This Web site is meant to do a lot of things.
We want it to spread information. We want it to serve as a forum for an exchange of opinions, no matter how extreme. And we want it to be entertaining (thank you, Miles Gloriosus, Whiskey Tango and others).
This is not, however, supposed to be a place for rumormongering or slander.
If you want to criticize someone’s job performance or question his or her motivation for certain public actions, go right ahead. If you want to write a satirical saga or some quick-witted verse to poke fun at those in power, that’s great. But there’s enough around here to question on the basis of facts without resorting to vicious rumors or passing along some damaging third-hand tidbit.
So, for example, don’t refer to someone in bankruptcy or foreclosure unless you’ve seen legal ads or news stories here or in The Daily Dispatch to that effect. Don’t talk about where someone “really” lives unless you’ve seen that person at his or her other house. Don’t casually refer to illegal activities committed by a particular person who hasn’t been convicted of those crimes.
We hate to set any limits on the discussion; it’s subjective to decide when someone has crossed the line. But that’s part of the job of an editor. If we have to edit comments, we will. For those who want guidance on whether they’re in danger of crossing the line, here’s one legal reference. If you want to check in advance whether some comment is safe to post, feel free to e-mail news@homeinhenderson.com, or call Michael at 425-4935.