* As usual, a “mainstream” media writer misses the point…
In theory, [online comment boards are] a great thing. We’re giving the people a voice! But the reality is that commenting either attracts loathsome people or somehow causes ordinary people to express themselves in a way that is loathsome…
The horribleness of commenters isn’t really a mystery: Internet anonymity is disinhibiting, and people are basically mean anyway. Nor is it a mystery why the people who run websites put up with commenters: the economic model for Internet content is based on advertising, which means it’s based on traffic volume, and comments mean traffic. They’re part of the things that make online publishing work….
It’s just hard to tell whether they’re ruining the Web faster than they can save it.
Please, spare me.
Newspapers and magazines are always picky about which letters to the editor they publish in their dead tree editions, but too many of them allow online commenters to go all nutso. For some reason, publishers are squeamish about flat-out deleting the morons and banning them from returning. The SJ-R had a big problem with that a while back, but they appear to have cracked down somewhat. Other area outlets, like The Reader, allow freakish mayhem to rule their comment sections to the point where I won’t even link to that site any longer.
In other words, it’s mostly the publishers’ fault, not just the great, unwashed commenters.
* Eric Zorn recently killed off his comment section…
Readers of my comments areas have come to expect that I’ll not only keep out most of the filth via editing or deleting offensive posts , but that I’ll respond to every reasonable challenge that’s issued to me, no matter how small the audience might be for an answer.
I no longer want to try to meet those expectations. I’m finding, among other things, that it brings out the worst in me.
He has a point, and since Eric posts on national politics more than I ever would, he’s had to deal with far more weirdos than me. Every time I post something here about national stuff I find myself deleting, deleting, deleting the goofiness, or responding, which takes up far too much of my time.
* We tend to attract a higher level of commenters here, partly because of the subject matter and partly because I have no reservations about banning or deleting idiots. I’ve always believed that while this has become a community, it’s still my blog. I set the rules and I don’t feel the need to apologize for whatever decisions I make, unless I screw up.
Anyway, I just thought I’d reiterate the policy and give you a chance to have your say.
…Adding… I should’ve stressed that our commenters here are also a big reason that the keel stays mostly even. We have lots of responsible people who won’t put up with ridiculous distractions, except for Bill, but he’s a feature, not a bug.