I want to let our readers know why some comments do not make it onto our website.

I am doing my best to keep the conversation civil. Many comments are deliberately biting and set an argumentative tone. I understand people have frustrations, but I am trying to avoid losing readers who might be alienated by angry posts.

We try to avoid name calling. Just saying someone is a liar – which some commenters tend to do in just about every entry – lacks the impact of saying what the lie is and what the truth is. I think that would be more constructive.

Repetition can get tedious, so I don’t approve the same kinds of comments over and over again. How many times do you need to say that someone is a liar? You have made your point repeatedly.

I am also trying to avoid allowing individuals to dominate the comments section. We have a rule that people can write a letter to the editor once per month. I am tightening up the adherence to the word limits (500 for the web, 350 for the papers). I am considering one comment per person per day, possibly with a word limit as well. As the Grateful Dead said, “Please don’t dominate the rap, Jack.”

I appreciate your passion about wanting to make your points heard, but I have a responsibility to the readers of this website to keep it under control. 

Thank you.

Michael Durand
Editor and Publisher
The Richmond Review and Sunset Beacon newspapers
Editor@RichmondSunsetNews.com