Let's Talk About Commenting
We twittered about this a few days ago, but we’d like to open it up for discussion: What can we do to improve the overall the quality of comments on the blog, to encourage lurkers to get involved without alienating some of the more active and, um, spirited commenters? We hear quite often from regular…
We twittered about this a few days ago, but we’d like to open it up for discussion: What can we do to improve the overall the quality of comments on the blog, to encourage lurkers to get involved without alienating some of the more active and, um, spirited commenters? We hear quite often from regular readers who feel uncomfortable, even intimidated, with the prospect of commenting. This isn’t surprising given the verbal beat-down one new commenter received from a gang of regulars a couple of weeks ago. Nor is the level of discussion going on in today’s Open Thread really where we’d like it to be. Short of active comment moderation, which really isn’t a practical option, what do you think we can/should do to elevate the quality of discussion and make newcomers feel more welcome? We’d be particularly interested to hear from some folks who usually hang back on the sidelines. It’s in the best interests of the blog and everyone who reads it to have as many people contributing their knowledge and opinions as possible.
Thanks,
Mr. B
Everyone on this site is free to post as much or as little as they want as long as they are civil while doing so. What’s so hard about that?
Yes, Mr. B…what’s your assessment of all of this? maybe post it tomorrow after all the comments are available today and you’ve had time to think about it.
Whew, turns out there are a lot of people reading I guess. I’m an infrequent commenter — maybe once or twice a week. I try not to say anything unless I have a strong opinion of something useful to add, though occasionally I can’t resist taking a little bait. I don’t have anything to add to what’s already been said on this thread by many. But since B asked, I’ll add my voice to the chorus. I find the comments reasonably useful and civil considering the nature of the internet. It’s an open forum and a pretty popular one, and you’re obviously going to get people who feel they have to respond to everything. I’m a good skimmer and when I stop getting stuff that interests me, I simply move on. I’m not sure ratings and ignoring features makes sense — I tend not to use it on other sites because it’s clunkier than simply scrolling and it makes the threads harder to follow.
Mr. B – bad blogging is bound to happen. take group think combined with misunderstandings throw in snarkiness and BAM you’ve got a lot of nonsense. if we were all face to face in a room, our words would be different as would the responses.
back years ago, many of my writer friends were extremely active in the WELL (a site with many many threads) out of San Fran / Berkley. Eventually, the “Ignore” button was used so often there that anyone outside the conventional going wisdom was essentially “banned” and many threads simply stopped having a dialog.
Re Brownstoner: i began to wonder a while back if the psychology of folks drawn to the comfort of old homes creates by default a community that’s fairly conservative emotionally and intellectually. when all the same “home details” are touted here as a shared value for instance, then that gives you a clue into people’s psyche. it’s rarely questioned why everyone agrees that the moldings, floors, building materials of a previous century should be somehow held up as a gold standard.
of course, if Brownstoner stuck to simply talking about brownstones, old homes and old home renovations, then this would be more like a club of people with a shared interest. However, you’ve turned it into more of a blog about gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhoods and review new developments, restaurants, and crime even.
in NYC, we hear how “liberal” people are politically, but really they tend to not be liberal thinkers at all. there is a total movement to shut down people with different perspectives on this blog, all the time. note that the Brownstone neighborhoods most in demand ie: brooklyn hts, CG, CH, PS are all demographically very white, middle or upper class, and look just like the demographics of many suburbs you’d find anywhere in America.
So, Brownstoner, after all these ideas, what are you thinking?
if a user is being persistently aggressive or combative and contributes nothing to the debate, then the admin should send a warning note, asking him to refrain from such behaviour on the board. Three warnings, block his IP address. Not his user name, his IP address, thats how newspapers do it.
simple
Some people complain about this websie interminably yet seem to spend every waking minute reading it.
Thats pretty F**ked up. Talk about no life?
Some of the people posting here and no where else on this site and those that are posting for the first time on Brownstoner in this thread (and you know who you are), PLEASE go contribute to another thread. I’m sure you have some valuable insight on some of the topics.
And if you don’t post anywhere else then you are truly hypocrites.
Oh, and then stop your bitching and moaning.
Maybe a fun “new topic” would be to delve a little deeper when a new store or restaurant opens and it’s highlighted here. Wait till it actually opens (so we don’t have misinformation like in the Flatbush Avenue place a few days ago) go speak with the owner, photograph some of the merchandise and give us some feedback.
Not only would some people probably find it enjoyable, but it might actually do a great service to some of these small businesses and entice some of the readers to go check them out.
An example is the new “Odd Twin” Vintage store you highlighted yesterday. Not one comment because the store isn’t even open yet. What’s to comment on…? Wait, and go back when it does, get a couple lines from the new owners and show us what they have!!
Hey guys,
davidinbedstuy is right….he, like I (as we are both the usually commenty suspects) IS a tool.