STLtoday has started using Facebook's commenting system on all stories throughout the site.

This will allow comments to appear more quickly, improve the quality of comments and allow comments to be shared more broadly.

In our current system, comments are cached; that is, they don't appear on the site until about five minutes after they are entered. Facebook comments appear instantly. They also are threaded by topic. So responses to a particular comment appear with that comment, as opposed to being intermingled in a straight chronological string of comments.

Associating the comments to a Facebook profile brings more accountability for the comments because they are not anonymous. Other sites have found that this results in more on-topic conversation and less trolling and name-calling. Users who wish to remain anonymous will be able to comment in our forums.

The new system has the potential to broaden your message, because comments also will be posted on your individual Facebook page. This will take the discussion outside the walls of STLtoday and allow more people to participate.