The comments expresses the writer’s opinions.
Many loyal readers may remember that Nettavisen closed the comment field three years ago. After that time has has several other newspapers did the same.
In many ways it was a sad decision:
In the beginning, many saw the comment field in the media as an extension of democracy, a kind of democratically exuberant surplus. Here the voice of the people should be heard and speak directly to those in power. Clear message out, and clear message in.
But then it did not turn out that way.
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All too often, the comment fields were filled with harassment and incitement, sometimes outright bullying and threats. Many readers withdrew, and gave us feedback that here it was impossible to have a proper discussion, here it was mostly unreasonable.
The comment field never quite made it. Therefore, we closed it in January 2019.
And since then we have missed it.
For Nettavisen has always been concerned with debate and fresh opinions. About a year ago, we expanded with the innovation Nettavisen Norsk debatt, and placed special emphasis on the width of opinions – from right to left and from north to south.
And now we move on, inspired by Fredriksstad Blad – who did it first:
We shift the focus from the sender to the reader:
When we now open for reader comments again, act the new rules of debate not so much about what the comment writer are allowed to to say within Norwegian law.
Instead, we are concerned with what ours readers will find is interesting. We prioritize the comments and commentators who come up with arguments that will bring the debate forward.
So we take the editorial responsibility seriously, and weed out what is just jokes and inaccuracies or what is only perceived as trolling – even if it is law to say according to Norwegian law.
The online newspaper is an edited medium. Therefore, we take on the right to edit the reader comments as well – not just the debate articles in a priority place in the newspaper. In addition, we require common folk customs and normal language use. We do not want readers to be afraid to write what they think for fear of harassment or bullying from other readers.
Read the new debate rules here
Some will no doubt be angry with us for this.
Some will take the tone from social media and feel offended and offended when a sarcastic or unreasonable comment is taken away. We have to endure that. The reader debate in Nettavisen shall differ from the debate on social media.
Perhaps the number of comments will be less than it could have been. But perhaps we can hope for a parallel to when the smoking law was introduced many years ago. At that time, it hailed with warnings that bars and pubs would be emptied if smoking was no longer allowed there. Instead, the places were filled with allergy sufferers and others who had stayed away for years due to smoke.
In other words, we invite you to a “smoke-free” reader debate – a debate that will hopefully be open and interesting for everyone.
Here are our 10 commandments:
- Your comment must be interesting to others, and stick to the case.
- Show respect for the person you are discussing with – even when you strongly disagree. Just write what you could just as easily say orally if you were facing each other.
- Discuss case, not person. Instead of characterizing an opponent, explain why you disagree.
- Be polite, avoid swearing or insults.
- Feel free to be critical, but justify the criticism. Only then will the comment become interesting to others.
- Harassment, hate speech and threats will lead to exclusion.
- Comment with letters and words, not symbols / emojis / GIFs.
- Do not shout in CAPITAL LETTERS.
- Do not shout with signs (eg !!!!! ????)
- Use reputable sources. We delete comments that reproduce or link to obvious conspiracy theories, violence glorifying websites or deny well-documented scientific facts
So – to any quarrelsome people who are already ready to fire against the restriction of freedom of expression and censorship of dissenters and the suffocation of debate:
This has nothing to do with freedom of speech.
If you do not like our rules, you are free to seek out other media with other rules, or you can go to social media. And remember: this is not about what you mean, but how you say it.
When you visit Nettavisen, you are in our house. You probably feel this way at home too: If you get guests who are unable to behave and are uncomfortable with the other guests, you have every right to ask them to leave.
So on behalf of all of us debate-loving writers and readers who love a good discussion:
Good debate!
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