Big Picture switching to Facebook commenting system

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The Big Picture is switching to a new commenting system today.

The system requires commenters to sign in through their Facebook accounts. People without Facebook accounts will not be able to leave comments.

Readers will have the option of posting their Big Picture comments on their Facebook walls, but that’s not required.

The change is part of an experiment on The Big Picture and several other Times entertainment blogs. Readers are welcome to express their opinions about the news -- and about how the new Facebook comments system is working.

Jimmy Orr, the Los Angeles Times managing editor in charge of latimes.com, discusses the Facebook system in greater depth.

--Lisa Fung and Martin Beck