Comments are an important tool for interaction with readers. All writers and editors – never commenting anonymously – should take part in comment strings: answering questions, clearing up misperceptions and unpublishing inappropriate posts.
The mechanics of our commenting system: Comments flow onto stories without any information to the story’s writer or editor. It is the reporter’s responsibility to check stories to see whether they are eliciting comment. (Note: We hope that the system will be adjusted to create an e-mail to the reporter whose name is on the byline. Each e-mail comes from register@oregonlive.com. (Posts bylined The Oregonian, The Associated Press or Special to The Oregonian go to a generic e-mail box that is monitored by the online team.))
When you see a comment, you have a choice:
* Allow the comment by taking no action.
* Unpublish the comment. First sign in to OregonLive between the story and the top of the comment string using your Movable Type log-in. Click on the “flag” link. This will send a note to the moderation house hired by Advance Digital to delete offensive comments.
How to add your comment or reply to a comment: Sign in to OregonLive between the story and the top of the comment string using your Movable Type log-in. Comment like any other user.
If you have any problems commenting, managing comments or flagging comments, contact the online team at $online.
What comments to flag. Anything that is:
* Obscene
* Indecent
* Hateful
* Offensive
* Defamatory
* Abusive
* Harassing
* Profane
* Junk mail
* Pyramid schemes
* Chain letters
* Advertisements
* Personal attacks
* Vulgar or insulting nicknames or nicknames attempting to impersonate others (alert a member of the online team to these)
* Personal information (anyone’s telephone number, street address, etc.)
* E-mail addresses belonging to a person
* Information that encourages criminal activity of any kind, or any statements that may give rise to civil liability
* Copyrighted material (newsletter items, newspaper articles, excerpts from books, music, poems, photographs, video files or any other material)
* The same message in multiple locations on the site