All TBS subscribers can now comment (for now). Here's how

Recently, we asked Scanner readers if we should open comments to all registered subscribers. Nearly 60% said yes.

After reviewing your feedback carefully, we're moving forward with a one-month "open comments" pilot in April.

That means, instead of limiting participation to about 1,400 people, our full list of more than 12,000 people will have the chance to weigh in.

Still: Most probably won't. Online dialogue is not to everyone's taste. Particularly these days.

But, as others close the doors and shut down debate, we think we have a unique opportunity to broaden the conversation as our readership grows, ideally making the comments section livelier and even more interesting.

Importantly, opening comments does not mean TBS will become a free-for-all.

No one can comment without clicking a login link in their inbox from a verified email address.

And, if there are problems, we can step in. More on that below.

How to comment on The Berkeley Scanner

Now, the fun part. You can update your profile and add a short bio right from the comments section.

We've created a quick video to show you this hidden feature. We hope you'll make use of it.

Real names are encouraged, as are bios that show your Berkeley connection or something else you'd like to share with the community.

The 30-day trial starts today, April 1, and runs through the end of the month. 

• Ready to comment? Start by signing in
• Not on the list? You'll need to register

Speaking of tips, you can sort comments by newest or oldest via the toggle at the top of the section. The default view is "best," which takes "likes" into account.

Keep reading to learn how to offer feedback, what our comments policy actually says and what to do if you think there's a problem.

What to do if a comment violates our policy

The easiest way to report a comment is to click the "three-dot" menu right underneath it.

This sends us an email and makes the review process much easier.

If commenters generate complaints, we will explain the concerns to them.

If that doesn't work, we can hide problematic comments or turn off the ability comment altogether.

That said: Our general preference and philosophy is a light hand in the comments section — and for people to be able to debate and disagree respectfully.

For the most part, we aim not to intervene unless there are clear policy violations, particularly if you feel unsafe or threatened.

Will more comments mean more work? It may. We'll be transparent about how the test is going. If it proves unsustainable, we'll say so.

Reminder: What is the TBS comments policy?

At The Berkeley Scanner, community dialogue and engagement are core to our mission. We believe in the robust exchange of diverse ideas and that there's much to learn from reader input.

We ask you to follow a few basic rules and reserve the right to delete comments that violate this policy.

• No hate speech, doxxing or threats
• Keep it civil — especially when you disagree
• Jerky behavior toward other commenters will be removed
• Don't be repetitive or flood the feed
• Try to add something new to the conversation or move it forward
• Folks who repeatedly flout the rules and ignore TBS feedback may be banned

What happens next with TBS comments?

This is a trial, not a permanent change. And if it doesn't work, we'll roll it back. It's a simple click of a button.

We know some of you are skeptical, or prefer to keep this as a member perk. We promise we hear you and we hope you'll continue to share input.

In May, we'll share what we learn in our monthly recap. (We hope you've been enjoying it!)

And we'll be watching closely to see how this develops. We hope you will be too.

Thank you for helping to shape our decision. We look forward to your feedback in the coming weeks.