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
Glad to know that, tool. Really, I am.
How about making them a little more user-friendly by structuring as threads (see Vault.com message boards to see what I mean). This would make it easier to follow dialogues and plug in where you are most interested.
my 2 cents
usualsuspectsaretools = randolph = yawn.
davidinbedstuy,
your “semantic play” is particularly TOOL of you today. of course i have looked at the open thread, BEFORE I knew what it was/is. But now, I scroll right past the m’fer. You and your buddy’s dribble is make this site seem like a cliquey TOOL party.
also note:
knowing that you would certainly make today’s, if it were instituted, “Top 5 commenty list”, i would rate your commenty-ness as “mostly tool”
Rare is the person who can moderate fairly. Rarer still is someone who has time to volunteer to do it. It’s a full time job on an active site like this. Ask Jon, when there was no registration, that was his job. Good thing he had staff then.
“Once someone is defined as a usual suspect for the day, then at the end of said day, Bstoner should post a “top-five usual suspect-of-the-day list – let us know what you think readers.” Maybe is should be called “the commenty list” and allow us to rate the quality of the commenty crew’s comments.”
I hope that is sarcasm. If not, it is definitely one of the levels of cyber hell. I shudder at the thought.
35
My inclination is to say, ‘Don’t mess with success.’ No one is forced to read the comments, and if someone is too timid to add to the discussion, that’s not your problem, Mr. B. You’re doing a great job. Let it be. (That said, I’ve never looked at Open Thread, and now I don’t think I’ll bother.)
A quick count shows Robs/DIBS/bayridgegirl posted 34 times in this thread before I refreshed. 34/150. And it’s just lunchtime.
When Mae West said, “too much of a good thing is wonderful”, she wasn’t talking about commenting.
Brownstoner:
Again. The open thread IS LAME. I never click on open thread. It is horrible. Can we start a “tool rating system” for how TOOL a particular open thread was?
Posted by: usualsuspectsaretools at March 27, 2009 12:35 PM
If you never click on it how do you lnow its lame and horrible??
I think we’ve found the epontmous “tool”