From its inception, The Spectator website has helped to facilitate conversation with – and between – our readers. Not all of them, of course: fewer than 1 per cent of subscribers currently leave comments, although 20 per cent read them. This is why it is a shame that, when we launched our new app, we were not able to import this important feature. Readers love our new app, but they miss the comments.
So, we have created a new comments system that you can use on both our website and app – and there’s one big change you need to know about. Comments will now automatically be left under the name associated with your subscription unless you choose a display name – to register one, you need to go to your account by clicking here. For example, if you want to start commenting under the display name ‘Fraser Nelson’s Underpants’ (as someone has been doing for some time), then you simply need to update your profile.
Anonymous comments are a dilemma for publications. They allow people to be able to comment freely in today’s censorious world and they are also a nod to the early days of The Spectator, when some of the greatest and most influential works were published under pseudonyms. But anonymity can be abused: it lets people speak more loosely, perhaps become a less decent version of themselves. That’s why the Times and several other publications insist their readers leave comments under their real name. For now, we’re keeping display names and sticking to our old rules.
And be assured: nothing has changed on old comments that have already been posted – words and display names. Our new system applies only to comments and display names left on 4 March onwards (so previous comments won’t be ‘exposed’). Soon, we’ll bring comments to the app as well.
Any thoughts? Comments below, please. And keep it decent! 😉
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