Comment validation?

[bob]

Just an observation, what with the rash of (often personal) negative comments I've been seeing on different shows.. I have nothing against criticism, that's how we get better.. It's the anonymous personal attacks that bring this site down a few notches.. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check the top ten shows, you'll see several examples...

Often, these comments are done anonymously, and we all know that people are much more brave when they are unidentifiable.

I'm just wondering if it wouldn't make sense to validate the comments via email too.. I mean, if the voting system asks to confirm via email, it seems to make sense that the comment system would do the same. After all, an 8 line bad personal comment can do far more damage than a 1-star vote..

I'm not saying make the email visible to public, we can respect privacy and keep those to the site admins, but at least when someone gets a confirmation email, they'll think twice before posting garbage..

Just a thought..

[theFerf]

i agree, and im working on it. too much to do, too little time :)

[Ian]

I like the validation suggestion (but I don't mind personal attacks). Are you approving each and every comment, Ferf? It seems that it takes a while for comments to appear. Perhaps you could add the validation, and then not have to review each and every comment.

[theFerf]

i do approve every comment to an extent. i try not to censor anything unless it is obviously libel. i think all comments good and bad are what this site is all about, just like the voting, and it is what makes it great. it will also make the podcasters better. you may be pissed that someone hates your guts and says bad stuff, but they are listening to your podcast, and thats half the battle. Thats when the podcaster uses the momentum of the comment to make the show, setup, content, or whatever better.

Although an email challenge for validatioin will work, i will still probably look over all the comments somehow. Podcasting is not about being mean to other people, it is about delivering content to someone. If someone has the balls to supply an email address and approve their comments, maybe they have the balls to stand behind their comment to the podcaster.

I dont know. what do you think?

[Ian]

I say let them talk trash. I just had my first negative comment, and I responded but since it had to be approved, it took a while for it to go up there.

I say implement the email verification system for comments, and don't bother approving them anymore. If show hosts are concerned about libel, let them respond on their own.

Regards,
Ian

[Ian]

Ferf, the comments have been in limbo for over 24 hours... if you're busy and can't approve them, it makes the site grow slower, in my opinion. Please consider auto-approving comments. If there's something particularly egregious, surely you'll be alerted to it.

Regards,
Ian