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
omg some of you seriously have to let go of your horrible grade school memories. for realz. let.it.go.
*rob*
I think what you are hitting on here is unfortunately just the nature of internet communication. Too many people feel empowered by anonymity to treat their fellow posters with derision and disdain. The problem is that I don’t think there is agreement as to what is “good” commenting and what is “bad”. Lots of people who lurk seem to have a problem with the folks who comment regularly, but these are the folks who give the blog its community and life. As someone who comments regularly in both the Open Thread and in the topics such as HOTD etc, I always try to hear what other people are saying and respond reasonably. I also encourage other people to do the same, much to some people’s dismay. I think that the “sarcastic regulars” that some are complaining about are in fact the lifeblood of the site and keep their sarcasm and joking to the open thread where it should be. In short, I don’t see what can be done beyond imploring people to speak here as they would speak to someone face to face. That would get rid of some of the vitriol and harshness that we see around here. But to get rid of the posters who are populating the threads is a self-defeating suggestion. You lurkers who feel intimidated to post, I would suggest just doing so. Folks got on “randolph” because she came on here and for her first post called everyone “pathetic losers.” Anyone who comes on and says its their first post and says something nice or constructive is generally met positively. So come on in newbies!
I though providing the “the snark and cynicism” was my job.
1) Make some new threads in the evening, especially earlier in the week, or maybe a couple at weekends. Not everyone can comment from work much and evening readers may feel they have already missed the debate.
2) Maybe a ‘topic of the day’ thread that is more open-ended than just being led by a particular house / article. Could be something as controversial as crime or as innocous as gardening. Think people want to comment about a lot of issues but drift off topic because the format can be a little narrow.
I think the Open Thread is harmless. No one has to click on it if they don’t want.
All this discussion about seriousness and then Mr B posts Horror Show Friday up above!!!! ^^^^^^^^^^
Unless the hits are down and the advertising revenues are drying up, leave well enough alone.
I think the open thread may have helped, by diverting a lot of what many might see as extraneous banter. I seldom read it, but, it seems, many regulars have a lot of fun there. My only other suggestion would be for regular commenters to restrain themselves a little and post more of the time about things they actually know something about. [OTOH that would make this site less fun].
Get rid of registration. (Yes, before anyone asks, I was reading this blog when there was no registration… and during the first registration experiment… and before that back to 2005 or so.)
Registration makes the comments a little more scrollable and cuts down some of the anarchy, it’s true. But with it, you get cliques. Unavoidably. It becomes a club, and becomes all about the regulars high-fiving each other, having the same fights or golf-clapping for their own echo chamber.
Its like we are all in a classroom. There are quiet people with interesting things to say but they are not going to speak unless called upon. Instead that girl in the second row who likes to hear herself talk, has a crush on the teacher, and thinks guys dig her dominates the conversation with all sorts of thoughts that haven’t being formulated into ideas. Just a lot of base, knee jerk reactions that steer the conversation over a cliff. And suddenly before you know it someone is accused of being racist, classist, republican or over educated.
compared to the comments on “curbed” this blog seems quite civil. There are the various truly annoying posters that have, on ocassion, made even me lose it, but that’s the way of anonymous blogs I guess.
The regulars have a kind of sweet bond between them. Demented, but sweet. and the fact they meet for drinks now and then is pretty special. I do sometimes wonder what they do besides post all day.