Discontinuing Self-Published Reader Comments
While many of our readers publish comments that are constructive and well-mannered, we are experiencing a growing number of comments that are mean-spirited, foul-mouthed, ad hominem attacks. The frequency of the latter now requires approximately two hours every day of monitoring and mediation, in keeping with our comments policy. That’s too much time — for anyone — to spend on such activity, especially at an all-volunteer blog like this one.
Of course, we could just do away with our comments policy and ignore the bad behavior, although doing so tends to generate even more complaints and takes up even more time. Alternatively, we could ban the most persistently offensive commenters, and we have done so, on rare occasion. But lately, it seems, there’s always another offensive commenter to fill the void.
And so, after carefully considering this reality, evaluating options, reaching out to other bloggers and readers for their opinions, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue readers’ self-published comments on a three-month trial basis, starting in the late evening of Tuesday this week, March 30. After that date, TMV authors who wish to continue receiving reader comments will provide a way for readers to contact them. Here’s the approach I’ll use, as one example …
Do you have a perspective or related information to share on this topic? Email me at abel-DOT-reply-AT-gmail-DOT-com. Please write “TMV Comment” in the subject line. I won’t be able to respond to all such emails, but I will occasionally publish follow-up posts, featuring the reader feedback that I find the most germane, compelling and/or persuasive – including feedback that disagrees with my conclusions.
Thank you.
157 Responses to “Discontinuing Self-Published Reader Comments”
I think Jillzie, dont hesitate to write Tyrone personally. I too am a little bewildered by how to, what to do re mirror sites et al. Thanks for your long comment above; I appreciate first person your noting police reporting, trying all kinds of ways to hold the circle so it doesnt become a kill ring but a table of nourishment (albeit with food fights and a crazy uncle or morbid aunt, sometimes) , etc. I'd only add to Tyrone and your comments, that when site and personal emails are hacked, it's also a bad day at black rock. I nonetheless hold hope. If I were queen of the world, (which I am not, although I do have a magic wand made of a tomato stake with a blue glittered paper star on the end of it… seriously) I would create the most awesome piece of commenter software that would robot its way through, have a personality with humor, and nose print all comers including cobloggers. Ok, kidding about the nose print (they do that on a high tech farm I recently visited). And also, the commenting software would have a virtual slot machine attached to it, so that 'the likes' would cause hundreds of quarters to ring and tumble and clank onto the keyboards of especially erudite, funny, insightful or strange comments from roving ewoks.
my heart is we'll talk more, all of us. somewhere in time and place.
dr.e – Joe has the right to do or not do whatever pleases him. However, you are simply being an apologist for his decision to ignore us and this thread of true outpouring towards TMV.
His posts the past two days were not in-depth, long-worked and edited posts. They all revolved around breaking news stories, and the Micheal Steele narrative changed throughout the day, and Joe even made a second post as new developments occurred.
I do not know why he chooses not to address us, and as I said it is his absolute right to do as he pleases, but it sure is turning into a slap in the face to those who have supported and loved TMV through all these years.
dear austin, I'm sorry, I thought I was being clear that I was just putting forward a fact I do know about most all our cobloggers, that we warehouse articles. I thought that was a possibility. Our editors live in all different parts of the country and we dont always know where they are or what they are doing. I imagine Joe will, as Tyrone has, put up a post of his own. I can't say yes, for I dont know for certain. I got the magic wand as detailed in my comment above, but they revoked the mind reading license. Thanks Austin.
[...] March 30, 2010 · 1 Comment TMV is discontinuing comments. [...]
A potential solution, at least temporary. Those posts I like, I will post to greendreams.wordpress.com with the exact title of the original post and a link to the TMV post. Would-be commenters google the original post title. If someone has already posted, I'll use that link. If not, find the one on greendreams and go there to comment. I'll moderate those I link to. Disqus doesn't work on wordpress.com unfortunately, so you'd have to use the wordpress comment system.
A tad clumsy, but it would work. To see how, google the title of this post: “Discontinuing Self-Published Reader Comments”. Currently on google #5 link is Discontinuing Self-Published Reader Comments >> GreenDreams. That link would take you to the comment thread on the post (though I won't be copying the current thread to my blog). This is only a test. Try it if you like. Any others care to join me in taking the comment threads elsewhere?
There are many reasons to trust you. And so I do.
Thanks.
I believe it's up to each blogger if he or she wants to respond. Granted, Joe G. has responded before to commenters. He's consistent with this site, with multiple Steele posts, nothing so far about the costs the bigger businesses (those no doubt with legacy costs, similar to industrial Detroit) are reporting now that we have health care “reform.” (I'm not betting on any thread starting about “reform's” unfortunate consequences, especially any reporting that some in Washington already are trying to punish or to suppress.)