Comments and discussions

Our commenting system is designed to draw together insightful, active, and civil discussions among Post readers, reporters, and editors. We appreciate and read all feedback on our commenting system. Try us at our email address: comments@washpost.com. Read about the specifics on the latest changes to commenting technology and moderation here.

Anyone who registers as a Post user or logs in via Facebook Connect can comment on staff-produced articles, videos, and photo galleries and contribute to reader galleries on the site.

Commenters are responsible for what they post, and we will remove posts that include profanity, hate speech, or personal attacks or that otherwise violate our Discussion Guidelines. Please note that new commenters will have their posts reviewed before publishing to verify they meet the guidelines.

Readers who've earned one of our user badges, however, will see their views labeled prominently as "Top Comments". We sometimes pick specific comments from readers who are not badged to also appear in Top Comments.


Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to register to comment?
You must register as a Washington Post user and chose a MyPost ID to comment, or login to the site as a Facebook Connect user. Registration is free.

Do my comments have to be approved before they are published?
We review comments by new commenters to verify that they don't violate site Discussion Guidelines.

Who gets badged?
Users who consistently post timely, insightful, and thought provoking material are badged by Post editors.
Read about the badges and let us know if you or another commenter deserves a badge.

What comments are displayed in the Top Comments tab?
Comments that editors flag as particularly useful or relevant to the discussion are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by Post staff and "badged" commenters. All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

Will my MyPost ID be displayed with my comment?
Your MyPost ID will be displayed with all comments and photos you post unless you logged in as a Facebook user, in which case your Facebook member name will be displayed. We encourage commenters to use their real names as their MyPost ID.

Can I change my MyPost ID?
No. Please choose your MyPost ID carefully. Please do not choose anyone else's name as your MyPost ID, or post anyone else's photo as your site avatar.

What should I do when I see an offensive comment?
Please click on the "Report" link below the comment. We will review the comment and remove it if it violates the Discussion Guildelines.

Why can't I comment on some articles, videos and photo galleries?
We typically allow comments on articles and other staff-produced material for 14 days following publication, when they are most timely. We reserve the right to close comments on some Post articles of a sensitive nature, such as obituaries.

Can I remove a comment I've made?
No. Your comments on the site are part of a public conversation.

 

 

Last updated March 27, 2012

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