Is there a need for online rules

As blogs and the ability to comment online about news stories become more popular, the debate over whether to allow anonymous postings continues. One viewpoint is that allowing anonymous comments spurs discussion; another says to make people identify themselves in some way holds them accountable and keeps the discussion civil.

In this piece from the Miami Herald, columnist Ed Wasserman has this to say: "On the Internet, public comment isn't kitchen table talk, it's saloon brawl. Postings are sharp and rough-and-tumble. Harsh and derisive exchanges are common. So are personal attacks. Chat rooms and message boards routinely allow people to post comments anonymously. That's the cyber pond that traditional news organizations are diving into." Check out his entire column for more on why he believes online rules are needed.