Dear Sojo Commenters | Sojourners

Dear Sojo Commenters

Sign at the entrance of Facebook HQ, Menlo Park, CA. Photo via Getty Images.
Sign at the entrance of Facebook HQ, Menlo Park, CA. Photo via Getty Images.

Good morning, y'all,

You may recall back a post back in January where I expressed our ongoing concern about the tenor of many comments on our site. I said at the time that in order to (hopefully) curtail the incivility that had infiltrated our comments sections, we would be rolling out new protocols for readers who wish to leave their public feedback on posts, including a mandatory sign-in via Facebook.

Well, the day of reckoning is upon us.

Beginning immediately, if you wish to comment publicly on Sojo.net, you will be prompted to sign in with an authentic identity via Facebook.

It is our sincerest hope that this new measure will stem the tide of uncivil discourse that has, much to our chagrin and disappointment, been far too prevalent on our site.

For those of you who are adamantly averse to acquiring a Facebook account as a condition of being allowed to comment on Sojo.net, please know that you have the option of sending a comment or feedback directly to the Web Staff via our email letter to the editor form, which can be found HERE.  Each week, we will select the best feedback emails and post a "Letters to the Editor"-style collection on the blog.

Our prayer is that these new measures will rid the comments sections of general nastiness and snark, while continuing to allow The Great Conversation, to which we all are invited, to flourish and be honored for what it is: A sacred exchange.

May the Grace and Peace of our Lord be with each of you today and always,

Cathleen Falsani
Web Editor and Director of New Media