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
My thoughts:
1. The “no guest commenting” policy improves the overall level of civility.
2. On the whole there is far more intelligence and thoughtfulness to the posts on this board than most of the rest of cyberspace. I actually find this to be a reasonably civil island in a sea of uninformed common drivel.
3. The strong personalities – however you may feel about them – keep the discussions lively. There is simply no way to subdue them without making this a duller place. I for one would find this site less interesting if every post had 5 or 6 on-point, academic, non-inflammatory responses.
4. Lurkers will be lurkers. If someone can’t raise the courage to submit a compleltely anonymous comment on the Internet, I’m not sure it’s worth anyone’s time to try to coax them off the sidelines.
Mr. B, I think you should look at the topics you feature. DeLepp has a point.
Maybe you should take a poll and see what topics people that post, read, lurk on here would want more of. Maybe that will get more people posting.
I agree cobble & De Lepp. Do something everyday or every other day to discuss, say, front doors, stairways, what to do with your basement, how to set up a basement workshop, one bathroom or two, powder room on parlour floor, have Adam come in on his own thread about mortgage rates, how about rating bars like restaurants, etc, etc, etc.
I think part of the “problem” may be that there doesn’t seem to be much going on in Brownstoneland. Open Thread and Forum aside, the blog is divided into variations on 4 topics: Brownstone/historic neighborhoods and houses, condos and new construction, Bklyn/city/nation housing prices and economic topics, and quality of life issues, ranging from restaurants to gentrification.
We can only beat up on the economy issues for so long before there is nothing left to say. Many would say we’ve gotten there already. Many more don’t really care, as they don’t feel qualified to speak on the subject(includes me), or they just aren’t interested, they come here for other topics and issues.
Condos and new construction have never been my thing, but it is a part of the new Brooklyn, and the lives of many of the blog’s readership. However, since the economy has been tasered, there isn’t much going on, except to speculate on how low prices are going to fall, and wait for the buildings started before the fall to get finished, and see what happens to them. Kinda like watching grass grow. Artisanal, exotic, expensive grass, but grass, nonetheless.
That leaves the core of the site, for me, anyway. The old houses, the history, the neighborhoods, the quality of life in those neighborhoods. LPC issues, interesting buildings, historic preservation issues. The HOTD and open house picks. My most enjoyable days on Brownstoner are days when these topics equal or outnumber economics and new construction.
Some sites I read aren’t really blogs, they are forums, and there it is easier to subdivide off topic discussions.Obviously you can’t do that here. I like the open thread. It was Rob’s idea if I remember correctly, and a great one. Some days we have important side topics that are quite interesting, some days it’s a high school lunchroom. I think most people here are able to join in or not when they choose to. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Which is the option everyone has. Since I am a long time regular, I don’t think anyone who wants to join a discussion should be intimidated. I see new names here all the time, some who have become regulars themselves in a very short amount of time. People just come and go depending on their time, their jobs and access to computers.
I really don’t think trying to ban people for participating too much is the way any successful blog wants to go. I think suggestions for topics, tips, and leads can lead to a better Brownstoner.
If we are brainstorming, then how about everyone who signs up to comment gets posted as “New Commenter” for a few weeks. They can sign a handle like Rob does if they want, but this would let new people dip their toe in the water more anonymously while still maintaining a bit of the oversight of registered users.
” As for topics, what about more features on the various architecture found in Brooklyn, even a history lesson or two would spark some interest.”
I would love that, and I bet MM and others could add a lot there. Nice one DeLepp.
First of all, you need regulars to be “monitors.” I bet no one really wants to be bothered with that crap.
There’s really only been one serious dust up that i can remeber since the OT and you cam in and asked them to take it over to the OT and it stopped. It was very serious and devisive. It centered around “Park Slope” Ridiculous.
I don’t really see the problem.
The OT is like porn…if you don’t approve of its banal banter than don’t look at it. Period. Full stop.
I’d be more likely to be involved in the comments conversations if they stayed on the topic of the post. I agree with Arkady’s comment at 10:59. Off topic comments should just be moved by the moderator to the open thread. If you do that and find that some users are so frequently off topic that moving them to the open thread is wasting your time, block them.
quote:
Forget trying to address it by “the usual suspects” – daveinbedstuy and pitbullNYC are just annoying. That’s why I don’t check the comments as often as I used to.
maybe youre just a homophobe (kidding. sorta);)
*roB*