What does that mean? It can mean one person, using different screen names, made all 16 comments. It can also mean 16 people, operating from the same location and all using the same Internet connection, made the comments.

We don't require readers leaving comments to give their actual names or e-mail addresses, because we want to encourage unfettered free expression here. But we thought you should know this fact about this forum.

We appreciate all of our readers, whether they agree or disagree, and as always, we are committed to providing a forum, in print and online, for a variety of opinions.

Thank you.

— Barb Shepherd, co-publisher