Have Online Comment Sections Become Specious?

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Have Online Comment Sections Become Specious?

Posted by samzenpus on Monday March 12, 2012 @04:25AM from the if-you-don't-have-anything-nice-to-say dept.

christoofar writes "Gawker founder Nick Denton says online comments have proven themselves to be not worth the trouble, a waste of resources, and contribute nothing to online conversation or even capture the intelligence of readers. From the article: 'In the early days of the Internet, there was hope that the unprecedented tool for global communication would lead to thoughtful sharing and discussion on its most popular sites. A decade and a half later, the very idea is laughable, says [Denton]. "It didn't happen," said Denton, whose properties include the blogs Gawker, Jezebel, Gizmodo, io9 and Lifehacker. "It's a promise that has so not happened that people don't even have that ambition anymore. The idea of capturing the intelligence of the readership — that's a joke."'"

20 of 429 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

obviously by kaizendojo · 2012-03-12 04:26 · Score: 5, Funny

Just look below this post..
1. Re:obviously by Frederic54 · 2012-03-12 04:27 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  The idea of capturing the intelligence of the readership — that's a joke
  
  Being on /. for 13 years, I agree :)
  
  Heck, even with usenet early 90s it was flamewars and trolls
  
  --
  "Science will win because it works." - Stephen Hawking
2. Re:obviously by Spad · 2012-03-12 04:34 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Well, nobody reads Slashdot for the poorly edited summaries or week-old stories, do they?
3. Re:obviously by Sarten-X · 2012-03-12 04:37 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Slashdot's moderation system is the worst out there - except for all the rest.
  
  --
  You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
4. Re:obviously by virgnarus · 2012-03-12 04:39 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Slashdot, it must be said, continues to be a great source of insightful comments (a thing which is becoming extinct on the Internet lately).
  Unfortunately, contrary to your statement, your post ended up Interesting instead.
5. Re:obviously by troc · 2012-03-12 04:47 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Being on /. for 13 years, I agree :)
  noob :)
  (It's not often I see another 3k series userID)
  
  --
  Troc's dubious podcast and blog: http://www.trocnet.net
6. Re:obviously by Sarten-X · 2012-03-12 05:30 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Slashdot has always been ugly and pedestrian, if extremely functional.
  Slashdot is Unix?
  
  --
  You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
7. Re:obviously by vlm · 2012-03-12 05:32 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Maybe the fact stories do not have like or dislike buttons so that people can say "314 people like Microsoft" or "21 people work for Apple"?
  For pointless numerology we have our UID wars. Obviously as a 5 digit UID, my posts are going to be more insightful than your 7 digit UID post (hint hint mods you know what to click here).
  
  --
  "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
Capturing the intelligence of the readership, doh! by jbrandv · 2012-03-12 04:29 · Score: 5, Funny

The idea of capturing the intelligence of the readership was correct! The only problem was the intelligence of the readership...
Re:And yet... by jcreus · 2012-03-12 04:31 · Score: 5, Funny

Comments mentioning moderation usually get modded down (oh no I'm speaking about moderation!)
Re:Ask a Microsoft or Apple question here... by Noughmad · 2012-03-12 04:32 · Score: 4, Funny

You forgot Google. Burn in hell you heretic!

--
PlusFive Slashdot reader for Android. Can post comments.
Gawker Media think their readers are stupid by wjousts · 2012-03-12 04:33 · Score: 4, Funny

....film at 11.
Re:And yet... by dmomo · 2012-03-12 04:33 · Score: 4, Funny

You're good. Comments mentioning comments that mention moderation are generally safe.
Cole's Axiom by hierofalcon · 2012-03-12 04:34 · Score: 5, Funny

Cole's Axiom sums it up. The sum of the intelligence on the planet is a constant; the population is growing.
Ooh! by Pope · 2012-03-12 04:45 · Score: 4, Funny

You speak French!

--
It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
Re:Use forums instead by nitehawk214 · 2012-03-12 04:47 · Score: 5, Funny

Many don’t have threaded replies, a simple feature that makes any comment section _way_ more useful in my opinion. You can’t really have much of a discussion if replies can’t easily be tied to each.
Do you have any idea how bitterly the threaded comment war was fought? There are people who insist, violently, on the chronological ordering of posts.
They are probably the same people who hold repetitive flamewars amongst themselves over top-posting versus bottom-posting or inline responses.
threads which have had a comment recently get bumped up
This encourages people to post pointless posts like "bump" to try and keep their thread on top.
bump

--
I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
blast from the past by Quiet_Desperation · 2012-03-12 04:52 · Score: 3, Funny

Slashdot, it must be said, continues to be a great source of insightful comments
Me too!
In Soviet Russia ... by PPH · 2012-03-12 05:00 · Score: 3, Funny

... Intelligence captures you!

--
Have gnu, will travel.
Re:Community on the Information Superhighway by Sponge+Bath · 2012-03-12 05:03 · Score: 4, Funny

Rush Limbaugh posts to /. !
Re:Use forums instead by An+ominous+Cow+art · 2012-03-12 06:17 · Score: 4, Funny

I agree. A couple of times, I've accidentally scrolled down on YouTube far enough to see the comments Before my brain could shut down in self-defense, I was overwhelmed with horror at the illiteracy and idiocy I saw...