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Monday, April 27, 2009
Media The Echo Chamber
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Virginia Heffernan has a great column in the New York Times this week about Blogtown's favorite subject: blog commenters.
Heffernan tracks the comments on columns by award-laden writer Anne Applebaum and comes to the conclusion that not only do comments tend toward anti-semitism and sexism, they're not constructive. Not exactly a novel realization, but one that's well-written and insightful. From the column:
Immediately after the column appears online — often late at night — come early amens. Then dissent sets in, and a scolding tone emerges (“You should know better”; “Surely you jest”). In the later hours, things get more plaintive and surreal, as lonelier, insomniac imagery takes over and commenters begin to turn on one another. (Around 2 a.m.: “What has happened to the soul of The Washington Post?” and “The blood is on your hands. I’ll help you look for a rag, but don’t wipe it on my pants.”)
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I've noticed that the majority of the comments on all of the Gawker sites are on track, non trollish, and smart.
I wonder why that is.
Probably has to do with decent moderation in the comments. I think that the NYT has probably the best program for allowing comments on their articles.
Not to mention the incredibly high level of discourse that I bring to the table here at /b/logtown.
And also one more thing...
smirk, that was a really awesome job you did there of not actually linking to any article. That blue text makes you think there's a link... but nope. FAIL.
link fixed! See, sometimes comments CAN be helpful.
This is an interesting article on comment trolls and things.
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazi…
Good job fixing the link, one of these days you'll start crediting the edits the commentors force you to make.
And you won't do it in a bitchy snarky tone that disavvows yourself of having a third grade level knowledge of geography or HTML.
I think (besides having a person on staff to moderate the comments which I think the Merc does too) they have a different relationship with their readership. Am I wrong?
Discuss.
God damn it! Now I look like a fool. While I was making a comment about how smirk doesn't credit the edits we force she goes and credits the edits we force.
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
I'm sorry smirk, my invective was misdirected.
The blood is on your hands, Graham!
How can they attach meaning to the time of a posting? 2am EST doesn't seem quite so insomnia-maniacal when they call it "11pm" around here. Or, you know, the middle of the day elsewhere.
Graham - that's a problem with commenting. We can't edit the mean things we say. Some times I type stuff quickly, because I'm positive that I'm really right and everyone else has ugly and wrong opinions, only to "consider someone else's perspective" a few moments later. And then I get filled with regret. The posters have it easy.
Except I imagine it's not easy to get sweared at a lot each time they post. Unlike an html error, emotional scars can't just be edited out. Maybe they don't have it so easy...
Word to that ROM.
It is one thing to post snarky comments on this here blog. The Merc is all about the sass and I would hope the writing staff takes that into account (Matt Davis seems to be unflappable no matter how abused he gets). It is another thing to see the widespread racism and sexism that is lurking in the heart of this country. Youtube comments being the most obvious example for stone cold hatin.
I've been on many a forum where this kind of thing has grown and grown.
The internet is a playground for the anonymous person to post what they really think without fear of reprisal. Saying things even the most outspoken bigot would mill over before saying to their worst "enemies".
Gawker will ban someone at the drop of a hat and they've got so many commenters no one will notice.
When gawker first started allowing comments, you had to be invited to be a commenter. (without bothering to look) Is that still the case?
youtube comments depress me. if it wasn't for the videos, it would be the worst site on the internet. You can quote me on that. That being said, I have a family member in a bunch of videos on the youtube, and for some reason the comments on those are really sweet. I don't know what's up - since when referenced pop culturally, it's pretty much always at the butt end (except on gilmore girls) - but it's nice.
@Will...good point but they also only ban them for a certain period of time.
@ROM You don't have to be invited anymore although...ahem.. I WAS INVITED.
*feels superior in a sad, sad way*
YouTube comments are frightening.
Blogtown is small enough that the commenters, while may not actually know each other*, they do know each other's screen names. On YouTube, there are so many people that you can treat each other badly, and never have to worry that someone might recognize you later and punch you in the chops.
*I still don't know you guys. I was drinking heavily expecting it to turn nasty later, and it never did. I'll have to try it again less drunk. But where are the pictures? I see Trivacat made a post, so Alison has found her camera cord...
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