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
What about a hall monitor approach? When you see the comments or commentors getting out of hand in a particular thread, then gently remind us to stay on topic.
Leave the OT the way it is, so people have a thread for the stupid comments and BS’ing
Can’t remember the new user’s name but he/she was absolutely thrashed. Maybe it was in an Open Thread? Can u remember?
take away the open thread. all those regulars can do the same thing over iChat or aol messenger or something. pathetic losers.
In my opinion, Brownstoner succeeds in spite of itself as far as the comments go.
The banter should really be in a forum format. The Open Thread was initiated specifically to keep off-topic chat in one place. Specific blogpost comments do usually stay on topic.
if you’re too timid to risk a beatdown from people who can’t even touch you, what are you doing in Brooklyn?
I think rob asks some useful questions.
Of course interesting and/or controversial real estate threads usually bring a lot of discussion. The economic trend threads always generate a lot of comments as well.
Who are you actually talking about that received the verbal beat down??
What thread was the beat-down thread?
I find it ironic that probably the single biggest reason I don’t engage more in the comments was the first person to comment on this thread.
I barely go to the comments anymore because “the usual suspects” normally shanghai the topic every time. There’s only a handful of them, but they are on every post. Ban them.