We will consider e-mails of 100 words or fewer — comments longer than that will be disqualified.

Entries may be heavily edited to make sure no one libels anyone, or is inappropriately critical, or gives an exaggerated or unsubstantiated account of an encounter with someone, or shades the truth in some way.

There are several topics we won’t even consider, among them: a dispute with a merchant, treatment by the Department of Social Services, the conduct of a Family Court case, an alleged misdiagnosis by a physician. If the writer intends to harm someone with an anonymous accusation, it won’t appear in Speakout.

What we will welcome are interesting observations on life’s array of experiences, so long as they don’t impugn a particular person, group or institution.

Speakout will be appear at random times, when space is available. It is impossible to gauge how many we will receive — and how many will be publishable — so it’s hard to plan the feature for a particular time and place.

You may use the form at the left to submit your Speakout entry. You can also e-mail an entry to speakout@pressrepublican.com. If you e-mail a comment, we will not publish the name as it appears on the e-mail header. In fact, we won’t even try to find out who you are. But we emphasize again that irresponsible comments will not be given space.