There will be a new approach Wednesday for readers to post comments on stories on The Blade’s two Web sites, toledoblade.com and ourtownsylvania.com.

The change, aimed at improving the public discourse, will require readers to be Facebook members. People already registered on the sites to make comments will no longer be able to do so through the old method. Commenters will have to log in through their Facebook page to continue posting comments.

As a result, the added comments will show each commenter’s name and Facebook photo. Facebook requires users to use real names.

The goal is to foster better and more civil public discussions, through a communication tool used by more than 800 million people. Many newspapers nationwide use Facebook for reader comments on online stories.

In the new approach, commenters will be able to see their posts not only on toledoblade.com (and ourtownsylvania.com) stories, but also on their own Facebook page, along with their social media “friends.”

Public comments on stories will post immediately and be monitored by Blade Web editors, who will remove unacceptable posts. The Blade’s user agreement for its Web sites remains in place, which prohibits people from making hateful, racist, and just plain insulting remarks.

For many, this change will mean one less password to remember. We hope this will encourage more visitors to toledoblade.com and ourtownsylvania.com to post comments on stories.

The Blade knows there will be questions about this change. Please be sure to read through our frequently asked questions page and our terms of service.

If you still have questions, please visit The Blade's Facebook Comment FAQ page at toledoblade.com/facebookcommentsfaq, leave a comment on this article, or email Greg Braknis, toledoblade.com Web News Editor, at gbraknis@theblade.com.

First Published March 13, 2012, 7:11 p.m.