Taking the Pulse on Anonymous Commenting
We’ve been getting more and more requests from readers to eliminate anonymous commenting. (The topic has also been on the front-burner because of a certain article this week.) There are clearly major flaws with a system that allows commenting without accountability, but doing away with it carries its own set of drawbacks in the form…
We’ve been getting more and more requests from readers to eliminate anonymous commenting. (The topic has also been on the front-burner because of a certain article this week.) There are clearly major flaws with a system that allows commenting without accountability, but doing away with it carries its own set of drawbacks in the form of diminished information flow, opinion and overall energy on the site. We’re curious to know how the community feels about the issue so please take a moment to fill out this survey and chime in below.
Thanks,
Mr. B
p.s. Just to clarify, just because you register, and comment under, a username, does not mean that your true identity is on display for the world to see. It means we can easily block a disruptive commenter, or contact him/her by email about bad behavior. It also means that other readers can begin to associate comments over time with a particular online identity, theoretically improving the ability to carry on discussions.
I don’t think requiring registration will do anything to increase the quality, or decrease the venom, of posts on this site. Just check out the comments on other sites where registration is required — they contain just as many insults as we see here. After all, even with registration, we’re still anonymous. And there’s nothing to keep folks from creating multiple registered identities using different hotmail or yahoo e-mail addresses. Finally, I recall that the last time Brownstoner tried this, I wasn’t able to log in for weeks and pretty much stopped reading the site altogether. It’s also been quite annoying recently to have all of my comments held as if I were a first-time poster.
The ONLY advantage, as others have mentioned, is that it will be easier to remember who said what during the course of a discussion. If Mr. B. thinks that is a good trade off for the lower number of comments (and decreased revenue) that mandatory registration will inevitably cause, I think it’s his call.
Sorry I can’t take seriously the “clarification” added about “user ids” still being “anonymous”
One supposedly anonymous user called the what was just the subject of a front page story in new york magazine. A story which speculated on his personal identity, including where he lived, his sexual orientation, his age, his profession, etc.
This is anonymous??
I’m pro-anonymous commenting, for a few reasons:
* The first time Brownstoner had a registration system, some commenters inadvertently ended up giving away their real names. For instance, I now know the real name of former commenter CrownHeightsProud, who I do not believe intended his/her name to be revealed. I know that the new system is supposed not to have that problem, but I’m not about to trust it.
* When Brownstoner became reg-only a couple years ago for a little while, the comments became very like-minded and cliquish, with a relatively small group of regulars dittoing each other.
* Anonymous comments give you a wider range of views and greater latitude. I’m very conscious of my privacy online and worry that by giving away too many details gradually over time, people would be able to figure out my real identity. (Partly because I write, under my real name, for a living.)
* In general, I don’t find the registered comments here to be much more credible than the unregistered ones.
1:25, I don’t need help defending myself, thanks.
Oh, and 100 posts!
“More Biff equals more hits equals more ad revenue for Brownstoner equals keeping this site running…thanks to everyone who’s helped contribute to that today.””
No Biff, live up to this comment homeboy!
I notice something! Ever since the NY Magazine article came out. The Asshats have been trying to racket up the BS! Like with this stupid comment here! “More Biff equals more hits equals more ad revenue for Brownstoner”. I think this site will do well without Biff and The What, stupid!
“Dude, you are most definately not “The What”
How many people do you think really buy your BS?”
I don’t care what you beLIEve in newsouthsloper.
The What
Someday this war is gonna end…
From now on, you are the fake Biff.
Spread the word, everyone…
shut up biff. in case you haven’t noticed i see NO ONE coming to your defense saying that they appreciate your posts. maybe dave, but that’s only cause then you two losers won’t have anyone else to “talk” to.
The fake What said, “Plus Biff please don’t go off on me because I will not respond to them.” For someone who isn’t going to respond to me, it’s cute how you’ve mentioned me extensively in two of your posts on this thread.
In any event, what’s the name of the personality disorder you suffer from that makes you want to imitate the real What? Still chuckling over your quick switch from “Someday this war is GOING TO end…” after I pointed out the flaw in your imitation yesterday…
Dude, you are most definately not “The What”
How many people do you think really buy your BS?