagement algorithms.
Three questions for the first edition:
Which subject appeals to you most?
And which subject do you still miss?
Would you prefer to vote by subject?
And which subject would you want decided first?
Are you a plasma physicist?
Or do you know one? Would you like to work through the challenges of the conical vortex reactor with me?
How to join the discussion
Ground rules, AI moderation, and the first questions on which I am asking for your response.
A paper without discussion is a sermon. Every publication in The Open Visor has its own comment thread — not as an afterthought, but as part of the editorial process. Four rules: respond under your real name, stay on substance, one argument per message, and add a source when you assert something verifiable.
Moderation works in three layers: an AI filter removes spam and insults within seconds; flagged responses and all first responses from new users are reviewed by a human within 24 hours; and each week an AI summariser distils the strongest counter-arguments and sharpest insights for those who do not wish to read every comment.
Your response stays in the archive permanently. I reply openly — sometimes adding context, sometimes disagreeing, sometimes conceding a point. The strongest counter-arguments often become the subject of a follow-up article, with attribution if you agree. The discussion runs via Giscus, open-source on GitHub. Your email is not sold anywhere.
Three questions for this edition
Which topic in this edition speaks to you most? Would you prefer voting issue by issue rather than for a party? And are you a plasma physicist, or do you know one? The conical vortex reactor is looking for people willing to work through its technical challenges together.