Archive for Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Journal-World websites to require commenters to identify themselves

October 9, 2013

To our readers: We are changing the system we use to allow readers to comment on stories. We are ending anonymity and will require commenters to post using their real names.

We are doing this in response to countless requests from readers who want us to provide a more civil, responsible forum for discussion. We have received numerous complaints that comments on our sites are too frequently filled with extreme speech, insults, name-calling, misleading statements and other behavior that is made possible and even encouraged by anonymity.

By requiring the use of real names, commenters will be personally responsible for what they post on the site for others to see.

Beginning Thursday, users who want to comment will be required to link their accounts on ShawneeDispatch.com, TonganoxieMirror.com, BasehorInfo.com, BaldwinCity.com, BonnerSprings.com and our other sites to their Facebook accounts. This will NOT make comments on our sites visible on Facebook, but it will provide us with a method to validate user accounts and real names. Facebook does not allow its users to create fake profiles. Those who want to post comments on our sites without a Facebook account will not be able to. Additionally, we reserve the right to contact users directly to further confirm their accounts.

It's important to note that this change in our registration system in no way affects anyone's ability to read our sites, subscribe to e-mails or otherwise participate in our sites. The real-name requirement applies only to those who want to post comments or other types of content that will be publicly visible on our site.

We did not make this decision lightly. It follows months of consideration and study of what other sites are doing to handle the increasingly thorny issue of anonymous comments. Many other sites have been modifying their comments sections to make commenters more accountable and attain a more civilized tone of discussion. Just in the past few weeks, ESPN.com, USAToday.com and the Kansas City Star's kansascity.com have adopted similar Facebook-based comment registration.

It's important to note that comments already on the site will remain in place. But when existing commenters link their accounts to a Facebook account, all of their previous comments will then appear under their real names. Users who wish to avoid this should create a new account using their real name and link that new account to their Facebook account. That will preserve the anonymity of their previous comments.

We will continue to enforce our terms of service for comment behavior. Anyone wishing to contact us anonymously and privately to give us a story tip or other communication can still do so by clicking the "Submit" menu in the navigation above, and choosing "Story idea."

There's more information about the new comment-registration policy in our FAQ. If you have any questions or thoughts about what we're doing, please direct them to Managing Editor Julie Wright at comments@ljworld.com. Or you may leave a comment below.

Comments

Torch 1 year, 2 months ago

So long everyone!

No way in hell I'm posting here with my real name. That's suicide in this town.

I think I began posting here back in 2000 or so. One of the 'originals'...but once they got rid of the old forum and went with the 'Speak Out' it pretty much killed commentary anyway.

It's been an interesting decade+. I wish you all good luck.

Adieu

1

greyghost 1 year, 2 months ago

Yeh ... the end of an era.

I'd like to offer back my username of "greyghost" to "TheOnlyGreyghost." I no longer have any use for it.

Torch: I agree that you shouldn't post anything with your real name as Tony might be able to track you down and "buy you lunch."

1776 Attorney: I look forward to your continued posts about how your family settled Baldwin in 1857 and your obsessive/compulsive posts about gutters and sidewalks in the city center.

It's been real (in a fake way). Thanks.

2

DrWho 1 year, 2 months ago

greyghost How does it feel to be the "poster child" for this change?

0

NanCrisp 1 year, 2 months ago

I don't mind using my name. I always have, anyway. What I do mind is linking to my facebook page. So, me too. So long! And interestingly, there are VERY few comments appearing on the LJWorld site today.

0

greyghost 1 year, 2 months ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

1

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