Blog: Rod Boyce: The editor's desk
Commenting on comments
Published Thursday, March 6, 2008
The News-Miner is still very much feeling its way through the added feature of allowing comments after stories on this Web site. Newspapers across the country are sorting this out. It’s relatively new territory for a lot of us, and it’s especially challenging for newspapers with smaller staffs.
It’s a great opportunity to invite public participation and immediate feedback that can enhance a story and the public debate surrounding issues. But we know the possibility exists for people to abuse the privilege and that it will take time for us to respond to specific abuses. As stated in our participation policy, we don’t promise to be everywhere all the time. If fact, we don’t promise to be there at all. It’s up to the community involved in commenting to flag inappropriate posts.
Let me be absolutely clear here, the process of establishing this new Web site was not a simple matter and the ability to provide comments was personally very high on my list of new features. I’ve thought about it for a long, long time.
But this isn’t about me, or what I want. The News-Miner provides this forum, and while it may not be directly responsible for the contents of the comments, the comments do reflect upon this institution as well as this community. Therefore we take our participation policy seriously and that is why we encourage people to use their real names and why no one can comment on this site without first acknowledging they have read and understand the participation policy.
For the most part, when comments are flagged, we try to err to the side of disclosure and free speech — within limits of the policy.
We’ve had an active site for one month, and so far the great majority of comments and discussions on the site have been good — very good. Every day more and more people sign up to have their names verified so they can post comments with their name attached. I believe that the more who use the forum with their true identity attached, the stronger and more relevant it will become.
So far, so good. Let’s keep it that way.
I'm glad that the rough patches so far haven't pushed the miner to disable commenting.
Eventually you'll have to ban people for their actions. I hope you have an effective means of getting rid of unwanted guests.
As someone who moderated a very large internet forum for five years, I was constantly asked where the line stood at what was acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
My advice was that there was ALWAYS a respectable way to present a differing argument, and to realize that what they say, should be presentable IN PERSON. Internet tough guy syndrome hits some people.
There should never be room for pointless and petty namecalling. I have one post in particular I am thinking about where a commenter, the first in a story, said something and capped that argument off by basically saying that everyone who didn't agree with him was a nazi. That is not a comment in good taste, or even intelligence, and I would have removed it and left in it's stead a reprimand public to the world.
Perhaps if a "problem child" found that their prolific comments don't get read by anybody unless they are in good taste, subtle changes will occur.
If you let it happen, it will continue to happen. It won't magically stop. It only gets worse until the eventual crackdown, THEN people get angry at the sudden change in enforcement and rules.
Those are my pearl(s) for today.
Kelly,
I am off to work this morning, but feel I need to weigh in on this topic. Thank you so very much for the opportunity for readers to comment on articles and opinions! It is a huge thing, especially in this small town. I am sorry that your hard working staff is taking so much heat over its opinions, but I have to agree with many of the comments. I have only been here for 27 years, but it sure appears to me that the E-board of the DNM is not showing the opinions or attitudes of the population of Fairbanks. I also feel that you degrade Sarah Palin in many cases, and from everything I hear, she is doing an excellent job! I hope you do not choose to take away the comments section, but that some of it will "rub off" on the DNM Editorial Staff. Thank you for your time and for the comment sections.
Sincerely,
John Greene
I guess I'll add my comment on the comments. It would be great if every comment was intelligent, respectful, articulate, and original. It would be exceptional if everything was spelled right and grammatically correctly. But... to paraphrase Popeye: we yam what we yam! So short of profound obscenities let people go and be themselves. And yes it is acceptable to call someone a Nazi if that is the best way to convey an opinion. Besides really lame commentators will be skipped eventually.
I'm from Maryland but worked in AK. half the year for the last 2. My parents are in their 80's, so I have to stay where I am for a while. Kudos to your hard work with the Miner. It keeps me informed about a state where I intend to retire. My local paper, although from a much larger town, doesn't even come close to the quality of your paper, not to mention the great comment section. I truely enjoy reading everyone's opinions. Please keep up the good work.
Good Morning-
I just recently discovered the comments feature on the News Miner website. I do appreciate the added feature and the ability to have input on the stories and events in the community we live.
I have discovered though that there are some of the bully mentality that think disagreeing with someone's point of view is grounds for name-calling. So I don't envy the News Miner's task of managing this new feature. Hopefully it won't get to the point that a fulltime moderator is necessary.
-RK
I too appreciate the new feature and it allows me to get a feel for individual states of mind, attitudes, and a more rounded perspective. However, until there is protection from bullies and potentially dangerous people, I'll keep my handle. This town's too small. Plus, is your verification page a secure one? I haven't checked but only when it reads "httpS" (s at the end) is it purely protected.
I want to know when free admission at any museum. it's special day
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