Since we began operating about seven months ago, readers have regularly recommended that we require those who comment on Oak Ridge Today to use their real names.
In the beginning, this wasn’t much of an issue. Most people who commented on our site used their real, full names. And our readers said they appreciated that.
But recently, it seems that an increasing number of readers, maybe even most, have commented using pseudonyms.
This was not our intention. We had hoped that most people would continue to use their real names. However, we haven’t posted a comment policy that required this.
We are now. We would like to ask readers to use their real names when commenting on stories on Oak Ridge Today. We are hopeful that this will help keep the conversation civil and add credibility to the comments that are posted here.
Trying to keep comments civil is an ongoing struggle for many media companies. We don’t think it’s been a significant issue for us so far, and we realize that requiring real names won’t guarantee civility in the future. But we think it’s a start.
It also makes our policies consistent. Right now, we require letter writers to use their real names. We don’t think it’s fair to enforce that policy while allowing comments to be posted anonymously.
We are aware that this policy could cut down on the number of comments on Oak Ridge Today. But for us, it boils down to this: We’re accountable for what we write here, and we think you should be accountable for what you say here.
We have participated in discussions with other independent online publishers about commenting policies. As you might expect, there are a range of solutions. Some have had good experiences with requiring real names, and we’d like to try to emulate their work.
We have observed that some larger media companies are also switching to policies that ask those who comment to use real names, often by using social media plugins.
We apologize to those who have posted anonymously on Oak Ridge Today and have usually or always been positive. We’re hesitant to make this change because of you. However, we think this policy is in the best long-term interest of this site.
We recognize that there are times when someone may want to comment on an issue but might not be able to do so publicly, often because of their employment. If that’s the case for you and you have information you want to share, you are always welcome to send it to us in an e-mail using this site’s contact form (in the header at the top of every page) or directly at [email protected].
Here are some other commenting guidelines. They are subject to change.
- Be civil.
- Please stick to the issues.
- Don’t insult others or attack their character.
- Keep your comments to a reasonable length and exercise restraint in how often you comment on a single issue. Sometimes, brevity makes a message more powerful.
We reserve the right to remove comments that violate those guidelines or contain any of the following:
- Potentially libelous statements.
- Threats or obscene, explicit, or racist language.
- Promotions of commercial products.
You are welcome to give us feedback on our commenting policy by sending an e-mail to [email protected].
Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today.
Mike M says
Great!!!!
TJ says
I think everyone knows TJ, the Libertarian, who buys lots of newspaper ads.
johnhuotari says
I don’t know if everyone knows TJ, but many people probably do.
Max Smart says
Yet you let him post without a last name. You have attempted to set a policy (not that you actually have any hope of actually enforcing it) and you just “wave off” someone who is not using his full name. Why is that? Could it be that you are afraid of his wife?
TJ says
Will use my full name, when I figure out to change it. Notice that Max Smart is gone.
David Smith says
Ah, yes, I see censorship is alive and well.
Max Smart says
Really, TJ? And John, please note that this has been posted through Facebook. How arbitrary are you going to be?
John Huotari says
I see you figured out how to add your last name. Thank you.
kay williamson says
he had help,
johnhuotari says
To be consistent, though, we would like you to use your last name.
TJ Garland says
Max smart a$$ said thru discus that I use pseudonyms on Facebook. I have never used Facebook and everyone who quotes me or mentions my name on Facebook is subject to a lawsuit. I will never have a Facebook account.
David Smith says
Wow, for a supposed libertarian, you sure are quick to threaten people.
Ck Kelsey says
I usually post as CK ,I suppose that is acceptable. I do not like for people to hide behind a user ID either. Hope that’s OK to use John.
John Huotari says
First initials are fine if that’s how you are known in the community, and I think that’s true in your case. Also, you’re commenting using Facebook, which is one of the options.
Sam Hopwood says
A giant step forward! Goodbye Agent86 and Onslow West.
John Huotari says
I think people have made some good points while posting under pseudonyms on this site, and I hope they will consider doing so under their real names.
Max Smart says
Gee, Hoppy, you think it’s really that simple?
JusticeHurd says
Thanks, John
Lee Roy Gilliam says
I have always tried to be truthful in what I write even though people do not want to hear what I say, nothing chasnges. People will still BS you and try and bully you.
My saying is; “It is what it is: ——-I just move and so does life.
At least if you did not know the person you difd not judge them—– I have found that people like to lay blame else where. =They want things to be one issue when life is multi faceted..
John Huotari says
I try not to judge. Thank you for posting under your real name.
Onslow West says
I don’t think anyone questions your truthfulness and your concerns are respected.
The problem is that you post complaints without suggesting actions that we can take to resolve the dilemmas faced by drivers with handicaps. For example, where did you vote and what was wrong with the spaces provided?
Max Smart says
Fascinating. A new commenting policy is announced and two of the eight comments promptly violate it.
Lee Roy Gilliam says
John Houtari
Personally I could care less because I can only speak for my self..
But it is sad when what people say gets limited. It’s funny that I still can not prove who you are
nor can you prove who wrote this .
you still assume that it is Lee Roy Gilliam much to do about nothing it solves none of Oak Ridges problems.
I just find it funny
No one cared .
