Let's Talk About Commenting

I don’t know how this fits into your business model but maybe the open thread can be moved to a separate tab or even separate message board. It would give the usual, err, dirty dozen a place to rif on whatever that day’s topic is while hopefully keeping the main board free(er) of the inanity.

You need to show somes stones and do what Gawker does and ax the annoying people…simple as that. We could make a list in 30 seconds. I dare you to block those people for a week and see what happens.

Guillotine!

Have you ever read brooklynian.com? They have moderators who “moderate” the comments. I bet you could get 3 people who would volunteer to do that immediately and your problem would be solved.

Also you could put a “flag” at the bottom of each comment and when the readers don’t approve they could flag it and then you could check it out.

The arrogance you have shown in the past when you used to say that this website can be civil while being unmoderated is beyond me. Please show me any website/message board that works unmoderated. This is your own fault for letting 3 annoying people ruin it for everyone, but I am glad you are aware of it.

Internet – “It doesn’t make you stupid, it just makes your stupidity more accessible to others.”

Rant over.

I also read your website everyday and have been for over 4 years.

“What can we do to improve the overall the quality of comments on the blog,”
There’s nothing you can do to improve the ‘QUALITY’ of the comments. You can’t speculate what people are going to post, what they’re going to say and how they’re going to say it.

“We hear quite often from regular readers who feel uncomfortable, even intimidated, with the prospect of commenting.”
Why would anyone feel intimidated in commenting? It’s an anonymous system of posting, their identity won’t be revealed. Are they scared of rebuttal to their comment? If that’s the case then they are not of the mindset for commenting on a blog. Yes, every time you post something here there is always the chance that you will be held accountable for your words. If you have an opinion, voice it, damn it. Don’t hold back.

“Nor is the level of discussion going on in today’s Open Thread really where we’d like it to be.”
The OT was started to keep all the nonsense banter isolated to one thread. So far, I think it’s done that. Sure there have been some occasions when threads will veer off topic, but it’s been minimal since the introduction of the OT.

People who are lurkers and only hang back on the sidelines are going to do so. It’s their nature.

However, I do find it quite ironic that the people posting right now about commenting, rarely post on the threads about real estate and such…..hhhhmmmm.

Now Mr. B. if you want to improve the quantity of posts in threads, that’s a different story and question all together.

I agree with keeping the Open Thread as it is. It’s great that there’s a place for people to have a silly discussion. I never read the Open Threads and I’d much prefer that kind of off the topic discussion happens away from posts whose subject matter I am interested in. What annoys me most of all is people hijacking a topic post with personal comments or shout outs to another poster that have nothing to do with topic at hand. If there’s an Open Thread, it’s reasonable to ask them to take the discussion there.

I enjoy this blog and many of its posters, but since I am not super rich, an intellectual’s intellectual, or someone with a lot of time to chat, I look for information about what is most pressing and then move on with my day. For me right now, that means refinancing options and rates for a 3-family. Also, although it is off topic, I also enjoy knowing more about how international issues/currency/investments and commodities impact the dollar and how that translates into the health – or not – of our economy. For better or worse, this means I usually zero in on “discussions” between The What and DIBS and try to take what’s meaningful from their exchanges. I am also interested in information about cutting expenses through insulation, cost-effective green initiatives, as well as what Master Plumber shares because heating is one of my most major expenses and I’d like to know what to do to save money, decrease pollution, and what to look for if/when it comes time to convert my oil system to natural gas. I’m a new homeowner, and a conscientious one at that, so when it comes time to renovate, I also really appreciate the thoughtful input from previous posters who share their careful restoration experiences – and that runs the gamut from cornices to tiles, and everything in-between. I generally veer away from posting just for posting’s sake. I tried it for a while, but it really just isn’t me.