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
Tesla Coil;
You respond to THL’s well-thought-out questions as if the answers are self-evident, but I can assure you that they are not.
I take particular exception to your dismissive response to her question about the issue with regsitrations: “It hurts this site. Next question?”. You don’t make any attempt to support this assertion with a reasoned argument.
It seems to me that the tone of your responses and your other posts suggest exactly why you want registrations to disappear. You want the ability to engage in some type of invective, without even taking on the minimal responsibility that an anonymous handle entails.
Are you not satisfied with Curbed, or some other such site that offers such a Web environment? Why do you insist that Brownstoner should mimic these other sites? Please identify the qualities on Curbed that Brownstoner is lacking.
As for the Open Thread, it has, it seems to me, backfired to some extent. It certainly has not made other threads more civil or focused. On the contrary, the Open Thread generates more bile and ill-will than it can contain. Consequently other threads on the site are taking nastier, more personal turns as well.
Whatever else you decide to do (or not to do), I vote for ditching the Open Threads.
on that note, heather i’d love to have brunch or linner with u!
*rob*
“What exactly about having to register do you take issue with?”
It’s hurt this site. Next question?
“I don’t understand why it’s so important to not have a log in name.”
In the grand scheme of things, it’s not important. Few things are. In the not-so-grand scheme of things, it’d be nice to save a few keystrokes here and there. They do add up. It’s simple ergonomics.
“Is there something you want to say that is so repugnant that even having to do so under a made up name would prevents you from saying it?”
Nope.
i cant believe i wasted so much bean bag time to log onto my nintendo wii to see this thread. i think people should stop complaining all the time and just give a hug. cheeze itz if u dont like something u ignore it. this is one of the nicest websites on the interwebs!!!
*rob*
i love the comments. They are useful and sometimes pure entertaining. what a blog should be.
banning the what would be the wrong thing to do.
technical enhancements are appreciated. like working with threads as mentioned above.
I dont think BS would read this post unless he is unemployed and can live with 3 hours sleep a day
how about putting last comment on top ?
so people can read this.
I would suggest one other possibility to make long conversations/threads such as this one easier to follow. If commenters could respond to each other, and the responses were indented below the original comment, it would be much easier to follow a particular conversation. Lots of blogs do this, and it might require some sort of programming wisdom that I don’t have, but it might be worth looking into. See, for example, http://hnn.us/blogs/comments/71153.html#comment
Other than that minor suggestion, I think we’re doing pretty well here, and I learn an awful lot about my adopted home city reading this blog.
Frankly, the old Brownstoner with “guest” commentary was less focused and civil than it is now. Just look at Curbed, overrun with redundant, nasty cuts about people, places, and policies. Brownstoner, as I remember from the old days, was only slightly better. (And with Open Thread, free-for-all conversations, happily, have found their home.)
As for concerns for privacy among people who won’t register, how much privacy is there in cyber-space? We all have our cookies and profiles traded without our permission or knowledge through third parties (and not by the sites we may be visiting, like this one).
Worried about who knows you and your opinions and preferences? Stay away from the Web.
Some new features may make the site more substantial. A particularly good idea proposed above is having regular interview threads with people involved in Brooklyn, from preservationists to politicians, tradespeople to developers.
Real estate junkies like me always log onto the Observer’s weekly profile pieces. Brownstoner can do them one better with an interactive Q+A among registered posters that can then be archived for casual reading.
What exactly about having to register do you take issue with? I don’t understand why it’s so important to not have a log in name. Is there something you want to say that is so repugnant that even having to do so under a made up name would prevents you from saying it?
Maybe it’s not worth saying then?