« No Oyster Bar? How About a Methadone Clinic? Sales Begin at 821 Halsey »

December 15, 2008

A Thought on Comments

We received an email from a long-time reader over the weekend that we thought deserved attention. The reader pointed out that, in his opinion, the comments are so dominated by bickering among a handful of readers that (a) there is rarely coherent on-topic discussion and (b) he feels like it's a private party that he's not particularly welcome at. While many of the most frequent commenters add a lot of substantive comments along the way, we agree that the off-topic bickering has gotten a little out of control, and we'd like to urge everyone to make an effort to stay on-topic and to refrain from personal attacks and insults. Sound like a plan?
Thanks for your co-operation.
Mr. B

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/7625

Comments

When this board is good its great. There have been some discussions here that I have been really happy to have been a part of and that I think really add to the public discourse about Brooklyn. I second this call for dialogue with respect and intelligence.

Posted by: wasder at December 15, 2008 10:15 AM

How about those Mets?

Posted by: dittoburg at December 15, 2008 10:19 AM

I'll stay on topic if you can get dittoburg to stay on topic. :)

Seriously though, the attacks and insults will inevitably crop up in many discussions as the What just did below.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 15, 2008 10:22 AM

I have to admit, I agree with Mr. B.

Posted by: Schultz at December 15, 2008 10:31 AM

dittoburg, no concern that Minaya has spent too much on relief pitching, leaving too little for a new second baseman and some left-handed hitting?

That said, there are threads on topics of moderate-to-greater interest to me that read like bar-room repartee. It's not just the attacks and insults, although those seem particularly pointless, but also the incestual conversations between a handful of people -- no names -- that make the blog little more than a chat room.

Posted by: altervoce at December 15, 2008 10:31 AM

"the comments are so dominated by bickering among a handful of readers"

Well, thank goodness, this is not referring to me...cause I don't bicker :)

Bicker:
1 : petulant quarreling

"to make an effort to stay on-topic and to refrain from personal attacks and insults"

Many times, efforts are failed.
Personal attacks and insults - this should be interesting for some to try to adhere to.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at December 15, 2008 10:32 AM

Given the apparent maturity of most posters here, attacks and insults will happen--but at the least they be should be related to the topic of the post. The bigger problem is that one has to get through 25 posts by 4 people chatting together in order to find the two posts on the topic. That is far too tedious to bother with.

Posted by: shillstoner at December 15, 2008 10:35 AM

someone at some point suggested that a daily "open thread" might be a good way to divert much of the random chatter to a single place. this would reduce the number of other threads getting derailed, while still providing a forum for off-topic banter. seems worth considering. mr. b, what do you think?

Posted by: z at December 15, 2008 10:37 AM

That is a really good idea Mr B, the open thread that folks can congregate in. Rob suggested it a few weeks back and z has correctly raised it here.

Posted by: wasder at December 15, 2008 10:40 AM

It has to be considered that people will react to insults though. The what continually makes hateful or insulting comments against every group he can think of - whites, blacks, gays, women, and today its Mexican. Its hard for others not to respond. Blocking the continually insulting posters and asking the rest to stay on topic will probably tighten things up nicely.

Posted by: dittoburg at December 15, 2008 10:40 AM

z, the masses are with you.
Mr. B - let 'us' have an open thread.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at December 15, 2008 10:41 AM

I'm in!

I, cobblehiller, will do my very best to refrain from insults, going off-topic, and bickering.

Posted by: cobblehiller at December 15, 2008 10:41 AM

Ok people, sometimes I got off my meds (Seriously). However I want to rant about the state of this Mutant Asset Bubble BTW would not be possible from Greed and Delusion. I will stay on topic and will not attack anyone (unless attacked).

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at December 15, 2008 10:42 AM

I support the open thread concept.

Posted by: cobblehiller at December 15, 2008 10:43 AM

Great idea and easy to do. Look out for the first Open Thread momentarily!

Posted by: brownstoner at December 15, 2008 10:44 AM

Mr B,

This may be a huge undertaking code wise but perhaps you can install a blocking system where you can block comments from certain posters? Look at Craigslist discussion forums. They have that ability. Don't like someone? Block them from your thread.

