The Editor's Desk

This week an interesting e-mail popped up in my box — one from a Kansan online user.

The user was suggesting I turn commenting off for a story on our website, because after he had posted a comment or two someone had figured out who he was and called him at home.

He claims they yelled at him and were upset.

As harsh as what I am about to write sounds, I am about to write the truth.

Welcome to my world.

Years ago I dropped my home phone and am cell only. I don't circulate that number a whole lot. I got tired of that kind of thing as well. Every story seems to anger someone, for some reason. Sometimes it's not a story we write, but one we don't, that brings the wrath.

And there is plenty.

That written, there is a problem here. Figuring out who commentors are on thekansan.com usually takes a little bit of time, reading posts and figuring out who holds those issues dear to their heart. Sometimes, however, posters use their name or a derivative of it that leads to a lot less anonymity than they think they have. (Just for the record, if I post a comment on a story I use my name - chadfrey)

Acting on that knowledge, or the assumption of it, is really not appropriate outside of cyberspace. Take it from a guy who gets yelled at on the phone, in the grocery store and when out to eat.

I feel for the poster, I do. There isn't really anything we can do to stop that kind of behavior — though he could file a telephone harassment complaint with the police department.

So as you think about diving into the commentor pool, consider this. Putting your opinion out there will upset someone — no matter how benign you think it to be. That can come with consequence. And for those skimming and trying to think a way to get back at someone they don’t agree with, consider your actions also have consequences.

The rules we have are there to encourage people to play nice —so play nice. Leave in cyberspace — where it belongs.