A Few Comments about Commenting on Patch

Hi Charlestown, here's a note from your editor!

First - thank you ALL for contributing to the . I think Michelle is probably overwhelmed by the response, on all sides. The number of comments is probably setting some kind of Patch record and that is 100 percent a testament to the strength of this community.

Second: I've received several emails over the last couple of days from people concerned about the tone and the bickering that's evolved in the comments section on this story.

So you all know, I do not make it a practice to "police" the comments section. What you write gets posted immediately -- there is no filter.

However, I will delete comments that are libelous (please, don't accuse anyone of anything illegal, or defame their character) and I will delete comments that use foul language.

(I know there are several on this story that should be deleted right now, but I am having trouble keeping up with them and there is currently a system-wide problem with deleting comments. Of course!)

YOU can also have a role in "policing" the site. If any comment is flagged by three separate users, it is automatically deleted from the site. You see something that seems inapprorpriate -- this is your community, you decide.

One more thing: If you want the fine print, please take a look at our terms of use: charlestown.patch.com/terms.

Thank you all for being so passionate and opinionated and, most of all, compassionate.

Kristi