Online readers of the Spokane Spokesman-Review have been forced to keep their opinions to themselves this holiday season, as the newspaper's editors opted to shut off comments on stories from Dec. 23 through Jan. 1.

“The primary reason we closed comments is to help preserve the spirit of the season, and to give our staffers a break from the time-consuming task of monitoring the comments,” Gary Graham, the paper’s editor, wrote in an online note to readers. “The holiday season is one that encourages and embraces thoughtfulness, sharing and family time, experiences that seem in short supply in the course of a year. It is our belief that a break from online commenting is simply a recognition that there are more important things to consider or do at this time of year.”

Comments are a controversial topic in the news business, because while the ability to engage with reporters and each other can spark thoughtful debate among readers, the anonymous and immediate nature of Internet responses can also bring out the worst in some people.

Many news organizations, including The Oregonian, now require readers to register to comment, providing a certain amount of personal information that can allow site managers to block people who use the comments section for abusive or offensive language or hijack conversations for their own agendas. (Earlier this year, Portland Commissioner Nick Fish expressed his dislike for the anonymous commenting policies on Oregonlive.com. Susan Gage, who oversees local content at The Oregonian, explained the reasoning behind the policy.)

In his online note, Graham noted that almost 80 percent of the Spokesman-Review’s comments come “from a core of about 20 percent of participants.”

“Such patterns suggest that a relatively select group likes to comment in particular threads multiple times, which is perhaps a good sign of their interest,” he wrote. “But it also suggests that a small group dominates the online conversation."

Graham wrote that said the temporary halt to comments on stories – Spokesman-Review readers still have the opportunity to comment on blogs hosted on the paper’s site – is an experiment that prompt new policies for future holiday seasons.