Letters To The Editor

POSTINGS ON THIS SITE:  A GUIDE TO OUR PHILOSOPHY
 We at The Bradley Beach NJ Tatler are unhappy with the tone of comments on many other blogs and websites. Anyone who reads newspaper websites, for instance, knows how quickly conversations about an issue can degenerate into name-calling. We will not permit that here.
 Therefore, please allow us to explain our goals regarding comment and opinion:
 We will not shy away from frank discussion. We will not favor one political point of view over another. However, we will draw a line at accusations about the motives and/or character of a person or group. We also expect our discussions to be more than mere clashes of opinion; we value comments that are fact-based, informative, open-minded and thought-provoking.
 Because we want this blog to be well-written, we will sometimes suggest editorial changes for purposes of grammar, relevance or clear expression of thought. We may sometimes shorten comments that are too long or repetitive, just as newspapers do with letters to the editor. Furthermore, if you have something to say but aren’t quite sure how to say it, just give us the simple facts and we will happily help you with the writing.
 Our goal is to elevate discourse rather than debase it. We think this is what most of our readers want. Enforcing this policy is not easy – people of good will can disagree — but the blog’s editors will be the umpires, and over time we hope most contributors will gain a clearer sense of what we do and do not allow.
The Tatler is an exercise in democracy, and also in civility. We seek everyone’s participation.
 – The editors