1. Use your real name. If you aren't willing to post your name, don't post your opinion. If it's not good enough to have your name by it, it's not good enough for anyone else to read.
2. We read EVERY comment before it is posted. This may take a while. Relax. If you don't see your comment right away, don't worry. We'll read it, make sure it doesn't break the rest of these rules, and then post it. It won't happen right away.
3. Be nice. This is a civil conversation. You don't have to agree, but don't be mean. No name calling, profanity, hate speech, personal attacks, threatening or violent comments, sexually explicit or crude comments, or anything just plain rude. A good point doesn't need to include calling someone a "moron" or "white trash".
4. Be factual, as much as you can. Don't throw out comments you can't verify. Don't spread rumors or lies. That doesn't help anyone. And don't throw any libel out, either.

This is a community conversation, but The Independent is controlling it on our site. Therefore, we set the rules. If you don't like them, we're sorry, but they are the rules. Although the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution allows for freedom of speech, Congress is not in charge of this site. This is a privately owned Web site.

The opinions are those of the author and not the administrators, moderators or the paper, and therefore the Grand Island Independent will not be held liable.

If your comments don't follow all guidelines above, it will not be posted.

We will allow opinions some might find offensive. We will allow conversation that is strident in tone. We will allow criticism of public officials. And we will allow opinions some may find offensive about tough social issues around race and sexual orientation, as long as they don't break the rules above.