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Registering before commenting is not a plot to suppress free speech

Q: "Why, as a subscriber wishing to comment via mobile, am I FORCED to register with Disqus or whatever it's called? Is not that suppression of speech? This is a blatant wrong. Fix this.

Q: "Why, as a subscriber wishing to comment via mobile, am I FORCED to register with Disqus or whatever it's called? Is not that suppression of speech? This is a blatant wrong. Fix this. I don't buy into a US-based thing which wants personal info of Canadians. Stop this. Thanks. It does not profit TC. Get your techos on it."

A: There are a few questions to answer here:

First, it is not a suppression of free speech to ask people to register before they can comment. Your right to free speech does not extend to a website owned by someone else. If you want to post whatever you want, whenever you want, how you want, then start your own website.

This one is ours and we get to make the rules.

And one of those rules is that you must register before you can comment. But don't worry, we've made it really easy.

You can, as noted above, create an account with Disqus, right from the web page you are on. It's quick and easy and requires only that you have a valid e-mail address.

Even easier, you can register using your Facebook, Twitter or Google credentials.

Disqus sign in screen

As an industry, it has been determined that requiring commenters to register elevates the level of discussion because there is some degree of accountability. It also allows you to track your own comments and manage your interaction with the community of readers who use our site.

And it also allows us to weed out those people who choose to abuse this service that we provide for our valued readers. Follow the rules and use common sense and courtesy and you'll have no problems.

No one is FORCED to do anything. You always have a choice: do it or don't.

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