I don't know if this comment change is permanent, or temporary, but it's necessary because right now we have a few folks who are misbehaving and ruining the whole friendly community feeling on Frozen Tropics. As a result, I'm forcing people to enter a user name when they leave comments. You don't have to use your real name, but you do have to use a handle of some sort. You can use a Google log-in, or anything that works for Open ID. In addition to hopefully cutting back on misbehavior, this will also cut back on confusion about which anonymous is which. Cheers!
14 comments:
So I would imagine that while many come to this site to read your blog, there are many more who come to this site to read the comments that the articles/postings generate. I can't help but feel that your new policy, temporary or not, is going to cut way down on the number of comments.
I realize your frustration with anonymous trolls, but I think that an enforced comment policy or community policing will go further to eliminate it instead of forcing people to take themselves public. I know I have suggested this before and you have said that you are busy, but a system like: http://intensedebate.com/ allows for threaded comments and community moderation. Both of which are things that would take care of the Toyland trolls, as people usually stop trolling when their comments aren't visible and people don't respond to them.
Unfortunately people also stop posting (good) comments when it isn't as easy (or as nonpublic) as a nickname.
Tough call. Marty makes some good points, but then again it would be nice to cut down on the blather spewed by the anonymous posters.
I am a fan of this. I don't find it any more difficult to comment and I don't think it's going to cut down on the number of useful/non-trolling comments. I also understand that (to the best of my knowledge) this blog is not a full-time job for you and you likely don't have the time or the energy to moderating the comments on a constant basis. I understand that this is temporary now, but I'm hoping it becomes permanent!
Cool. Most of the productive comments on this blog come from users with handles or common names they identify themselves by, so while maybe this cuts down on the number of comments I doubt it limits the depth of the conversations.
The people that just like to be obnoxious will always be able to do that but at least there will be some level of effort required to create the fake accounts and whatnot.
Fair enough. You've made an honest woman of me...
Where are you Marty McFly? I wanna go back in time and fix this bullshit
I am glad you have finally done this. I have stopped making comments and trying to be a part of the discussion because of the many trolls.
Big deal what your handle is. I guess poopoo knows who he/she is.
Besides, I have found more up to date information that Inked posted than what the News has.
It your blog. I think this is a wise decision. You do such a great job with the community and events. Keep up the good work.
I'm with Campy.
While there is an insightful anonymous comment every now and again, most of the best comments come from the regular posters who have usernames/handles.
Jon, Derek,
and others who have been supportive (and also those who have constructively disagreed), thank you so much. It's been a really rough month, and your comments mean a great deal to me. I love that Frozen Tropics means as much to you as it does to me. I ran into a longtime reader on the bus tonight, and we had a really good conversation about everything that has gone on here. I really value being able to offer a decent and friendly forum here. I am deeply saddened that's been someone debased by a few individuals. But onward and upward for the rest of us! H Street (and the larger area north of Capitol Hill) continues on a swift upward trajectory. I look forward to following it with all of you.
I think this move is sad but necessary.
Inked should know that this blog is likely better off now. It really was getting to be unreadable, and that's a shame.
Thanks, Inked.
It takes a truly minimal amount of effort to get a usable account (either a Google account or an OpenID). If requiring people to put in that little amount of effort makes a significant difference on the amount of trolling that goes on here, I'm all for it.
I think it's a good move.
Post a Comment