Why do I have to register to comment?
In an effort to create a richer and personalized community experience on tampabay.com we have implemented a new registration system that is directly tied to commenting so the Times can monitor and administer the website community moving forward. Also, the new registration and commenting system has security features that will allow us to block or remove privileges from users who do not follow the Times’ comment policy.

How do I register using a social network or email account and gain access to commenting?
Simply click the “register” tab at the top right of your screen at any point while on a tampabay.com website page. Follow the steps as prompted and choose a desired social network to register with. Once you have gone through the prompts, verify your email and you are all set to start commenting. Simply go to the story or content of your choice, and click the “Join the discussion,” link at the bottom and a comment box will open, allowing you to comment.

Can I still log in and comment with my tampabay.com account?
Yes. It is still possible to register, log in and comment using a tampabay.com created account.

Why would I want to comment using a social network or email account?
Commenting with a social network or email account will offer a more personalized experience on tampabay.com and will include your name and a photo when applicable. It also makes it possible to easily share your commenting activity on tampabay.com with desired social networks so your friends and followers can see what you’re reading and viewing and join in the conversation with you on tampabay.com.

Can I link my current tampabay.com with a social network account so I can comment using the more personalized features?
Yes. All you have to do is register with the social account of your choice. Once you have done so, click your name as it appears on the very top right of the tampabay.com website. You will be taken to a profile page that allows you to link the accounts.

What displays on my profile page?
If you choose a social network/email account login: Full name, email address, zip code, option to link tampabay.com account. If you choose a tampabay.com login: Full name, email, gender (optional), zip code (optional), household income (optional), birthday (optional), mobile (optional), option to change password.

Can somebody use an existing tampabay.com user name and a different e-mail address to validate an account?
No, that is not possible.

Can somebody use an existing e-mail address in the system and a different user name to validate a tampabay.com account?
No, that is not possible.

How can I report commenting abuse by others?
To report abuse, simply hover over the comment that violates tampabay.com’s commenting policy. Once you have done so, a small flag will appear in the bottom right of the comment, next to the thumbs up and thumbs down icons. Click the flag. The comment will then be submitted for review. If a comment is flagged several times by several users it will automatically be removed from the comment thread and will still be submitted for review.

What if I am unable to log in or comment because of a browser issue?
As tampabay.com transitions to the updated commenting and registration system, some users may experience a few browser bumps. The most common issue is related to cookies and browser cache. If you experience problems logging in or commenting, you should first clear your browser’s cache setting. Alternately, if you block third party cookies, you will need to create a permission for www.gigya.com. It is possible to set it so it only applies to a current browsing session, automatically deleting the permission when you have closed the browser and finished your current session.

Once I have created a tampabay.com account, can I change my user name?
No. The user name remains in the system unless we delete it. Users can change passwords, e-mail addresses and first and last name via their tampabay.com account page on the site.

Will my email address be used to SPAM me?
Tampabay.com is an anti-spam site. You will never receive unwanted emails. Providing an email allows you to register and participate in the tampabay.com online conversation and to stay in touch with what's happening in our online community.

Personal information you provide may be used by us to improve our services or to inform you about special coverage events, promotions, sales and other information. No personal information about you will be intentionally disclosed by the Tampa Bay Times to any third parties. We do share aggregate statistics about our users with our advertisers. For example, we may tell advertisers how many of our users are male or female or live in a certain zip code. These aggregate statistics do not contain any identifiable individual information. Read more on our privacy policy.