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…
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
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.
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.
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 🙂
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.
If MissMuffet will stop ranting about Her lack of home buying everything would be fine.
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.
btw, The What is not the problem. In my opinion.
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.
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)