Many months ago, I made a controversial decision about this local news site, LarryInFishers.com. Today, I want to revisit that decision and explain in more detail why I made it.

I run LarryInFishers.com as a one-person operation. I do all the reporting, writing, editing, and publishing myself. Because of that, I’ve chosen to publish it as a blog — a format that makes it simple to post news and commentary quickly.

For most of the past 13 years, I allowed readers to post comments on stories. I rarely blocked them, and only asked for clarification in a handful of cases. My main rule was simple: if someone wanted to launch a personal attack — even on a public official — they had to use their real name.

But in recent years, the tone of online conversation in Fishers has changed. Polarization has grown, and extreme comments have become more frequent. I simply don’t have the time to review every comment closely or fact-check every claim.

Complaints began to roll in about the tone and factual accuracy of certain comments. While I welcome criticism of my reporting and my opinions — healthy debate is part of democracy — many of these comments weren’t about public policy at all. They were personal, inflammatory, or aimed at derailing constructive discussion.

After much thought and research, I made the decision to end comments on the blog. It was not easy, and it certainly wasn’t made on a whim. But it was the only way to ensure that LarryInFishers.com remained a reliable and respectful place for local news.

Discussions of my stories still happen — often on local social media pages I don’t run and can’t (and wouldn’t want to) control. I suppose I should take it as a compliment that the blog generates that much conversation. But I knew that removing comments on my site was the right call.

I will always stand behind what I write, and if an error is pointed out, I correct it as quickly as possible. My commitment is to report the news as accurately and fairly as I can.

I’m humbled by the number of readers who follow this site, and I’ve resisted moving to paid platforms like Substack because I believe LarryInFishers.com should remain free — a public service and my way of giving back to a quality community where Jane and I were fortunate to raise our daughters.

Thank you, as always, for reading.