All online discussion boards attached to The Pacer’s Web site have been temporarily shut down.

For those of you who have enjoyed the threads or raged against them, please have patience while we deal with some issues that have arisen from them. I regret that this decision had to be made at all, but I believe the boards will be the better for it.

We will revamp some rules, so here’s some examples of what you should expect from the new and improved version of the boards:

• Real names. We do not print anonymous letters to the editor or columns under a pseudonym. If the boards are to be considered a legitimate forum for the open and fair exchange of views, then I believe we should hold users to the same standards as we hold our contributors in print. If you have the courage of your convictions, then this should not pose a problem.

• A continual effort to properly moderate the boards. Our original rules apply in terms of not allowing obscene or pornographic content and cutting off discussions when an implied threat to another party on the boards becomes apparent.

Community standards should also be met. Most student newspapers frequently find (or put) themselves on the “edge” of whatever the community deems acceptable. That’s life at a college paper. However, what’s not fit for print is not fit for publication on our corner of the Web, either.

It will be difficult to consistently moderate each and every thread, particularly if I attempt to take on that task. It’s necessary, however, given that recent discussions have become heated to the point of threatening and complaints of unfair treatment have ensued.

• Curbed Pacer participation on the boards, with one exception. Our job is to inform and we will continue to do so. My staff has the same First Amendment rights as everyone else, but much of our audience (like much of the general population) apparently perceives ONE staff member’s opinion as the ENTIRE staff’s opinion.

Not only is that regrettable, it’s absolutely ludicrous for anyone to believe that the nearly 20 people on this staff would agree on everything! They don’t – frequently – and they also don’t always agree with me. That’s what makes life interesting.

Anyway, we’ll have the boards up and running again soon and I will look forward to reading all your opinions.

Just be prepared to play by the rules or not play at all.

Tomi McCutchen Parrish also is an instructor of Communications