The OC Register (Orange County) is running this note from the editor at the end of its on-line stories:
“From the editor: Many of you have expressed concerns about some of the harsh anonymous comments from readers. To remedy that, we are introducing new features. You can create your own blog, publish your news and share your photos with the community. Once you fill out a simple form and leave a verifiable e-mail address, you can set up your profile page. It will display all of your contributions and allow you to track issues and easily connect with others.
We want our site to be a place where people discuss and debate ideas that foster stronger communities. We built this for you. Please take care of it. Tolerate broad thinking, but take action against obscene or hateful material. Make it a credible and safe place worth preserving and sharing.”
After seeing some of the anonymous comments left on the Asheville Citizen-Times and Mountain Xpress websites, I’m liking this direction.
As one blogger panelist at NC Writers’ Network con said: “You have to moderate comments. Otherwise, you’re opening your site up to spam and haters.”
I’ve often had people say things to me on-line that I doubt they’d say to me in person. I have more respect for those whom, even when they’re being nasty, give me their name in the process.
There’s been lots of discussion in the blogosphere and, even, in the Asheville blogger community about anonymity versus non-anonymity. There are some cases where, I think, bloggers have good reason to remain under the radar. As perhaps, some commenters do as well. But not if they are using the medium to spread hate in any form or vent on others.
What do y’all think?
