More About Online Comments

[Flying Headbutt]

These kinds of stories often elicit compassionate online reader comments. But when this one appeared Aug. 12, they turned nasty.

Cole's wife blasted her husband. Rather than being laid off, Lori Cole wrote in a comment, he was "fired for poor performance." She said their marriage is broken.
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Then Elizabeth Cole, who identified herself as the couple's 13-year-old daughter, posted a comment saying her father had mental problems. ...

Cole said he was stunned by the comments. Before agreeing to cooperate for the story, he said, reporter Annie Gowen had told him The Post monitors abusive comments. He had been reassured after reading The Post's rules that forbid inappropriate comments.

His bad for not finding out what "inappropriate" and abusive really means, I guess. But ****, when are people going to say enough is enough and get rid of comments already?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/21/AR2009082103227.html

 

[Stitch]

I guess you didn't read where it looks like the wife was right in this case. Sometimes comments tell the story. The guy was called out by his soon-to-be ex-wife because he lied to the Post.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

I read it and I'm not as convinced as you are. Actually, I'm not convinced either way.

 

[Stitch]

I just don't think this is a good test case for why online comments should be nixed. Any story on welfare or immigration would be a stronger case.

 

[mustangj17]

I get to sort through abusive comments. I hate that part of my job. People are idiots.

 

[Ace]

I get to sort through abusive comments. I hate that part of my job. People are idiots.

Not just idiots, but mean idiots.

 

[Den1983]

Online comments are pointless. I abhor them, though ever since we started charging for our online product, we have seen a dramatic drop in comments but a steady increase with subscriptions. So that tells me it's the loonies that have access to a computer and just want e-fame that leave the dumbass comments.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Charge for the comments.

I have been sounding this refrain for years.

People can't help but see their comments on a site.

And, it DOES clean out the whackos.

 

[pressmurphy]

Charge for the comments.

I have been sounding this refrain for years.

People can't help but see their comments on a site.

And, it DOES clean out the whackos.

I'm not in disagreement with you on this. I will say, however, that newspaper publishers and editors (particularly the spectacular line of dimwits I've work for over the years) may have a tough time crafting a defense to readers/users who start screaming "youse guys love to rail about 'free speech' but only when it's convenient for you."

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Charge for the comments.

I have been sounding this refrain for years.

People can't help but see their comments on a site.

And, it DOES clean out the whackos.

I'm not in disagreement with you on this. I will say, however, that newspaper publishers and editors (particularly the spectacular line of dimwits I've work for over the years) may have a tough time crafting a defense to readers/users who start screaming "youse guys love to rail about 'free speech' but only when it's convenient for you."

There isn't free speech in this country.

There are obscenity laws.