To Albany Patch readers,



We place a very high value on our reader comments section at Albany Patch.



All Patch sites receive reader comments, but Albany Patch – especially on a per capita basis – is one of the most vibrant and heavily used. It is a testament to how engaged our community is and how much our readers care.



Our goal is to serve not only as a source of accurate and unbiased reporting but also as a community forum where readers can share information and discuss and debate issues of public concern. The comments play a vital role in realizing that goal.



We also believe strongly that constructive dialogue is civil dialogue. At the same time, we continue to see complaints about some of the comments on the site – comments that are contrary to our Terms of Use.



Basically, we ask that comments observe civility and respect toward other people and refrain from personal attacks.



Patch is not alone in affirming the importance of constructive communication. Our colleagues at the website Berkeleyside, for example, recently addressed the issue in an article that we recommend.



"Be agreeable, even when you disagree," the article says. "... Remember to criticize ideas, not people. Please avoid name-calling, ad hominem attacks, responding to a comment's tone instead of its actual content, and knee-jerk contradiction. Instead, provide reasoned counter-arguments that improve the conversation."



Berkeleyside echoed the values expressed by the website Boing Boing, which also faces the same issue.



"Nothing sabotages a healthy conversation like rudeness," the Boing Boing editors wrote.



"The conversations we have here set the tone for everyone. Help us influence the future of this community by choosing to engage in discussions that make this forum an interesting place to be — and avoiding those that do not."



It's fine to criticize policies, programs or ideas. It's not okay to insult, denigrate or ridicule other people who use Patch.



Albany Patch has the ability to play an invaluable community role – if members of the community feel they can post civil comments and not be personally attacked. We have heard from some readers that they refrain from commenting because of hostile responses and condescending attacks they see on Patch.



The future of Albany Patch as a forum for healthy community dialogue will be shaped not only by what we at Patch do but also by what you, our readers, do.



We advise that you don't respond to bad behavior. It encourages those who engage in it. If you see a comment that violates our terms, you can flag it. If a comment gets enough flags, it will be reviewed for possible removable. If a reader continues to abuse the comments section, the account may be blocked.



We appreciate our readers' support for constructive conversation on Patch.



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