Blog: Rod Boyce: The editor's desk
A comment on comments
Published Sunday, January 18, 2009
Call me “The Zapper.”
‘Cause that’s what I do — zap comments from the Daily News-Miner’s Web site when I find them to be in violation of the User Agreement that participants in the online community agree to abide by.
There’s subjectivity in the implementation of the User Agreement, of course. A handful of people at the News-Miner have the authority to remove comments, whether they are called to our attention by readers or users or not. And, being humans, we don’t always agree on what’s allowable and what’s not. Most times, though, it’s easy for us to see when a comment has crossed the line and needs to be deleted or when a person is being deliberately antagonistic just to bait people into reacting.
I suspect a lot of the offending comments wouldn’t get posted if people had to use their real names. The News-Miner, like lots of newspapers across the country, doesn’t require that people use their real names. It’s what the online public wants, we were told by the experts. We were also told by the experts that the online public would police itself — and to a small degree this is true.
The self-policing is inadequate, in my view. That’s why we step in once in a while. We can’t be everywhere, though, we don’t have time to be. I wish the self-policing were better on the Web.
Proponents out there in Userland make a fair point when they say that they wouldn’t be able to post some of the important information that they do if they had to use their real name. They fear that their employers or others might get upset at them, maybe punish them somehow, if they had to use their real name.
If information for the public good requires some anonymity, then that’s a point worth considering.
I will argue, however, that people who want anonymity for that reason should use anonymity only for that reason — because they have information that could benefit the public and that is legal to post and because they fear retribution if their name were to be public.
I challenge anyone out there in Userland to justify the use of anonymity to make hurtful, discourteous, snarky and rude comments about other users, about innocent people in the news, about people who have suffered some hurt that has been publicized, about the staff of the News-Miner and about people in any number of other situations. To me, that’s just people not having the courage to stand behind their words.
When I see those comments — and I don’t look online all the time, by the way — those comments get removed. Others have a different view; this is my view.
Yes, call me “The Zapper.”
They can't justify it Rod, but I guess it makes them feel superior in some way when they make them.
I was wondering if you might be able to tell me why I can no longer view the posts about the man allegidly accused of assault in todays paper. I posted a post and then replied to a post and now I no longer can see any posts. I don't post offensive remarks. Domestic violence is a problem in the interior that no one really wants to address, could this be the reason I can no longer see the blogs. alaskairis@gmail.com
I am still wondering why I cannot view the comments about the alledjid assault charge in today's paper! Is there a conspiracy? Does no one(MAN) want to deal with this sensitive subject, that touches most of our lives? Am I just nuts! Is these the reason why I have not received an an answer to my inquiary? Hope to be enlightened soon.
My apologies for the delay in responding, but here's the word from Julie Stricker, director of online content at the News-Miner:
"Domestic violence is a sensitive topic -- there is almost always at
least one victim, sometimes several. Opening such stories to comments
in the past has often resulted in further harm to those already
victimized. Our policy is to not allow comments on domestic violence
stories based on police reports. Comments should not have been
enabled on this particular story. Several people had commented on the
story -- and not in a positive way -- before I was alerted and turned
off the comments."
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Rod Boyce
Managing editor
People don't realize how lucky they are to live in the USA. You would be sought at, found,put in prision and hung in some countries right now for the comments that are written similar to those who continually insult and disrespect for Governor Sarah Palin as a person and the office she holds.
I completely disagree with most of President Obama decisions that he has made since he has been in office. Sometimes, I really get upset and angry. But, I an American and I respect the office of the President and would never consider writing words that would disrespect him or the office he holds.I believe you can totally disagreed with our Governor but not slander.
I believe those people should be stricken from this form and not allowed the privilege of free speech for to continue their ranting and raving.
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