'Newspapers should stop slumming as blogs and disallow comments.'

Yes, a BLOGGER! wrote this, but I think her arguments against website comments are brilliant.

Via Romenesko:

You'll rarely find an interesting discussion about a story on a newspaper website, says Sheila McClear. She believes papers should only allow comments on reporters' blogs. "Newspapers have more important things to do than worry about comments -- like, say, report the stories that blogs so desperately need in their 24-7 quest for content!

http://gawker.com/5027287/why-newspapers-shouldnt-allow-comments

 

While I totally agree, it will most likely never happen, it's a too great of way to inflate page views!

 

Agreed. I hate them, though. If I want to argue with some insane idiot, I just go to SportsJournalists.com.

 

You must be an illegal alien! Love it or leave it, buttwad.

 

I do love it. That's why I'm here using your government perks, Gringo.

 

I've heard far too many people say they go to the newspaper's Web site for the comments alone. People want to interact with the news.

 

No, people don't want to interact with the news. They want to anonymously hurl insults and other bile at each other and newspapers give them an open forum to do so.

Want to interact with the news? Buy a freaking paper and turn the pages. Then write a letter to the editor, with your name at the bottom.

 

Yeah, but where else can I slam Mexicans and other illegal aliens with impunity on completely unrelated stories?

FASCIST!

 

Reader comments on newspaper sites are the No. 1 indicator that this nation is doomed.

If we are that desperate for clicks, we should stop wasting time on news stories that appeal to the lowest-common denominator and instead put photo galleries of girls [cheerleaders] in shorts, bikinis, low-cut tops in tightly cropped and suggestive poses with fun games like "Fake ... or Real?"

 

Why did you type that in blue. That's a hell of an idea /tribcoconsultant

 

I hate the comments ... our shop is launching a new site soon and the debate is raging - comments allowed or no? Many of the tech-type guys want it because, well, that's just how it is now and is part of the Net culture ... think the newsroom might be split, though hasn't been much discussion that I've heard. Fortunately, the man at the top is against it at this point, so hopefully he'll hold firm.

 

You mean kinda like this?

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/983402,hotfans060308.article