Q: Can my comments be anonymous?

A: No. We require your actual full name and a valid email address to be eligible to comment on our forum. All comments deemed suspiciously signed will be deleted. Setting up and using multiple usernames to fool people and subvert the site’s moderation may lead to your account being banned.

Q: What kind of comments can I make?

A: Most comments are accepted, especially if they are likely to add value in terms of additional insight or knowledge. We want this forum to be a safe, respectful and non-offensive place for stimulating discussion about issues.

Q: How long should my comments be?

A: Although there is no limit to how long, we suggest comments should be short and concise. 

Q: Is there anything I can’t say in my comments?

A: Contributions which are deliberately offensive and off-topic are likely to be omitted. Please avoid vicious, name-calling or accusatory comments; comments which attack the individual rather than the argument or the position; abusive or defamatory phrases, especially those attached to religious, sexual, racial, gender or ethnic contexts or offensive to minority groups. We will not tolerate any form of discriminatory or hate speech.

Q: How many times may I comment?

A: While we do not want to set a quota for the comments one may post, we want the discussion to include as many diverse opinions as possible. As a general guideline, we would like to avoid publishing more than two to three comments per individual on each story. We want to avoid seeing individuals responding to or arguing with each other, mainly when such interaction adds little value to the discussion.

Q: When should I comment?

A: Please read the entire article before commenting. We receive several comments from readers who post a comment based on the article’s title or the first paragraph.

Q: Will my comments be moderated?

A: All community interaction is subject to some level of moderation to ensure our standards are upheld. No commentary moderation is fool-proof: occasionally questionable comments may still be published, especially considering the large volume of comments received. The Disqus system allows readers to flag comments. These will again be alerted to the moderator, who will decide whether they are acceptable or not. Anybody who feels an approved comment has overstepped the line is free to send an email to hello@bemags.com.

Q: Why do you have moderation on this site? Aren’t you curtailing free speech?

A: We are responsible for maintaining the quality of content on our site. The aim of moderation is not censorship but ensuring that the community participation areas of the site remain appropriate, relevant and lawful.

Q: Why don’t moderators remove the part of a comment deemed objectionable rather than deleting it entirely?

A: Our policy is that even if only a part of a comment is problematic, the whole comment will be removed. This is partly to avoid moderators editing your contribution to remove the offending bit (which might inadvertently change the meaning) and encourage contributors to think carefully before posting. However, the Disqus system allows the user to edit his comment. Once this is done, the comment will come up once again for moderation.

Q: Will the authors, reply to my comments?

A: We encourage authors to participate in the discussions sparked off by their articles. This may not always be possible, particularly in articles that generate a significant number of comments.

Q: What control do authors have on comments?

A: None. Authors can’t moderate comments on their articles unless they highlight any inappropriate comments to the moderator.

Q: What language may I use?

A: We have several international readers, so comments posted should preferably be in English. However, we acknowledge that some feel more comfortable writing in Maltese and such comments will be accepted. Please avoid abbreviations and capital letters.

Q: How do I know if my comment is legally risky?

A: Think carefully before making any claims and check whether ethical and reliable sources support them. It is not safe to assume you are avoiding legal risk because you are quoting material already published elsewhere or using the term ‘allegedly’.

Q: Why have I been banned from the site?

A: We don’t like removing people’s ability to comment on our content, but in some cases, when a pattern of abusive or offensive behaviour is demonstrated or if a fictitious name is being used, certain users can be banned from using the site.

Q: Who owns the copyright of comments I have posted?

A: By posting any text on the site, you agree to grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to republish any material you submit to us in any format, including without limitation print and electronic format.

Q: Are all articles opened to comments?

A: Yes