Ryan Jerz :: Reno Blogger, Reno Blog

Fun, conversations, and occasional journalism from Reno, Nevada
Let the parade of horribles begin!


Misc: Anonymous Comments

I’m getting pretty tired of anonymous commenters. I don’t know what it is, but when I see a string of 20 comments and only three people willing to put their name to what they say, I lose all respect for anyone posting there, and I begin to lose respect for the site itself. And when it comes from a site run by a newspaper and a political reporter, I find it pretty irresponsible. Yes, I understand that many, if not most weblogs are run by people concealing their identities. But I feel the same way about them as I do about anonymous commenters. But there is one small difference: even if you have a weblog and you use a pseudonym, when you comment on something, whether your own site or that of someone else, that same name is attached to what you say. But to hide behind the name “anonymous” is chickenshit. And when the vast majority of the comments received on your website are from people using that moniker while claiming to be throwing facts out, you’ve lost me. And I’m someone genuinely interested iin those facts and someone who needs to know where people are coming from before I believe them. So, in effect, that site in question has become completely useless for me.

The same goes for people who refuse to allow comments that question their authority and importance. I have been banned from commenting on a local political site (and one, ironically enough, that I actually agree with on many, many issues) simply because I questioned the site administrator’s willingness to allow free and open and honest debate. In the comment I even said I was unafraid of the criticism that would be thrown my way and used my real name. And, get this, not a single one of my comments has ever made it onto the site at all. That is not what you call a news and opinion site. That’s what you call propaganda. Why is it happening this way?

So the point here is this: in the realm of local politics, what are people so afraid of? If you are a staffer for a campaign and you decide to post a “fact” about a competing candidate, but fear you won’t be taken seriously because of your connection to your guy, what the hell good does using “anonymous” do for you? Nothing. If you run a site and allow “anonymous” to run rampant in your comment section, throwing bullshit around hoping some poor sap who can’t think for himself will believe it, what should I get from your site? That the facts do not matter. Force people who want to comment to attach their names, and I’ll change my tune. If you run a site and are afraid to allow one person, who uses their real name, to call your opinions and policies into question, what might I learn from you? That it’s never about the issues. It’s about the power. And we all know people who seek power are the ones who should least be allowed to have it.

Update
Whoever tried to leave a comment from ip addres 24.205.96.99, it didn’t work. As a spam measure, you have to hit the preview, then hit the post buttons. I screw it up myself sometimes. Either that or you tried to post without using an email address. Silly you.


tags:
posted by Ryan Jerz on 04/04/2006

Comments

Kevin, Apr 4, 05:09 PM #:

Don’t you have a way you can disallow comments that don’t have e-mail address verification? I know I can do that with Typepad. Is this site Wordpress or MT?

mrjerz, Apr 4, 05:15 PM #:

If you mean my own site, I believe I require an email address to post. Also, I have moderation on, only for spam. I’ve never disallowed a comment. It’s not like I’ve been really controversial before. But the site that drives me crazy is a blogger site on the local paper’s server. Blogger allows an option for anonymous. I don’t know if it can be turned off, but I do know the admin can delete anonymous comments. It sucks because I like the site a lot before, but since the wave of anonymity, it’s useless to me.

Anjeanette Damon, Apr 4, 09:02 PM #:

Ouch. Really. Ouch. But I happened to agree with you for the most part and am struggling to decide what to do about it. See, blogs are supposed to be all about the open and free exchange of information and opinions. As a journalist, I rely on this premise and think it is a good one for democracy in general. The downside, of course, in the event of free and public discourse is that you have to put up with a lot of crap. And much of what is coming through in these anonymous comments is just that. I try when I can to correct blatantly incorrect information. But there’s not much I can do about someone’s offensive opinion or name-calling. I’ve been thinking for some time now of requiring a blogger registration or even screening comments before they are posted. I hesitate to do that, though, because it won’t be long before someone accuses me of having an agenda. (Kinda like your gripe about BattleBorn). In any case, those are my thoughts. I’ll probably put something up on INP soon asking my readers their own opinions on the subject. And I would appreciate hearing more of yours.

Good Day.
Anjeanette

sugafree9, Apr 5, 12:57 AM #:

I have erased messages on my blog before, but quite rarely. They have to be total crap and ultra insulting before I go that far. I don’t have a problem with crazies yet, and I guess it’s all because I’m not all that interested in politics most of the time. My site is hardly controversial. When a topic gets political, I try to turn it into a dirty conversation. Don’t ask why…

Dave2, Apr 5, 01:28 AM #:

I don’t mind anonymous comments if they contribute to the conversation.

What I do NOT abide, however, is anonymous attacks. That’s just a pussy move. If I’m going to trash-talk somebody, I sign my name to it.

mrjerz, Apr 5, 01:46 AM #:

I haven’t had idiot commenters yet. But I also haven’t had many readers. This site is at the height of it’s popularity since the new year. I actually wish I did have morons commenting, then I’d have more to talk about.

Anjeanette, everythng you’ve said about blogs is true. But yours particularly is of a nature that things get ugly quickly. It’s not you, it’s the beast. Politics. And local politics at that. Case in point, your post about K Guinn’s surgery where the guy blasted Paul Mozen for being a flip-flopper. After a comment about HIP SURGERY! If that guy had a name registered with a valid return email address, no way in hell he makes that comment. That’s all I’m saying.

myrnatheminx, Apr 5, 03:09 AM #:

I TOTALLY agree. Anjeanette’s blog is attracting a lot of irresponsible comments by anonymous.

Shaun Taylor, Apr 6, 09:03 PM #:

Jerz, love the site buddy, this is my third trip and I love your posts. Keep fighting the good fight. I will always let you know who I am and what I stand for whether in agreement or not.

mrjerz, Apr 6, 09:31 PM #:

Atta boy, Chango. Thanks for cruising in. Your brother is a lurker too, so be careful what you say.

henry jr, Apr 7, 12:55 AM #:

MMMMMM.. ca-ca log -anonymous Apr 6 7:54 pm

Commenting is closed for this article.