I’m about to cut off comments on posts having to do with the Middle East. A few people come in and take it over repeating the same angry arguments over and over until it escalates into scuds v. cruises. I don’t even both reading them. I suspect you don’t, either. I love interactivity. But who could love this?
: LATER: I closed comments on two posts for a few hours. They are back open. Can we please try not to fight WWIII here? Discussion is wonderful. Disagreement is wonderful. Even argument is wonderful. But shouting hurts the ears.
Here we see the true face of ‘citizen media’. Everyone can contribute ’so long as they agree with me’. But, hey, another American outlet closing down discussion of the truth. What’s new?
Jeff you even censored (removed) the link that I posted to a story on the BBC website about the health benefits of masturbation. LOL. What’s up, are you worried about your advertising?
Every schoolyard needs a teacher, every cafeteria a monitor. It just got tiresome and when people come whining to me about it, I lose patience. Time for a cooling off period. Or a cessation of hostilities, I’d say. And then I’ll open it back up again. There are only 3 or 4 people in there shouting at themselves. Now that AOL is free, maybe they can find a chat room.
If you disable comments, but allow trackbacking, will that allow those who are more serious about discussion to continue the conversation, while elminating the shouting?
- I don’t know, I’m just suggesting. I still have to get back to the Phaedrus post, I have some disagreements with it, but haven’t had time to work on the particular dialogue. -
The discussions only flare up when you post a diary on the topic. So the first step to cooling things off is to stay away from this subject yourself, perhaps until the UN troops are in place.
I think that the Digg system can moderate this stupidity. Internet with new and good software will be more democratic…
And the worst for me is the auto-censure i really don’t like what Robert said “So the first step to cooling things off is to stay away from this subject yourself”
Jeff, for kids blogging and social networking sites have replaced chat.
And are replacing email for that matter as well.
Welcome to the new blogosphere. One that *everyone* participates in. Not just folks of a certain caste, background, temperment, or ilk.
The AOL reference is apt. Many believe it was the AOL userbase that demolished USENET.
catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/S/September-that-never-ended.html
The precursor to the blogosphere.
There are some that believe that the blogosphere != USENET and that the blogosphere will be able to withstand the influx of new voices.
You are finding otherwise. At least in your corner of the web. Right here. Right now.
Dave Winer saw a little of the same a few months ago:
scripting.wordpress.com/2006/03/09/a-rambler-on-flaming-in-the-blogosphere/
He turned off comments on Scripting News ages ago because of similar issues.
Human nature is as human nature does. Hot topics will draw hot discussions.
Thomas, the Digg system will eventually face what the Slashdot system did. And many thought that Slashdot was the holy grail. No longer.
No matter what you may think – technology doesn’t change human nature.
The primary reason why Digg conversations have a high signal to noise ratio now is due to its community of users. Only if you intend to shutter yourself (as Metafilter does at times of fast growth), can you keep out the masses once you reach a certain threshold.
Small communities work better for good conversation. Just the way it is.
The irony is that Slashdot’s signal to noise maybe improving now that the spotlight is off of it.
As Shirky says, A Group Is It’s Own Worst Enemy:
http://www.shirky.com/writings/group_enemy.html
The problem with this course of action is that it will in very little time extend itself to all of your political posts. And what of threads that start off innocuous but then become political, thanks to a chance comment by one of your readers? It’s just a big-ass slippery slope, I’m afraid.
(Not too proud to admit a sick and twisted interest in following the political flamewars here at Buzzmachine.com, and occasionally throwing gasoline onto the fire every once in a while)
if you have something to say, post it on OpenWire! We won’t edit your views.
I’m sure that you get email with each comment, right? All 92 of them per political post? Is that what’s truly bothering you? Once we see the regulars pour in their usual vitriol, we readers just tune it out – we know their arguments and positions. Perhaps though you could find a way to not get email on those posts. Or do you think the commenting like that hurts your brand?
Jeff, good for you, especially for trying to let commenters get past their first few visits with the same inevitable comments and then the same inevitable flailing out at the responses.
As you and I have discussed, you have for some reason attracted some very peculiar elements that seem to have chosen your site as the place to offer combat. As noted by several here, it’s not worth reading again and again. So cutting it off might solve your problem.
For all of us, I do hope so.
Certainly, I bear no responsibility for thread deterioration. My comments have been intelligent, tasteful and “douchebag”-free.
Ruth says: “As you and I have discussed, you have for some reason attracted some very peculiar elements that seem to have chosen your site as the place to offer combat. As noted by several here, it’s not worth reading again and again. So cutting it off might solve your problem.”
What ‘peculiar elements’ do you refer to, Ruth?
The jihadis and terrorist apologists who frequent here?
chico,
LOL and kudos! Sweet night.
And Ruth,
If the Jihadis and Terrorist Apologists are NoSeeUms in your book, then you need to read more about Islam.
Jihadis flock here as they ‘think’ they’ll find common comfort with their LLL compatriots (you?) and spread their taqiyya trash talk to the other ‘unbelievers’ who may be hanging around.
Usually they do~ find comfort, that is.
Sadly.
Fortunately Jeff has read more, regardless of his ‘discussions’ with you.
Jeff will become a major voice in the WOT. Not at the Guardian, as I said before, but in his own house.
Peculiar, Ruth? What EXactly do you find peculiar about who here?
What’s your own allegiance, Ruth? Really curious to know…….
I get feed from this blog becuse of Jeff’s views and articles on journalism/Web 2.0, which I appreciate. I shuddered when I saw he got involved in posting half baked personal political views. Jeff, you have only yourself to blame for attracting the right wing messianic evangelists, that any article discussing Israel attracts.
M