The Scoop: Discussion forums coming to sacbee.com

The Scoop

A blog about what's new and changing on sacbee.com

September 21, 2008

Discussion forums coming to sacbee.com

When the new sacbee launches in mid-October, we'll have some new tools to communicate with readers. One of those tools will be reader discussion forums powered by Pluck, a provider of social media software.

Forums provide the opportunity to have live discussions about specific topics. Those discussions can involve Bee staff with readers; experts invited by The Bee to discuss a particular issue with readers; or of course readers having discussions with other readers.

Any one can read the discussions, but to participate you have to register. Once registered, you can respond to a forum as well as start a new discussion topic under a forum if you so choose. Each time someone responds to a topic you started or a post you made, you automatically get an alert -- and the chance to respond or just read what someone said in response to what you posted.

Registration also allows users to use other Pluck tools on the site, such as starting your own blog on sacbee.com, or commenting on stories.

To get a feel for how Pluck forum tools work, check out our sister site at the Charlotte Observer.

Among the forums we are planning include discussions on news of the day; what's happening on state politics; health and fitness issues; the Kings; and a discussion and update on the conditions and pricing specials at local golf courses. We hope you'll enjoy these new tools and offer suggestions on how best to use them.

About Comments

Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.

What You Should Know About Comments on Sacbee.com

Sacbee.com is happy to provide a forum for reader interaction, discussion, feedback and reaction to our stories. However, we reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments or ban users who can't play nice. (See our full terms of service here.)

Here are some rules of the road:

• Keep your comments civil. Don't insult one another or the subjects of our articles. If you think a comment violates our guidelines click the "report abuse" button to notify the moderators. Responding to the comment will only encourage bad behavior.

• Don't use profanities, vulgarities or hate speech. This is a general interest news site. Sometimes, there are children present. Don't say anything in a way you wouldn't want your own child to hear.

• Do not attack other users; focus your comments on issues, not individuals.

• Stay on topic. Only post comments relevant to the article at hand. If you want to discuss an issue with a specific user, click on his profile name and send him a direct message.

• Do not copy and paste outside material into the comment box.

• Don't repeat the same comment over and over. We heard you the first time.

• Do not use the commenting system for advertising. That's spam and it isn't allowed.

• Don't use all capital letters. That's akin to yelling and not appreciated by the audience.

You should also know that The Sacramento Bee does not screen comments before they are posted. You are more likely to see inappropriate comments before our staff does, so we ask that you click the "report abuse" button to submit those comments for moderator review. You also may notify us via email at feedback@sacbee.com. Note the headline on which the comment is made and tell us the profile name of the user who made the comment. Remember, comment moderation is subjective. You may find some material objectionable that we won't and vice versa.

If you submit a comment, the user name of your account will appear along with it. Users cannot remove their own comments once they have submitted them, but you may ask our staff to retract one of your comments by sending an email to feedback@sacbee.com. Again, make sure you note the headline on which the comment is made and tell us your profile name.

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The Scoop is a blog where the managers of sacbee.com talk about new initiatives and our plans for sacbee.com. You can reach us by at the e-mail addresses below or you can comment on our postings.

Tom Negrete is managing editor of The Bee and oversees the daily work of journalists who produce news content for the newspaper and sacbee.com. Negrete, who has been at The Bee since 1994, has served as assistant managing editor for business and sports, sports editor and assistant city editor. E-mail him at tnegrete@sacbee.com or reach him at (916) 321-1171.

Seán McMahon is The Bee's Director of Digital Media, overseeing the interactive efforts of the company. His e-mail is smcmahon@sacbee.com.

Linda Gonzales is digital team leader for Sacbee.com and has been an editor at The Bee since 1995. You can email her at lgonzales@sacbee.com.