It has been a significant amount of time since we last addressed our comments guidelines. To give you some perspective, when we previously discussed comments, the iPhone 5 was just being introduced, Android users were experiencing Jelly Bean, and Facebook had just launched its public offering. While a lot has changed in nearly five years, our commitment to our readers has not. We want to take a moment to clarify our comments section and community guidelines to enhance your experience.

Purpose of the Comments Section

Comments sections often receive negative attention, with the common advice being 'Don't read the comments.' However, we believe there are valuable conversations happening within our comments. From sharing personal experiences with gadgets to deep technical discussions, we appreciate the insights our readers contribute. The comments section serves as a space for discussion and often provides us with additional perspectives that enrich our articles. Unlike many other platforms that have closed their comments, we continue to keep ours open because it matters to you.

Commenting Features and Functions

Let's discuss some technical aspects of commenting. While the process for logging in and posting comments remains largely unchanged, there are a few new features:

• Editing and Deleting: You can edit or delete your comment via a drop-down menu that appears when you hover over the upper-right corner of your comment.
• Link Approval: Comments containing URLs will be held for approval by a moderator to prevent spam. Please avoid resubmitting links repeatedly.
• Banned Words: We have a list of banned words that will automatically remove a comment. Insults and profanity directed at others will be flagged.
• Notifications: If you prefer not to receive email notifications about interactions with your comments, you can disable this in your profile settings.

Commenting Behavior Guidelines

Our primary rule is simple: 'Don't be a jerk.' We ask that all participants remain civil, even when discussions become heated. Avoid personal attacks, insults, or jumping to conclusions about others' intentions. Remember that everyone is part of this community and deserves respect.

Reporting Offensive Comments

If you encounter an offensive comment, please report it. You can find the 'report' button by hovering over the comment. Our moderators will review reported comments to determine if they violate our guidelines.

Addressing Article Issues

If you notice a mistake in an article, such as a typo or factual error, please help us improve by including articleerror in your comment. This flags your comment for our moderators' attention.

Comments Section Functionality Problems

If you're experiencing issues with the comments functionality, email us with detailed information at commentsupport@engadget.com.

Reasons for Comment Deletion

While we strive for minimal moderation, there are valid reasons for removing comments:

• Spam of any kind will be deleted.
• Profanity, especially directed at others, is not tolerated.
• Hateful comments based on race, gender, or other identities will be removed.
• Threatening comments or those encouraging violence will lead to immediate deletion.
• Name-calling is discouraged and will be flagged.
• Unconstructive criticism or excessive negativity towards our team will not be allowed.
• Comments that are overly political or incendiary risk removal.
• Off-topic comments may also be deleted.

We want our comments section to reflect thoughtful and engaging conversations, much like a respectful academic environment. We aim to cultivate a community where readers can learn from one another and participate positively. While some may enjoy the drama of online disputes, this is not the atmosphere we aspire to create.

Comments on Articles

It's important to note that we are not required to have comments on every article. While we prefer to keep discussions open, there are circumstances where closing comments is necessary. Factors influencing this decision include the volume of rule violations and the contentiousness of previous discussions.

Clarifying Censorship Concerns

Many view the deletion of comments as censorship. However, it is essential to understand that commenting on our platform is a privilege, not a right. Our comments section is designed to foster discussion and engage our audience, and we reserve the right to maintain a respectful environment.

Banning Users

Users engaging in repeated trolling, harassment, or offensive behavior will be banned from commenting. This includes hate speech or threats of violence. If your contributions consist solely of negativity or personal attacks, your commenting privileges will be revoked.

Conclusion

We recognize that our comments section has faced challenges, and we are committed to making improvements. By adhering to our guidelines and reporting inappropriate comments, you can help foster a positive community. Our goal is to make the comments a reason for readers to engage with our content rather than a section to avoid.

Source: Engadget News