Why can't we debate with civility?

One of the most important roles a newspaper plays in society is the one in which it serves as a forum for public discussion and debate.

That's not hyperbole.

It's a fundamental truth.

Studies have shown that in places where the public is strongly engaged in the government's business, governments are better run and suffer less corruption.

There probably are a lot of reasons for this. An engaged public is a better watchdog than one that is disinterested. And generally, an engaged public is better informed than one that accepts what its leaders say without challenge, and thus by being better informed, it makes better policy decisions.

Newspapers over the years have played a significant part in that.

That role, to provide a forum for public discussion and debate, is a primary reason we publish letters to the editor, our Fence Post.

In this era, the role also is played out online with the comments segments that follow each story.

In many respects, the opportunity to engage the community in conversation is one of the greatest potential benefits of the Internet. It can truly serve the democracy.

Yet, a crucial element is missing these days.

Civility.

What has happened to it?

As P.M. Forni, co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project, told Johns Hopkins magazine, "Many Americans think that civility and manners are in decline, that this decline has increased in the past several years."

Increasingly, we receive letters to the editor that attack a previous letter writer rather than thoughtfully debating the point that writer was making.

That's OK to an extent. We can edit out personal assaults, and we try to do so. If you're writing letters, let this serve as a reminder: Focus on the point you want to make, not on an individual who may differ with it.

But the comments offered frequently on dailyherald.com are more challenging. They're more pervasive, and it's stunning how many are mean-spirited, unconstructive and unfair - in the end, a sad waste of an opportunity to build public discourse rather than undermine it.

If you're a viewer and see something that fits into that category, hit the "Report" button and let us know about it.

If you're an online participant, remember your obligations to the community and to civility.

And remember the words of Thomas Mann, the great writer and social critic, who said: "Democracy is a means of living together despite our differences... It is predicated on the assumption that it's possible to disagree agreeably... that one can vigorously contest the position of one's adversary without questioning his or her personal integrity of motivation."