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NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP -- There's an old saying that I try very hard to live by:  "To gain respect, you must first give it to others."

We've already received many comments, both for and against, concerning the changes being made to the way the public may post comments to our website.  My colleagues asked me to share a few personal thoughts with you about this from an on-air perspective.

I will admit--part of me is very hesitant to do this.  I strive to stay as objective on issues as I can.  As a journalist, taking a side doesn't appeal to me.

However, when it comes to comments, it is not about the news, is it?  Public comment is something we do from the minute we learn to communicate.  It is opinion, and it is as varied as the people who make them.  Our society values and encourages public input in a wide variety of forums, from the humblest comment attached to a story to demonstrators marching on the street.

However, just because a person can say something does not always mean he or she considers the consequences about how it is said.

Like many of you, I have read comments on stories that make me ashamed.  I would read them and my heart would hurt for the people the comments target.  I have been targeted by some of these comments, and I'm not proud of how I've responded at times to the more unfriendly ones.

This is why I am looking forward to the new changes.  These changes will hold everyone--including myself--accountable for how we express ourselves.

We are not making this change so that we can track our viewers or readers.  It is not to spam people:  that is not the way to gain Facebook followers--just lose them.

It is not to suppress or censor political or religious opinion.  That's not what our American ideals are all about.

Instead, it is about being passionate and caring enough about a situation that, in addition to wanting to share your opinion about it, you also want to be taken seriously.  It's about respecting yourself enough not only to own up to how you feel, but that you did it in a manner that did not create undue hurt for someone else.

It is about respecting the feelings of others and having them return that respect.

It is about making our website a web destination that people want to visit, share with their family and friends around the world, and maybe some day share their own story.

I know that in sharing this I am opening myself up to a whole can of nasty.  It wouldn't be the first time.  But if this, in any way, helps even one person to stop and think before he or she says or writes something that may later be regretted, then it was worth it.