Degeneration and Comments
Blogging — By Joe Carter on April 29, 2004 at 1:01 am A post by Canadian blogger Bene caught my attention last night:
Why do comment threads deteriorate or degenerate so much on a pundit blog? What is it I’m missing here?
Example: The Evangelical Outpost does a reasoned post on Pat Tillman, an Army Ranger who was killed while serving overseas. And the comments section runs amok.
Pardon my language, but why does punditry turn into a pissing contest?
What is in this post or US political posts in general that causes men to verbally debase themselves and others? The foolishness and rage is a form of obscenity to me.
When I first started this site I was amazed that some blogs didn’t allow comments. At the time I couldn’t fathom why they’d choose not to receive feedback from their visitors. I believed then (as I still do today) that providing an area for comments is an invaluable part of my blog. I welcome the corrections, the encouragement, and the criticisms and believe that the open dialogue has had a immeasurable positive effect on both my writing and thinking processes. This blog would be less interesting without the contributions of my readers, critics, and fellow bloggers.
In the seven months since I started this blog I’ve written 558 posts and received 4,055 comments. With the exception of spam, I’ve never intentionally deleted any comment. I’ve extended a great deal of latitude in allowing people to speak their minds since I thought that completely free expression was necessary in order to maintain the integrity of this venture. Now I’m not so sure that was the best approach.
Take, for example, the post on Pat Tillman that Bene refers to. Although it currently has 41 comments, I was only able to find 3 that were directly relevant to the subject I wrote about. Increasingly, every post — no matter what the subject — has degenerated into a spat over the Bush’s administration’s policies or the political differences amongst liberals, libertarians, and conservatives. At best the comments tend to veer off-topic; at worst they degenerate into unacceptable name-calling.
It has become so bad that even I don’t take the time to read most of the comments. I even actively avoid responding so I don’t appear to be endorsing the nonsense that goes on. But this is my blog and, like it or not, by keeping silent I am condoning the activity.
Until I take the time to draw up a formal comments policy I will use my discretion to delete any comments I find objectionable and invite those who make such remarks to leave. Anyone who doesn’t like this approach is free to start their own blog and say whatever they like. Currently, joecarterisamoron.blogspot.com is still available so you’re more than welcome to post your thoughts there.
As Bene asked, ‘If you are a god-blog pundit, tell me why it’s okay that men who claim the name of Jesus Christ can rip each other and others apart on your blogs.”
The answer is that it’s not okay. Whether the people who leave comments are believers or not, they should conduct themselves in a civilized manner. I take the blame for allowing the problem to flourish and hope that others will be understanding of the measures that it will take for me to get it under control.
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18 Comments
I have a similar approach. I only delete the comment spam and any hateful posts. I am the one paying for the service and will not allow others to further negative viewpoints or Godless initiatives on my dime.
Joe:
I apologize for contributing to the problem. It won’t happen again!
Keep up the good work.
Monkey Comments Policy
Back in our Blog*Spot days, we never utilized a Comments service. Now that we’re using MovableType, some folks are still baffled over our practice of rarely enabling comments on our posts. (You’ll find that most comments on InfMonks these days…
The longest and most interesting threads have to do with theology, abortion, evolution, and science, in my opinion. Seldom does it degenerate into name-calling, or attacking others’ faith–the disagreements may be profound, but the forum and the topic compels well-reasoned posts, and persuasive reasoning. Just my opinion.
Joe,
In your blog you touch on every hot button issue known to man. You initiate debates that should be a much bigger part of our society than it is now. The specter of political correctness and the apathy that goes along with a tv saturated society have inhibited civil discourse. As a result, some people don’t realize that it’s okay to disagree and we don’t have to call people names or take it personally.
Blogs help to further discussion and debate on important subjects but the downside of that is dealing with the fiery darts of some. What I’m trying to say is that the rude comments are a necessary evil of fostering discussion.
As the great “prophet” spiderman once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
-jim.
Joe:
I have to give you great credit for your graciousness. Thank you. I wasn’t out to slam pundits.
My post isn’t about stifling free speech or being politically correct.
It’s about civility.
Most comment threads that get busy deviate from topic, and it can be difficult to stay on top of them can’t it? And most of the email I get these days is from weary people tired of the anger that gets generated in political discussion.
So, in a sense pundit comment sections is a ‘hot button’ issue.:^) I hope you work things out with your readers. Blog on!
Whats wrong with pissing contests?
Joe,
Just like all those d**n liberals to ruin everything. JUST KIDDING! I totally agree with you – great blog.
-matt
I thought I was the only one who had noticed how ugly things get in comments sections. Thanks for blogging about it. It’s really distressing that some of the nastier comments I see on some blogs come from Christians. Here’s to more civil discourse and a better Christian witness. Cheers!
Joe,
fair enough. i do offering a differing viewpoint from many other ‘Christians’ that post here. i hope that doesn’t get me censored. i do try to comment on the topic presented, and although i don’t agree with you on your opinion or spin on them, they are good intelligent topics for debate.
thanks for the site. better and more intellegent than many.
TO: Joe
RE: Controlling Pandemonium
I’m starting up a blog that could have this sort of problem. One of my thoughts is to establish a place, I’ll call Pandemonium, on it where comments that are over-wrought or seriously off-topic will be relegated and all future posts from said sources automatically go to that place until such time as the posters recognize they’ve got a problem and begin behaving.
All I have to do is figure out how to implement it.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
Joe: “It’s your world; have fun with it!” as the late and beloved art instructor Bob Ross used to say. In seeking to rein in the sometimes uncivil discourse that occasionally plagues your site, I hope you will strive to maintain the diversity of opinions represented that contributes so much of its appeal. Bowdlerizing a blog tends to diminish it.
I reccomend the current Hands Off policy. So we have a playground fistfight or two. No hard feelings, right? Or, if you’re so thin-skinned that you get your feelings hurt from fellow commenters, well, maybe you shouldnt be playing in this particular sandbox anyway.
Boys play rough. Controversy is good for business. Censorship suxs.
Burn Spammers at the Stake.
It’s a good problem to have. In the comments section of my blog, everyone seems to agree all the time. When people are arguing, perhaps that’s the sign of a some good posting.
Hot damn diddly-oh! How ’bout them Red Sox?!!!! Bush sucxxxx!!!!
Just kidding.
Joe must be on vacation. There’s a lot of stuff going on right now that would deserve an open thread at least.
How about this Sinclair character, David Smith? I don’t agree with a lot of McCain’s policies but I have to say that he is one heck of an articulate and thoughtful guy and always has something contstructive and interesting to say. He would have made a good president. I loved his rebuke of Smith.
Great Site Joe!