Have you been tempted to comment on Northwest Citizen - but haven't for whatever reasons? We have just made a few changes to how registration and such works. We want Whatcom County residents to feel comfortable registering and commenting here, so here are some FAQs and Answers.

Q: Why does NwCitizen require real names of commenters?
A: Two reasons. First, we live in a democracy where we should all feel free to speak out, and that means speaking in public - in the open. We should all be tolerant of others views and not seek ways to retaliate for views we disagree with. At NwCitizen we practice this. A second reason is that having actual names attached to comments is the most effective way to stop the trash talk found on most websites. We want genuine comments - not just a lot of comments.

Q: Are passwords secret or known to NwCitizen editors?
A: We do not know any passwords. They are encrypted in the program and we cannot read them. We have no way of knowing your password. We use a program that safeguards our users privacy.

Q: If I forget my password, how can I get a new one?
A: You click the Login link and then click the link "Forgot your password?" You will be asked for your email address. Type it in and click the "Submit" button. The program will send you an email that requires you to click on a code and return to a special page in NwCitizen. The program will then send you a new password. (All this is to prevent someone else from getting your new password.)

Q: The password that the program sent me is too hard to remember. Can I change it?
A: Yes. When logged in to comment, you can click on the "My Account" link and change your password to one that you can remember. All this password business can be done without any participation by any of us editors. The program takes care of it all. And your passwords remain known only to you.

Q: How long can comments be:
A: As many words as you want - within reason. You can exceed the 200 word limit of some other websites. No need to make three comment posts just to have enough words to support your view. You can feel free to write a comment of 100 to 900 words. We encourage short comments that express a feeling and long comments that develop a new point of view.

Q: What if I have other questions?
A: Feel free to write me, John Servais, at john@nwcitizen.com with any questions. Also, I may add more Q&As to this post. And you can always find this post by clicking on the "About" link on the left side of the Front Page.

And, by the way, you can comment on this article - or ask questions below and I'll try to answer them.