On the one hand, well said. On the other hand, I've been commenting here for four or five years now (and on Gawker, and on io9 and Kotaku for probably the last two years or so). My comments are usually reasonably well-recommended (the middle-of-the-road ones probably get twenty or thirty recommends, I guess?), but I'm…

I cannot recommend this comment enough. As someone who comments fairly regularly but is not followed by any site/writer, I know I'm going back to the grays and I can't help but feel a little discouraged. But if the guidelines you outlined are followed it gives me a little hope that regular and thoughtful commenters…

ALL OF THIS! I was so excited when I finally left the greys, after feeling discouraged for months. I did my best to promote the unapproved commenters left behind.

Jessica, I am so proud of you for standing up for your site, your authors and your commenting community.