Just like me voting I had to show my voter ID but was unable to park in a handicapped parking space for unloading wheelchairs ———so discrimination is alive and well in Oak Ridge, TN
I was the only person in a wheelchair with 3 wheelchair spaces Now I shall leave you alone.
For I have better things to do and some more laws to violate in order to GAIN public access.
take care
Max Smart says
For once Lee Roy has a valid point when he says: “It’s funny that I still can not prove who you are nor can you prove who wrote this.”
Ellen Smith says
I wasn’t standing outside the early voting site at Midtown Community Center when you arrived to vote, Lee Roy, but during the times I was there I have observed a number of issues with wheelchair parking. (Please note that I could see the parking situation from a distance, but I was in no position to do anything about it because of the 100-ft boundary that we candidates aren’t supposed to cross.)
I saw some cars parked in total violation of the parking rules. On more than one occasion, somebody parked in the striped “no parking” area that is intended for wheelchair unloading.
The biggest problem I have observed is that there are often many more vehicles with “disability” parking permits in the lot at one time than there are spaces designated for those permits. In some cases, there have been more than three wheelchair users on the site at the same time. People have been unloading wheelchairs in pretty much every corner of the parking lot.
I know it’s frustrating for you and other wheelchair users to be unable to get the special accommodations you expect. On the bright side, though, it’s great to see that so many wheelchair users are managing to get to early voting.
Myra Mansfield says
Thanks John. As a reader I would prefer not to have to read through alot of hostility in order to find intelligent points to consIder. I hope these new policies bring about a more mutually enjoyable experience for everyone.
John Huotari says
Thank you.
Mike Williams 224 says
The name policy is fine, but most of all Staying on Topic is the one that annoyed me the most. People, discuss the story posted so there can be some intelligent discussion.
Angi Agle says
Thank you, John. Healthy dialogue is a good thing, but anonymity allows it to grow unhealthy in a hurry. More than one local forum has been discontinued because of it. There’s a reason that people have to sign letters to the editor, and comments should be held to the same standard.
John Huotari says
I agree.
Ellen Smith says
I’m glad to see this policy. Real names have improved the level of civility on other websites that have done this. (However, if this is going to work, something does need to be done to discourage the use of name-like aliases like Max Smart and Onslow West.)
On the subject of comments, I have been puzzled by the seemingly random order in which comments appear on this site. I generally expect a website comment section to be in chronological order, starting with the earliest comment, except for replies to individual comments which appear after they comment they respond to. Some websites put comments in reverse chronological order, which seems to be the case for some of the comments here. The order of comments in this particular comment section is typical — it doesn’t follow either the chronological or the reverse chronological rule, as the newest comment (before mine) is in the middle of the collection… What’s going on here?
J Martin says
Ellen: At the top of the comments section you will see a box named “Discussion” with a drop down arrow. Click on the arrow and choose your option of how you want to see the comments sorted: Oldest, Newest, or Best. I bet yours is currently set at “best”
Ellen Smith says
Those instructions worked. Apparently “best” was the default.
johnhuotari says
We can’t guarantee we’ll detect everyone who uses an alias, but we’ll do our best.
I haven’t figured out how to set the comment order. You’d think that would be an easy change, but I haven’t see it in the admin panel. I’ve asked a question about it in the Disqus Q&A.
Max Smart says
I give you the same challenge that I gave Ms. Anne. Prove that my name is not Max Smart.
Anne Garcia Garland says
I can guess that Mike M. is Mike Mahathey. I have always found Mike to be up front and gentlemanly. Max Smart does not offend because he/she offers no substantive discussion. I am sorry that Onslow West, who worked hard to present a quasi-erudite condemnation of my endorsement letter, is still unable to step up for his/her opinion. May I respectfully suggest, John, that you enforce this most excellent policy and remove the posts of those whose names prove to be spurious. Good on you for expecting responsibility from your readers if they wish to use the medium you provide.
Max Smart says
You can guess who someone is all you want, but the policy is the use of full names, not that it is very meaningful. Your husband TJ violates the policy (and violated it for quite a while when he was posting to the Oak Ridger). Why is that OK? Could it be that you have a double standard? Or would it be because he is prone to say things that, if people realized exactly who he is, it might be detrimental to your political future? Of course you wouldn’t condone such a thing, would you, Ms. Anne? But then how do we know that you actually are “Anne Garcia Garland”? And then tell us all, exactly how do you determine that a name is “spurious”? Will it be just because you think it is? That’s a great way to censor the discussion. Toss out anyone who you deem is disagreeable and blame it on your opinion that they are posting under a “spurious” name. I’ll repeat what Lee Roy said: “It’s funny that I still can not prove who you are nor can you prove who wrote this.” So, go ahead, prove that my name is not Max Smart.
Mike Mahathy says
I will use my full name in the future. Thanks Anne!
Andrew Howe says
this new policy totally makes me want to start using a pseudonym. LOL.
love you guys!
John Huotari says
Thanks for reading and sharing, Andy. I haven’t read your comments on the other council candidates story yet, but will do so soon.
Susie Williams Taylor says
I totally agree w/this change…thanks for all you’ve done John!
John Huotari says
Thank you for reading, Susie. We’ve had many people let us know either in comments here, in e-mails to the site, or in personal conversations that they support this move.