This is the United States after all... journalists are not over-privileged little shits... they're just little shits.
We all have an equal voice and you get to call out journalists as much as you like and point out how stupid they're being... take the above article for example.
Once you add in the threat of State force... well that's the real threat to democracy isn't it.
"So why is it so terrible now that internet news sites have gone back to what was normal - no public comments in their publications?"
People were forced into not having commentary... there was no system in place at the time that would allow people to instantly connect with each other.
Well now... we have this thing called the internet. The system is now in place, easy to implement, and is wildly valuable for people. To try and force people back into a system that was one of necessity instead of one of choice sounds like a dumb and immoral thing to do to me.
"There are many forums available throughout the internet - not just Facebook or Twitter"
Yes. You are right. One of those forums is called the comment section. It's a million times easier for people if the forum is already attached to the topic.
Niche communities are still communities. There's a small and vibrant community online that loves the Alien movie franchise... they've provided me (and you if you've ever looked up Alien facts) with a good deal of information. Just because a community is small... that doesn't mean it does not have value.
Well... an itty bitty website like mine who would be instantly bankrupt from simply getting a lawyer let alone getting them into the court room to defend user's speech.
It bothers me greatly. The silencing of people's speech is wildly inappropriate... how do you combat that without resources though? I don't know.
What's really depressing... is when people have resources but choose to steamroll over their users regardless (which i think was your point).
I've honestly had that experience... Motherboard was complaining about comments and I thought 'wow you guys are being asses' and scrolled down to comment... ~ woops ~ No comments on Motherboard anymore.
"but takes issue with the fact that the neither the USOC nor its major corporate sponsors support athletes’ training, nor pay athletes for competing at the Olympics, but make vast sums from the event."
So the Olympics is kind of like the record labels of the sports world? They take all of the money for themselves and give nothing back? Fun.
I'd just like to say that Tech Dirt's comment section is partially why I went out and started writing at my own website.
In Tech Dirts comment section... I saw a community that did not need to agree with each other, I saw people coming together for fun, for discussion, for communal venting of frustrations... I found beauty in that and I wanted to help offer the same for a different group of people.
My writing has now helped hundreds of thousands of people through articles that apparently (judging by Slate's and MIT's foaming at the mouth arrogance) would be judged mundane and low quality. Yet people thank me in the comments section on my site. People appreciate that I take the time to reply to their comments. All I've tried to do is be helpful and insightful... and people have thanked me for that.
I feel that says a lot about what people really want from writers. And I feel my story alone should justify to publications and their writers just how valuable the comments section can be to people.
You cannot measure the value of people's comments, you can't measure the value of a diverse community, you can't measure anything but bland things like unique views... But just because you can't measure that value... that doesn't mean there is no value.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by Steve Zissou.
(untitled comment)
Who knew that society depended solely on government entities.
Family? Friends?? Community leaders???
Pffft!
Bureaucrats only please.
Re: Re: When did you stop beating your wife?
We all have an equal voice and you get to call out journalists as much as you like and point out how stupid they're being... take the above article for example.
Once you add in the threat of State force... well that's the real threat to democracy isn't it.
Re: Prime Minister
Norway has about $800 billion dollars in its wealth fund... Facebook is worth $300 billion...
Re: Why should News sites have comments?
People were forced into not having commentary... there was no system in place at the time that would allow people to instantly connect with each other.
Well now... we have this thing called the internet. The system is now in place, easy to implement, and is wildly valuable for people. To try and force people back into a system that was one of necessity instead of one of choice sounds like a dumb and immoral thing to do to me.
"There are many forums available throughout the internet - not just Facebook or Twitter"
Yes. You are right. One of those forums is called the comment section.
It's a million times easier for people if the forum is already attached to the topic.
Re: I left a long time ago
Re:
There's a small and vibrant community online that loves the Alien movie franchise... they've provided me (and you if you've ever looked up Alien facts) with a good deal of information.
Just because a community is small... that doesn't mean it does not have value.
Re: respect for BleepingComputer; most sites are VERY easily intimidated
It bothers me greatly. The silencing of people's speech is wildly inappropriate... how do you combat that without resources though? I don't know.
What's really depressing... is when people have resources but choose to steamroll over their users regardless (which i think was your point).
Re: Re:
"Putin and Trump: A Love Song - A Poetic Work by Baron von Robber"
Re:
(untitled comment)
(untitled comment)
Re: Town Square
that comment is going to stick with me for awhile
Re: Re:
~ woops ~
No comments on Motherboard anymore.
(untitled comment)
(untitled comment)
So the Olympics is kind of like the record labels of the sports world? They take all of the money for themselves and give nothing back? Fun.
(untitled comment)
In Tech Dirts comment section... I saw a community that did not need to agree with each other, I saw people coming together for fun, for discussion, for communal venting of frustrations... I found beauty in that and I wanted to help offer the same for a different group of people.
My writing has now helped hundreds of thousands of people through articles that apparently (judging by Slate's and MIT's foaming at the mouth arrogance) would be judged mundane and low quality. Yet people thank me in the comments section on my site. People appreciate that I take the time to reply to their comments. All I've tried to do is be helpful and insightful... and people have thanked me for that.
I feel that says a lot about what people really want from writers.
And I feel my story alone should justify to publications and their writers just how valuable the comments section can be to people.
You cannot measure the value of people's comments, you can't measure the value of a diverse community, you can't measure anything but bland things like unique views... But just because you can't measure that value... that doesn't mean there is no value.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by Steve Zissou.
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