Winnipeg Free Press Comments
The Winnipeg Free Press allows readers to comment on most news articles, columns and blogs. This feature gives readers the chance to respond to our writers and reporters and to people who have commented on a topic.
Join the discussion of what is happening in our community, across the country and around the world. Challenge the views of our writers and others.
But before you do so, please review the rules and terms below. By submitting your comments, you agree to our terms and conditions and our privacy policy.
Winnipeg Free Press Comment Frequently Asked Questions
How do I comment?
On any article, look for a link like this: Comments (0)
The number in the brackets is the number of comments so far. Click on that link to see the discussion. If the bracketed number is 0, then you can grab the top spot!
You must register and login before commenting. Links allowing you to do so are at the bottom of each article.
After logging in, a Pluck Comment Form will appear at the bottom of every story that is accepting comments.
How do I add an avatar?
Go to your Personas page by clicking on your name in a comment. Then click on Edit Profile. You can add a photo or graphic, and connect your Pluck persona to your Facebook, Twitter and/or Linked In profiles. All submitted avatar photos will be pre-moderated, so it might take a while before your avatar appears next to your comment.
To change your avatar, follow the same process as above. Your new avatar, once moderated, will appear next to all your comments, including older comments that previously showed your old avatar.
What are the rules for commenting?
- Don’t use ALL CAPS. It’s considered shouting.
- Keep your language civil and your tone family-friendly. Remember that the comments you post can be seen by everyone who visits the page, including people involved in the story. Play nice.
- We don't allow comments that contain graphic, abusive, hateful, racist, explicit or otherwise inappropriate subject matter. If you wouldn't say it in front of your mother, we probably won't allow it.
- No trolling -- that is, posting deliberately inflammatory or off-topic material. Please do not feed the trolls.
- Don't advertise for goods, services, products etc. in our comment areas, and don't say things that defame anyone or any organization. If you post a comment that includes a URL, it will go to the pre-moderated queue.
- We don't allow comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity. This includes comments that suggest, encourage or endorse violence in any way, including vigilante or jailhouse violence.
- Out of respect for the families of the deceased, we typically don't allow comments that could be considered insensitive on stories about fatal accidents or homicides. Before posting a comment on such stories, please consider: what if the person involved was your friend or family member?
- No name-calling -- we won't allow you to refer to story subjects or other commenters by mean or funny names. No personal attacks. And unless the story is actually about the subject, please refrain from referencing Hitler. Seriously.
- Don't post the same comment numerous times; such comments are considered spam.
- Remember that comments may be edited or deleted at Winnipeg Free Press’ discretion. We don't flag edits to comments.
- If you submit comments that break these rules, we may ban you.
- Remember that you participate at your own risk, taking personal responsibility for your comments, your username and any information you provide.
- See our detailed Terms and Conditions below for more information.
My comment was removed or edited. Why?
As per our Terms and Conditions, the Free Press reserves the right to edit comments. We typically report abusive or inappropriate material including insults and name-calling and have them removed. If your comment included a web link, it might have been moved to our pre-moderation queue to ensure it is not spam.
If you think readers or moderators have misunderstood or misinterpreted your comment as offensive, try rewording your comment so your true meaning is more clear and submitting it again.
Why aren’t comments accepted on certain stories?
The Winnipeg Free Press can turn off the ability to comment on stories and articles at our discretion. Comments are often turned off on stories involving children, stories about active court cases, when publication bans are in play, and in situations where a large number of offensive comments has been received.
Out of respect for the families of the deceased, we may turn comments off on stories about fatal accidents, homicides and missing persons.
How do I report an abusive or inappropriate comment?
Click on "Report abuse" next to any comment to alert our moderators to problem comments. Moderators will review your report, the comment, and determine if it should stay or be removed.
Our third-party moderation company - ICUC - handles all abuse reports and they are mandated to deal with reported comments within three hours, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you reported a comment and it remains on the site after three hours, our moderators have determined it meets the Terms and Conditions.
We encourage all readers to share their opinions and challenge the views of our writers and others by commenting on our stories. If you disagree with a comment, please consider posting your own comment to share your perspective.
