We’re traveling again this week.
In the meantime, there’s so much to write about, but I’ve been stymied trying to figure out how to respond to the hostile comments on my recent posts.
It’s gotten me thinking again about either (a) requiring all comments to be reviewed and approved before posting, (b) shutting down all comments on posts that invite hostile diatribes, or (c) eliminating anonymous comments by requiring commenters to register with their names and emails in order to leave comments.
I should say that the most hostile comments come from people who hide behind fake names or pseudonyms, and often post under a variety of names (which I can identify as being written by the same person). And I do not want allow comments to be used to amplify false or misleading information, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
I went through a similar period quote a few years ago. At that time, there were other attacks on iLind.net that attempted to crash the site, forcing me to use a private service to protect against such attacks.
The worst kind of comments responding to a substantive post containing specific information but ignoring responding substantively, the commenter simply repeats a string of discredited “factual” claims without specifically responding to the data they don’t like. Smears are easier than arguments, it seems.
And it’s not worth my time to take apart a long paragraph that strings together false or misleading statements as “fact”. There are plenty of people around the country attempting to hold back the tsunami of pseudo-facts with their fact checking.
And crafting a comments policy that tries to define the line between rational arguments (which I generally welcome) from diatribes or personal attacks (which I usually just disallow and send to the trash bin).
So I’m kind of at a crossroads.
I’m reluctant to get into the general moderation of all comments, but also want to avoid being swamped by right-wing trolls mixed with a few regular readers who have diametrically opposing views of “reality.”
So I would welcome your comments on, well, how comments should be handled.
By the way, the cats were left in the care of one of our reliable cat sitters. They’ll be here tomorrow as scheduled for Feline Friday.
Discover more from i L i n d
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Shut down all comments???
That would be disappointing. I find many comments useful, as they may provide additional information or provide insight into interpretations of current events.
I have no doubt that in this time of almost unprecedented public acrimony this sort of thing is happening, Ian. Suppose you require that everyone who posts a comment include his/her/their full and verifiable name…with a request if desired that only the first name be published? That would burden you with the task of verification, in cases where you think it is deserved, but allow free speech and discourage wackos who just want to vent?
The fact that free speech has become potentially dangerous is tragic, but there must be ways to preserve it along with assurance that it not be potentially dangerous.
Aloha Ian
Your newsletter is a breath of fresh air. True investigative reporting. As a retired veterinarian, I also love seeing the dogs and the cats.
Seems the incivility and nonsensical comments surround us. Not sure if I should ignore the trolls. Or challenge them. Hard to say what is more effective. That said, please continue to speak truth to power.
Aloha
Sue Palumbo
Ian, I understand how frustrating it must be to sift through comments that feel more like attacks than discussion. But sometimes what comes across as ‘hostile’ is really just readers grappling with hard disagreements. Pushback doesn’t necessarily mean trolling — it can be part of the open exchange that makes your work valuable. Even when we don’t see eye to eye, many of us comment because we respect your platform and the role it plays in keeping conversation alive.
Since you’re downtown in Seattle, you might pass by 219 James Street — my old stomping grounds. If you notice it, I’d love to know how the place looks these days. Looks like you’ve got a beautiful Indian Summer up there.
Option C sounds reasonable.
In any event, Ian, hang in there. Your posts are helpful.
Ian, sorry to read about distressing comments. Hostile comments have no place in thoughtful discussion, delete them. It’s your page. I enjoy reading your thoughts and appreciate the work you do. Stay strong.
Veronica
The world it seems is in a time of division, yet we are so intensely intermixed and the one thing people tend to forget, “We are all born with our eyes shut” and as life progresses, we get molded into the person we become from trials and tribulations, good and bad, we feel we have control or losing control but the only two things we actual only have any control over is “our thoughts, and our actions” one might not agree with another, but your thoughts and then actions molds an idea of yourself in others, it takes a wise person to understand that and to become a better person by listening to the two sides of a story, yes it can be a challenge, yes it can make your blood boil, listening to one and other means change, a life lesson i have learned is people don’t except change because they don’t understand that change, it has not been explained to them clearly in there dialect, be it culture, religion or belief for them to make a sound choice, you don’t need to accept change but you should at least understand it, change normally ends up as a fear of maybe loosing something they think they have, because of this and not understanding that “change” creates people to pull a different drape across their beliefs intern showing their rage from behind text, this is sometimes the only way a person can express their thoughts and feelings, just maybe by letting people vents in this manner will give them a better day, all one can do is throw a seed of hope in their direction, and at the end of the day when all is said and done and you are pushing up the daisy’s, the world still turns regardless if you are here or not, so have that morning coffee and enjoy the positive memories of that day and brush aside the dusting of darkness that resides over the world for now 🙂
Option C is the best way to go–especially if people want to participate in a civil discussion and not be seen as an armchair lawyer/politician/medical doctor/educator. People seem to forget that this is a blog, a mixture of news, personal thoughts, and opinions. Try not to let it bother you. ?
