Commenting sections on the internet are notoriously unpleasant and we’re sad to report that our website is no exception. 

We’ve recently seen an influx in the types of comments deemed unwelcome on our website and we need to address the issue. Let’s start here: our Comments Policy is always posted on our website.

Here’s a refresher: 

THINGS THAT BREAK THE RULES

  • Potentially libelous comments.
  • Obscene, racist or bigoted comments.
  • Personal attacks, insults, or threatening language. Name-calling will not be tolerated.
  • Plagiarized material.
  • Private, personal information published without consent.
  • Comments totally unrelated to the topic of the post.
  • Commercial promotions or spam.
  • Hyperlinks to material that is not directly related to the discussion.
  • Comments that are duplicated on multiple stories or articles.
  • Comments that are typed in all caps. That’s shouting.
  • Comments that harass the reporters and newspaper staff.

We delete comments that violate the policy. Repeated and particularly egregious violations get you booted from the TW comments for good. 

We strive to be judicious about which comments to delete. We don’t want to censor you. We also don’t want the comments section of our website to turn into a cesspool of hate speech, personal attacks and hijacked conversations.

When that happens, we start deleting posts and closing commenting.

You can notify us about comments you find objectionable by pushing the “report” button at the bottom left and telling us why you think the comment should be removed.  

Here’s the deal: Make your points, say what you need to say, speak up when someone is mistaken or misinformed. Be critical. Discussion and debate are welcome. Personal attacks and racist comments are not.

This article appears in Feb 18-24, 2016.

Bookworm, cat lady, journalism enthusiast.

10 replies on “A Note About Our Comments Policy”

  1. Fair enough. And while you are at it please consider tempering obscene language by your writers including referring to those they disagree with as assholes and scumbags. A publication that permits that sort of language demeans itself,

  2. Well said Rick. I have been continually ridiculed and called names because of my opinions. It says so much more about them.

  3. What a two faced, hypocritical joke.

    TW hack columnists routinely fail to meet these levels of propriety, especially the one named Tommy-Boy.

    Maybe first impose your so-called decency standards on your own ilk before imposing this self sanctimonious BS on the readers…

  4. Thank you for this reiteration of your policy. While I may personally disagree with some of my fellow commenters, we still need to respect each others opinion. Telling someone that”Yo mama wears Army shoes” adds little to the discourse.

  5. This is not a lot to ask of civilized humans having an attempt at conversing… However, I question the reasoning behind most of the comment posters. They only get on to see how irate and obnoxious they can be. They really don’t care about the subject or sharing opinions. They make any legit comment disappear into the mash of verbal profanity.

  6. All, looks like justification to preserve you failing left wing utopia. People are getting wise to your propaganda and you don’t like light being shined on your nonsense, just like cockroaches scurrying under the refrigerator when the light comes on.

    You are becoming what the left originally fought against. Totalitarian censors.

    Your tears are delicious Chelo Grubb.

    Am I going to be censored for not knowing the current Social Justice Warrior dictionary of wrong think and wrong speech? Your Migrants are actually Illegal aliens.

    David Safier constantly attacks non Democrats and defends his friends on the Tucson School Board.

    Your facade of free speech is crumbling.

    Trump 2016

  7. These rules obviously don’t apply to liberal retards though, right?

    Please, If you (TW) can dish out your garbage but can’t take it when it’s thrown back at you then you probably shouldn’t post your liberal crap views.

  8. Trolls rule in the era of Trump politics. And let’s not forget Fox News, where Trump was a regular Monday guest on Fox and Friends. Nowadays you get labeled too PC if you try to be polite, yet quite appropriately PC if you blast any/all who dare disagree with you. It is too easy for trolls. They think they rule us all.

  9. But you can call Trump a human piñata in one of your columns and that’s just fine. Talk about double standards.

  10. I mean, that comment linked to an actual Trump piñata. Maybe pick one up for your election night party, CW13.

Comments are closed.