What makes a great columnist? It's a question we wrestle with constantly while trying to make sure we have the best columnists in The Herald.
You will all have your own ideas. Maybe it's someone who says exactly what you think. Or, perhaps, someone you can't wait to read because you disagree so much with them.
Or is it a writer who makes you see the world afresh? Who gives you a fresh perspective on issues or people that you may not previously have considered?
We introduced a new columnist this week, Cat Boyd. She was co-founder of the Radical Independence Campaign, which came to prominence during the referendum of 2014, then later RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance.
She's still a socialist and a supporter of independence, though is no longer a member of any political party.
She says she aims to bring a intellectual curiosity over ideological certainty in her columns and feels we all lose out when everyone feels they must be right all the time.
READ MORE: Cat Boyd: Red Clydesiders wouldn't recognise paternalism of Left today
While we don't expect every reader to agree with Cat Boyd's views we feel that's a refreshing attitude. Surely curiosity is better than a closed mind?
In Scotland, in general, we feel too many people, politicians and policy makers are in bunkers - reluctant to consider alternative viewpoints.
Whether this closed mind mentality is down to the rise of binary social media and its combative approach to politics, or the aftermath of Yes/No or Remain/Leave referendums is up for debate but this does not make for a healthy body politic.
We all need to be challenged, to be forced to think outside a narrow box. That is, after all, the essence of free speech where ideas are tested and refined by debate and, yes, argument.
Many experts believe the reason the Communist nations of the former Eastern Bloc ultimately failed was because they refused to allow alternative viewpoints – and ultimately ran out of fresh ideas and approaches to everything from politics to economics.
Boyd joins our team of columnists from across the political spectrum. We haven't chosen them because they represent what we, The Herald, think. How could they, when free-market liberals such as Andy Maciver rub shoulders with left-wing firebrands like Neil Mackay, or conservative Unionists such as Mark Smith share the page with pro-independence writers like Kevin McKenna?
We have chosen them because we think they all have viewpoints that are worth considering.
Of course, it's not all politics on our Comment pages. Vicky Allan specialises in Green issues, Catriona Stewart on social ones while Rosemary Goring and Rab McNeil bring a refreshingly non-political take on life.
Of course, we want to hear your views on the issues of the day too, so email us at letters@theherald.co.uk and tell us what you think.
Because every one's views count.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
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