You can also share your opinion on comments by voting for or against them using the "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" icons on each comment. Comments that have been "voted down" a particular number of times are flagged in our moderation queue for another look.
I don't like a particular commenter. What can I do?
If you find a particular commenter's submissions offensive, disagreeable or just tiring, you can ignore the user. Just find a comment from the person and click on their username. You'll be taken to their persona page. Under their avatar, there is a link to "ignore" the user.
Once you've ignored a user their comments will appear as blocked to you when you are logged in. If the person private-messages you, their message will go to your "Ignored" folder.
Someone is private-messaging me and I don't like it. What can I do?
The Winnipeg Free Press does not moderate the content of private messages; they are private, as their name suggests. Please consider private messages as you would email.
If you find a particular commenter's messages offensive, disagreeable or just tiring, you can ignore the user. Just find a comment or message from the person and click on their username. You'll be taken to their persona page. Under their avatar, there is a link to "ignore" the user.
Once you've ignored a user their comments will appear as blocked to you when you are logged in. If the person private-messages you, their message will go to your "Ignored" folder.
If you feel you have been personally threatened or your safety is at risk based on the content of a private message, please contact police.
Winnipeg Free Press Comment Terms and Conditions
The following terms and conditions apply to commenting everywhere on our site. By participating you are agreeing to abide by them. A breach of these terms could result in immediate and permanent suspension from future participation.
- Avoid inappropriate material. You agree that you will not post any libellous, defamatory, unlawful, inflammatory, obscene, abusive, pornographic or otherwise inappropriate material. You will not post anything encouraging conduct that could constitute a criminal offense or give rise to a civil liability, or that provides instructional information about illegal activities. If you do, you indemnify Winnipeg Free Press and its affiliates for any resulting damages, including the costs of legal fees.
You agree that you will not use threatening or abusive language, or anything that discriminates on the basis on race, religion, age, nationality, gender, sexual preference, etc. While expressing opinions, do not enter into personal attacks or publish any material that constitutes hate speech. Baseless, unproven accusations will not be tolerated.
- Use for non–commercial purposes. The information on this site may not be used for any commercial purposes without the written consent of the Winnipeg Free Press. You may not use the site to solicit funds or promote commercial activities, nor to post or transmit junk mail, chain letters, unsolicited mass mailing or spam, nor to promote any contest, sweepstakes, barter, advertising, and/or pyramid scheme.
- Use of website: You agree that you will not restrict or inhibit any other user from using and enjoying the website, interfere or attempt to interfere with the proper workings of the site or do anything that imposes an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on website infrastructure. You agree that you will not solicit passwords or personal identifying information from other users, nor will you post any submission that contains a virus or other harmful component.
- Do not violate others’ rights. You agree not to knowingly post content that violates or infringes on the rights of others, including copyright, trademark, trade secret, patent or other intellectual property right of any third party and including the privacy right of any individual.
- The Winnipeg Free Press is not responsible for the content of any comment. You acknowledge that comments represent the views and opinions of the person posting the comment and do not represent the views or opinions of the Winnipeg Free Press. The Winnipeg Free Press reserves the right to monitor all comments and delete, move or edit any comment at any time.
- Protect Your Password. You are responsible to protect the confidentiality of your Winnipeg Free Press password and are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your password. You agree to immediately notify WFP of any unauthorized use of your password or any other breach of security. WFP cannot and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with this section.
- Winnipeg Free Press rights. By submitting a comment, you grant Winnipeg Free Press a royalty–free, irrevocable, perpetual, exclusive license (which it may sublicense) to use, publish, reproduce, modify, translate such content and distribute it in whole or in part with other works in any form, media or technology. You further agree that any posted message or submission may be published, edited, modified, transmitted and displayed in a Winnipeg Free Press website or publication, and you waive all moral rights in having the material changed or altered.
- Privacy policy. (Revised April 16, 2010) When you submit a comment, you agree the Winnipeg Free Press may use your registration information in the event a Winnipeg Free Press reporter may want to contact you to clarify or discuss further your submission. You also agree to the Winnipeg Free Press’ privacy policy.