Again, technically this might be a huge undertaking.

Good luck, Brownstoner has become a bit high school lately. You gotta remember though, all websites go through this dynamic...more visitors, more assholes.

Posted by: Prodigal_Son at December 15, 2008 10:45 AM

Apologize about the Mexican crack. I don't think you've ever actually been "on topic" What. It's always the same old cut and paste crap about the MAB. Besides, greed will kick in as soon as the market crosses its 50 day moving average. Don't get left behind.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 15, 2008 10:46 AM

"(a) there is rarely coherent on-topic discussion and (b) he feels like it's a private party that he's not particularly welcome at"

I agree with both sentiments.

There some interesting topics that do not get discussed at all even though they have 40+ comments and often the discussion consists solely of socializing and bantering.

Posted by: northsloperenter at December 15, 2008 10:46 AM

It's The What, It's the What fault, The What The What! See what I mean?? This topic was about the same Asshats that talk about nonsense!

") there is rarely coherent on-topic discussion and (b) he feels like it's a private party that he's not particularly welcome at."

Look I have all day Monday is my day off! We can discuss this like adults or I can change the rules of engagement and let off. What's it gonna be? Already 10 post and it's The What show, damn!

The What

Someday this war is gonna end..

300+ post on this puppy!

Posted by: Return of The What at December 15, 2008 10:48 AM

I have to agree with the What. The idea that this is about him and him alone (or mostly) is way off. I also have to say I strongly oppose the idea of blocking people you don't happen to like, as suggested by Prodigal Son. This thing would get boring and dull so quickly it is depressing to even think about it. It also has that childish, unfortunate echo of high school peer groups closing their ranks over differences. Bleh.

Posted by: Nokilissa at December 15, 2008 10:57 AM

It will get boring if tempers are not allowed to flare to the level of insults. Personal attacks atre different. I think the What should be able to post but not in the Forum. The latter is for people seeking advice and shouldn't be muddied with his crap.

In fact the point regarding the insults and personal attacks IS largely aimed at the What. He did it today already. I asked him to apologize and he acts like a school child.

The off-topic banter we will try to limit...or relegate to the open thread. I can't disagree with you on that one.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 15, 2008 11:03 AM

agreed
and great idea to have an "anything goes" thread

Posted by: gemini10 at December 15, 2008 11:05 AM

I also agree with "long time reader."

I have been asking myself why I even check the comments.

Posted by: greenwood slope at December 15, 2008 11:06 AM

ITA with "long-time reader". In addition to the open thread, I'd support of going back to anonymous posting. It seems to me the whole thing went to hell when people were made to register (and then the "handful" just started talking at/over each other)

Posted by: Ringo at December 15, 2008 11:12 AM

I'm with Mr. B. We have basically a pack of avid readers, who are also avid posters off topic most of the time.

I have a suggestion: there's a perfect place for our crew to post away whatever topics they wish...it's called brooklynian.com

The "Brooklyn and beyond" board should work nicely.

Posted by: Action Jackson at December 15, 2008 11:16 AM

btw, The What is not the problem. In my opinion.

Posted by: Ringo at December 15, 2008 11:18 AM

Mr. B,

A suggestion: any time there's a comment by The What, have the website automatically delete it and re-post it in the "anything goes" thread. And add that rule for some of the most frequent commenters - those who fill up every thread with chatter and egg on The What.

Posted by: Bklnite at December 15, 2008 11:19 AM

If MissMuffet will stop ranting about Her lack of home buying everything would be fine.

Posted by: sebb at December 15, 2008 11:26 AM

In The What defense, he does talk about real estate and doesn't just exchange "jokes" with friends that the rest of us have to wade through. And, he was right. I give him that.

People are insulted by different things. Some people are insulted when The What calls you out by name. But that's sticks 'n stones stuff iand I far prefer that to wasting my time which is what 4-7 people do here by posting 75 times a day with things they consider zingers.

