After much reflection over the degree of freedom we should give our website viewers to comment on our posts, our Senior Editorial Board has decided to allow readers to comment without registering an email address. This new policy, implemented today, returns us to the policy we had for our old website.
A previous Senior Editorial Board had decided to require that users submit a verified email address before sharing comments, a policy that we began in May when we launched our new website.
We listened to readers’ concerns and balanced the costs and benefits. Fewer restrictions means users are more inclined to share their thoughts and engage with other readers. But, on average, there will be more spam and users will be able to take less responsibility for what they write.
In considering these factors, we decided the costs were worth the extra freedom. We hope this encourage more of you to discuss the information we present to you and that you continue to use our new website as a community forum.
In order to be the best media outlet we can be, we need you to continue sharing your thoughts and concerns with us. Let me know what you think of our new policy by emailing [email protected]
Tomer Ovadia is the editor in chief and president.
Comment Policy
Comments should remain on topic, concerning the article or blog post to which they are connected. Brevity is encouraged. Posting under a pseudonym is discouraged, but permitted. The Daily Cal encourages readers to voice their opinions respectfully in regard to the readers, writers and contributors of The Daily Californian. Comments are not pre-moderated, but may be removed if deemed to be in violation of this policy. Click here to read the full comment policy.
When will this new policy be implemented? It is now June 21 and comments still cannot be posted without entering an e mail address/registered username etc.
Um… surely you do realize – even if you won’t admit – that the “register a valid email address” requirement was just a feint, a suggestion of having created an atmosphere of responsibility where no such thing really existed.
While I applaud the decision to rescind the requirement, I take a dim view of the fact that the DailyCal editorial board still pretends it doesn’t take more than 30 seconds to make a valid account w/o providing any real information.
(kinda like they let Birgeneau pretend he is an “activist”)
Reality: the idiotic and offensive youtube vid by Alexandra Wallace at UCLA was protected speech, the kid in Sproul using the f-word while telling a UCPD cop to dismount from his bike was protected speech… well you can see where this is going