Paul Davies 15 Mar 2013
#1
Here's an edited quote which expresses my feelings on Blogs - in a much more articulate manner than I ever could.
"We've spoken recently about the increasingly unpleasant tone of internet speech, of how comment threads in particular are becoming open sewers for no good reason beyond a few misanthropes deciding they quite enjoy dropping pants and taking a crap out in the open.If people like turning up just to watch a shitfight, in the end the only people who will turn up are those who come for the shitfight. Everybody else will be driven away in disgust.
Some of the finest, contributors have gradually drifted away over the years because of the increasingly stupid and ugly tone that has come to characterise the comment thread.
It's not just an issue here, and for me, it's an issue across the entire digital media landscape. We are all grappling with the problem of comments. Some sites have simply given up on them and shut down the facility. Others spend big on expensive moderation regimes. Others still have simply thrown up their hands and let the armies of ignorance run wild.
It's not a matter of whether we might agree or disagree on a particular topic. Blogs work best when enlivened by disagreement and contention, but only so long as everyone agrees to keep it civilised.
Swing the mighty Ban Hammer and reject a lot more comments for reasons of ill-mannered tone, outright abuse, straying pointlessly from the topic and general lameness. It doesn't mean you can't disagree with people but you'd better be witty and on topic when you do."
weaseldandaw 18 Mar 2013
#4
Here's an edited quote which expresses my feelings on Blogs - in a much more articulate manner than I ever could.
"We've spoken recently about the increasingly unpleasant tone of internet speech, of how comment threads in particular are becoming open sewers for no good reason beyond a few misanthropes deciding they quite enjoy dropping pants and taking a crap out in the open.If people like turning up just to watch a shitfight, in the end the only people who will turn up are those who come for the shitfight. Everybody else will be driven away in disgust.
Some of the finest, contributors have gradually drifted away over the years because of the increasingly stupid and ugly tone that has come to characterise the comment thread.
It's not just an issue here, and for me, it's an issue across the entire digital media landscape. We are all grappling with the problem of comments. Some sites have simply given up on them and shut down the facility. Others spend big on expensive moderation regimes. Others still have simply thrown up their hands and let the armies of ignorance run wild.
It's not a matter of whether we might agree or disagree on a particular topic. Blogs work best when enlivened by disagreement and contention, but only so long as everyone agrees to keep it civilised.
Swing the mighty Ban Hammer and reject a lot more comments for reasons of ill-mannered tone, outright abuse, straying pointlessly from the topic and general lameness. It doesn't mean you can't disagree with people but you'd better be witty and on topic when you do."
Ditto here. That's why I am reluctant to post. Shame really.
