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
“””How about topics on Brownstones?????????? Hey that’s a nice concept! Instead of Covert Race/Class warfare nonsense.””
LOL – the guy whose entire e-persona is all about class warfare!
PUULLLLZZZ – You of all people need to STFU. You provide nothing. Any substance to your post are links from people who actually know something. You just provide the snark and cynicism.
if i hear “the usual suspects” one more time im gonna blow a gasket. do you mean people who actually comment on a medium that is made for people to comment? if a tree falls in a forrest does it make a sound? (that made no sense but whatever you get my point). the regular threads on this site rarely every go off tangent. and the peanut gallery that pops up out of no where screaming bloody murder about people who post regularly is just absurd. i’ve changed my mind, im not leaving, im speaking my mind for a change.
*rob*
I say we start by banning randolph. She’s a clown anyway and you know how creepy they can be.
Kisses to you too Randi.
I don’t buy the idea that it’s not possible or practical to actively moderate the threads. This is not a big site, and there are not that many posts. If the active commenters can keep up with every article and post while also working at their real job, certainly the site owner can also moderate those same forums.
Have some fun with the discussions, push people back on topic, show your own personality more, and make your reader feel like you will defend their reading time by making worth their while to post.
One of the best lines in Caddyshack-ted knight: ” Don’t you people have jobs?”
success!!!
The beat downs don’t require a specific example, there are plenty of them, probably too many to point to. Warranted or not.
I stick to the OT because a few posters made me uncomfortable in regular threads, and so now I mostly just read. And I’m no real estate expert. I like chatting with the ‘usual supsects’.
Mr. B, if you would prefer that we not chit-chat as we do, then why give us the OT? I’m vaguely annoyed at the tone of your comment above. Raise the tone of the comments in the main threads and leave the OT alone. People do come in, and are welcomed. I can’t think of a case where a beat down ensued beyond the usual banter with What – which is hardly unusual.
Randolph. But ‘Randi’ was intentionally antagonistic and banal.
I think the Open Thread is a great idea, since it is clearly the place to chat, kibbutz, joke, go off-topic, etc. I’ve been here from (nearly) the beginning of the site and I agree that when regulars banter and argue on every thread, it is hard to discuss the topic at hand. It had actually gotten less nasty around here since people have had to register…