Guys like Rockin’ are always touting the importance of interaction with the great unwashed via the internet.
For every good comment I see online, there are nine ignorant ones.
I’m all for freedom of speech …. But also for freedom from speech.
Guys like Rockin’ are always touting the importance of interaction with the great unwashed via the internet.
For every good comment I see online, there are nine ignorant ones.
I’m all for freedom of speech …. But also for freedom from speech.
Rick McCharles 
So so true. People no longer spell correctly, grammar is out the window, and I am finding that people often comment before really thinking much of the time. I am astonished to read comments and then the follow-ups, often by the same people. Read what you type before posting folks….
The bit about hatred and obscenity is so true. People tend to hide behind the “anonymity” of internet. And exploit it to become much bolder than they ever would in a face to face situation. Very sad indeed…
For the record, I have never been in favor of ignorant dorks making stupid comments on the internet, nor do I encourage or condone dialogue with them. Rick, are you saying that the interactivity built into social media is a bad thing? I view the crap we see on YouTube and other places as an unfortunate side-effect of an otherwise miraculous improvement in our society.
Ah, I accept your apology Ron.
… A Colbert reference. 🙂
Interactivity is one of the best things about the WWW. It’s worth the 9 garbage comments on Facebook, for example, for the 1 great comment.
But we need more tools to hide the idiots. Facebook has it set perfectly. Simply click HIDE MAFIA WARS, HIDE FARMVILLE, or HIDE RON SHEWCHUK.
I prefer sites like this blog where the comments are “buried” by default. The biggest mistake made by YouTube was to make the comments visible by default.
What about all the time people waste on Facebook? Is it really a great benefit to humankind to be able to find out that your friend hates going to the dentist?
For me the odd important comment makes it worth wading through the dreck, speling, profanity and raw hatred.
But that’s me.
Jude just started on Facebook. And can’t see the value.
We all agree there’s lots of drek, but look at us talking about it in your comments section. No assholes here except present company. I think giant sites like Youtube can’t avoid this but three quarters of traffic on the web today is conversations like this, on obscure, nondescript blogs hosted by bridge trolls and transient grifters.
…and vodka-swilling doofuses, I might add.
Good points all, Rockin’
YouTube is conspicuously the WORST.
Also …
1) Comments are getting better over the past few years. People are learning.
2) Some sites do a great job of keeping SPAM comments out. Especially the blog hosts.
3) It’s getting easier to post. And easier for site editors to approve or unapprove comments.
Still … I rarely read comments except on my own blogs. Certainly I never read comments on the videos I post on YouTube.
Yes, I don’t play this games…now please don’t be offended if I won’t feed your fish, fertilize your fields, or pet your monkey.