News Sites Rethink Anonymous Online Comments

The Deseret News in Salt Lake City is now taking steps to get away from the completely anonymous comments.

They now require registration, but still will allow posts with screen names

Here's the policy:

The new "Random Thoughts" stuff posts truly anonymous messages, but they are not included within the string of comments attached to stories. Instead, they have a link/tag to specific stories, but are collected in a separate place with random thoughts associated with other stories.

Kind of interesting. I'd much prefer real names attached to everything a newspaper publishes -- in print or online -- from its readers.

 

That methodology is kind of interesting.

 

Interesting and strange. Although the random thoughts section might provide a good read, especially if you were from out of town and had no shot at understanding what the hell most of the thoughts were about.

 

We're not scared of the free exchange of thoughts and ideas. We're worried about people who use the cloak of anonymity to mask their real selves behind a persona they wouldn't dare show themselves in the mirror at night.

I've been against anonymous comments from the very beginning. Anything we do to eliminate them entirely is a step in the right direction after too many in the wrong direction.

 

Comments on a newspaper's website should be treated like letters to the editor.

They should have a name attached & should be verified.

Couldn't you accomplish all of this by just having people register with a credit card? Charge 'em a buck or something nominal to register and make them use a credit card to do it.

Wouldn't that solve the problem?

I guess the counter argument might be that it would be a pain in the ass & would result in fewer registrants & comments, but if someone really wanted to participate, it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

Most likely it would just deter the nuts, which is the point, right?

 

I will defend to the death the rights of anonymous posters to say anything that I agree with.

 

Sounds like everyone's against anonymous racist comments but in favor of racist comments where you know the name of the person posting?

 

I'd love to see readers have to post their comments in 42 characters or less. That is going to be priceless.

 

Especially in a good town for an ass kicking.

 

Why? What do we have to gain?

 

My favorite solution.