Posted by: Ringo at December 15, 2008 11:35 AM

I too sometimes feel "like it's a private party that[I'm] not particularly welcome at.

However, being a generation older than most posters here, I'm used to it and still comment when I think I can make a contribution--or when I think it's appropriate in my self-appointed role as PLG commissar for agitprop :-)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at December 15, 2008 11:59 AM

Animus regarding house prices, quality of life in respective neighborhoods, and the ethnic/class make-up of the tapestry that is Brooklyn is to Brownstoner what --oh, fill in the blank --white is to rice? The problem is the incessant trading of juvenile quips between the same group of three or four posters, which was meant to take the place of mindless boosterism once the brokers fled the site in a rout.

Posted by: Whuh at December 15, 2008 12:18 PM

Open thread is a great idea. That way all the bickering/backstabbing/off-topic grandstanding can happen there, and the rest of us who don't care can simply ignore it.

I also think, Mr. B, you need to moderate the comments a little more. I can think of about a half-dozen commenters who use this site as their personal forum, and in the past couple of months have really abused it. Perhaps a little moderation amongst that teeny fraction of Brownstone users would restore some civility to the entire site. I don't come here to read someone's snarky jabs directed at other readers. It would take a little work, but people would pretty soon get the message.

Posted by: BrooklynButler at December 15, 2008 12:25 PM

No 'jokes' and 'zingers'
Life would be dull, my work would be nil.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at December 15, 2008 1:17 PM

It's easy to ignore whatever The What "writes" about, although I'd rather the posts get deleted as some people feel the need to respond to his vapid vitriol.

But the private club chat really kills it. "You're in fine form, Nokilissa." "Wow, Biff, showing your true colors again." etc. Very often a meaty discussion just devolves into mush.

Many of the regular posters make great and pithy comments, and I hope you continue to do so, but maybe you could meet for drinks (or fisticuffs) sometime to make it more personal.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at December 15, 2008 1:24 PM

the what was the last to come to mind when i read this. infact he has started many of his open forums when he wanted to be heard. sometimes i can't even siff through the nonsense to get to one valid on topic post. enough already.

Posted by: bkny at December 15, 2008 2:10 PM

I don't find The What too distracting anymore. Quite often his posts are more on topic then the "usual suspects"

This is a real estate blog, not a chat room. I don't think those people who use this as a medium for social interaction should be catered to by Mr. B. Download google chat, you can have your own private conversations all day long.

Posted by: A Guest at December 15, 2008 2:29 PM

Oh c'mon, what's with all the censorship? The banter and disagreements keep the site interesting. It's even a little unfair to tell the What he can't post in the Forum.

Posted by: mopar at December 15, 2008 6:42 PM

MrB thanks for bringing this up. We totally agree that silly chatter can destroy a very interesting thread quickly as the example from last week's Connelly mansion thread indicates. However the thought of banning someone for not liking them seems rather draconian to us.
BTW the What is right in that as annoying as his rants are they are always pertinent to an extent...this cannot be said for some of our friends here unfortunately. Hey friends not to worry we love you all:) LOL

Posted by: pierre de taille at December 15, 2008 9:13 PM

I have to agree with the longtime reader also.

Sometimes I don't post because I don't want to be redundant but reading through the comments is painful.

Posted by: i_heart_brooklyn at December 16, 2008 12:16 AM

Another lurker here agreeing with long-time reader. I also agree that The What isn't the problem; it's more the neighborhood-in-their-nicknames clique repeatedly attention-whoring each other. They've made this place into Fark Jr.

While I'm being so agreeable, I too think that doing away with anonymous posters actually lowered the quality of comments here.

Posted by: deadnancy at December 16, 2008 8:59 AM

You're biased anyway, so why exactly would you care? After all, you need to keep the people who pay your bills happy, don't you?

Posted by: Ijosephaaronow at January 4, 2009 4:54 AM

« No Oyster Bar? How About a Methadone Clinic? Sales Begin at 821 Halsey »

December 15, 2008

A Thought on Comments

Trackback Pings

Comments

Post a comment

Latest Restaurant Additions