I would turn on comment moderation permanently. I think there is a setting where if a commenter has a previously-approved comment it will pre-approve their new comment. That will at least cut down on the number of rogue comments that make it onto your site. Another possibility is a plug in, like this one, Thoughtful Comments: https://wordpress.org/plugins/thoughtful-comments/
Glad you are there to represent your side of the family at the wedding. I’m sure your grand-niece and her family appreciate it! As for comments, it’s your blog so you should set the ground rules. I’ve never posted to a blog before and this is the only one I’ve ever participated in. I really enjoy it — the kitties and Miss Eleanor’s adventures especially. Even if I don’t always agree with a post, I enjoy reading about differing viewpoints. For me, however, I think you should draw the line at personal attacks. If someone cannot express themselves without getting ugly, then they shouldn’t participate.
gee, I feel bad for you in getting harassing emails and like. The other day I commented on a video of ck wife giving a speech, why do this 2 days after his death & she should be at home with her 2 kids. A commentor labeled me “a monster” for saying that. It baffles me. I really don’t know the answer but personally I don’t give my complete name it’s way too easy to figure out who people are and what street they live on. I hope you & Meda have great time in Seattle go see volunteer park my sister works at the conservatory it’s really nice, if you go south to Pierce county there’s the museum of glass in Tacoma, brown & Haley Candy factory, Fife pick Quick hamburgers (1949), and ft nisqually (Hudson bay co) at the pt defiance park.
Sorry for the length but I have a lot of experience with such things and I would like to share what I know. I don’t usually engage with trolls (know better), but I did feel I had to point out what they were doing so they know people can see right through them. Not all of the opposing views are trollish, but there are specific features that define a troll in my mind and a few of them do fit.
I have websites of my own and I’m an experienced moderator, so I can spot a sockpuppet a mile away. I didn’t express that suspicion because I know you can tell on the back end, and I figured you wouldn’t allow it. Thought I must be wrong. I tried to be serious and firm, but do it humorously and without personal attacks, because this is not my iLind. If it was my site, I would have zapped at least one of the trolls long before now.
This is how they shut down the conversation, because it’s disruptive and no one wants the drama. Then when you start requiring full names, the people with privacy paranoia issues like me no longer want to participate. I would personally rather have all comments moderated. It’s more work for you but it was the happy medium I decided on with one of my more controversial sites. It keeps the trolls at bay but doesn’t scare others away. I set rules and expect people to follow them. If they don’t like it they can move on and I am impervious to their criticism. My own little dictatorship, but your trolls seem to like those.
If you want to go with requiring real names, this is what I would suggest. Have people email you with their real name from their real email and their desired handle when they make their first comment, which will be moderated. I don’t even use my real name and email here because I don’t use them anywhere, and I’m not trying to hide anything except my searchability online. I have actually sent you an email from my name but I asked you not to use it. Since the email address won’t be published with the comment, then you will know if they match with the chosen handle if you see a problem. They should have to stick with the same one unless they notify you of the change. That would be work too but you could track it in a spreadsheet or there might be some better solution out there. Moderation of only the first approved comment by a new user would work in this scenario. People will change their behavior if they know it is expected.
You can also require registration in WordPress and they can choose a display name, but it’s been awhile since I’ve done it so I don’t know the current steps. Or you could switch to a comment service like Disqus that has its own registration and moderation. A lot of site owners find it simplifies things quite a bit and it can be integrated into your existing blog structure. I think you can import past comments so you won’t lose anything.
Whatever you decide I would hate to see you change anything about your writing as a result of this. I don’t think you will but just so you know there are supportive readers out here. I see you wanting to let everyone speak freely, but facts and propaganda do not deserve equal time. That’s what’s ruining the world right now, and it all started in comment sections and social media.
Comments should always be welcome, but they must come from people willing to stand behind their words. If it’s important enough to say, it’s important enough to own.
LOL- after my statement on no anonymity, I realized I didn’t leave my full name. Paul Gabriel
@Paul I honestly don’t mind owning my words and standing up for what I believe in. The issue now is that I am no longer single (wife and children to support). All it takes is one vindictive person to take my digital posting, and try to use it against me in the future to get me fired from my job. I can manage on my own just fine, but my wife and children will suffer in the end. It is truly sad how toxic this whole environment has become. So even before I saw Ian’s latest posting, I was already wondering if it is worth me taking a stand for what I firmly believe in?
On a side note, I tried to reach out to Ian after my 2nd posting was removed. It was not out of anger or hatred, but rather to get his perspective on my posting and why he decided to remove it? The email was undeliverable to two email addresses I sent to. As I mentioned earlier, I try to post accurate and honest information. I will admit I am sometimes emotional, passionate, and frustrated on hot topic issues so it may come out in my writing. Nonetheless, I am not out to offend, ridicule, or put others down, but simply to state my perspective.
Option C seems reasonable to me. But then, I use my full real name and actual email address!
Ian Lind too old for free speech responsability, the old Ian I knew listened to both sides. After age 75 a new fully jaded one sided liberal represents elderly Ian. I miss the old version of Lind. The clock is ticking toward the ending of this blog…it really ended with the long saga of Mike Miske’s and deathly conclusion. Now it’s just left vs right to expiration.