From the Winchester Star:

The Winchester Star has made the difficult decision to end online commenting on stories posted to our website, beginning today.

Unfortunately, most of the comments had become back-and-forth personal attacks between screen names, which we enabled by providing an anonymous forum, but we’re no longer comfortable continuing it.

We know the comments had a following from those who saw them as lively and entertaining. We enjoyed many of them, too, but the level of rancor among a small group of regular commenters dissuaded others from entering the discourse, defeating the intent of commenting and turning our comments section in a fight club for a select few.

I’ve considered taking the same step at Bacon’s Rebellion, and for precisely the same reason. I’d like to hear from readers first, though. Occasionally, we hear from people who have remarkable stories to tell and insights to add based on their personal experience, and I’d hate to lose that. But I wonder how many BR readers actually view the comments. And I’d like to know if many are dissuaded from participating by the rancor they see there.

Leave a comment or contact me directly at [email protected]. — JAB