OK, as many of you have noticed, we have reformatted the reader comments system a bit.
Underneath our commentary posts and letters, etc., you can now reply not only to the story, but also to specific comments so that back and forth discussions between two readers are a bit easier to distinguish.
Secondly, and more importantly, there’s now an Editor’s Choice section for comments of value. Reader comments that are respectful, intelligent and that genuinely add to the discussion will be promoted to the Editor’s Choice section regardless of their point of view on the issue. It’s a way for us to encourage the kind of constructive dialogue that the commenting system can enable if it’s not dominated by some of the more vitriolic posters.
Also, there’s a different style and font. A few concerns have already been raised about the font size. Others have just loved the new look. Redesigns, I’ve noticed before, are generally met with immediate resistance and then embraced over time. Please give it a few days and if you still don’t like any particular attribute of it, let us know.
But the goal is simple: We’re going to continue to try to raise the quality of our online discussions.