I’m starting to take issue with all of the invitations I get to add comments to everything I read. Have you noticed this? Just about every single item on the internet seems to have a comments section these days.
Well, I do understand why it’s there. Contributions by viewers add a new dimension by opening up the possibility of dialogue. People can share their opinions and give feedback. It also means that if something such as a news item is skewed, then people can call it.
On the outset, seems like a great idea!
Then, it just got messy.
About a month ago I realized why this ‘comments welcome’ idea was a complete disaster. After logging out of my Yahoo mail account, an article caught my eye. So, I read it. Don’t really remember what the gist of the article was, so don’t ask. I think it had something to do with President Obama, he tends to stir up some real emotions in people. In any case, I thought, what the heck, I’ll make a comment. Well, I wasn’t alone…there were already over 2,400 comments.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 2,400+ comments for one freakin’ article? I checked back a few pages and comments were appearing on the page at the rate of 3-6 per minute. And I thought, why post anything? Within 10 minutes it will have disappeared so far back in the list that no one will ever actually read it.
Comments were being added faster than they could be read! Where is the point in this??? Not only that, but most of them were angry rants, and pissing matches between posters. And I’m sorry, but this DOES NOT enhance the internet and the flow of dialogue in any way. It was just a bunch virtual shouting matches. Pointless.
I do, however, frequent one website that does it right, the website of my hometown paper, the Toronto Star. All of the comments that appear on their website are moderated, and must be approved before being posted. They can also be removed if someone finds the message without point, or in bad taste. Comments are not allowed on articles that involve legal or criminal issues, where misinformation and hearsay can affect outcomes. There is also a point where the commenting period will close, to avoid wasting their bandwidth with thousands of posts that no one will ever read.
While of course, this doesn’t have the so-called flair of a free-for-all opinion avalanche, but at least you don’t get buried.
Perhaps the age of “comments welcome” will soon go back to the age of “who gives a rat’s ass what you think?”, but for now…
…wait for it…
…comments welcome! 
I love comments. Maybe it’s because I’m not in the realm of getting 2400+ per post, and am currently lucky to get one or two, but it’s to get confirmation that someone is actually READING what I’m posting.
The internet is a social place… people don’t want to just look at info anymore, it’s all about interaction. I’m all for it.
Dear readers of Chris’ blog: You are more than welcome to comment on my posts any day.
http://www.amanda-m.com