Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

A Norwegian Website Is Making Readers Pass a Quiz Before Commenting (niemanlab.org)

Posted by msmash on from the how-about-that dept.

Joseph Lichterman, writing for Nieman Lab: Two weeks ago, NRKbeta, the tech vertical of the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, published an explainer about a proposed new digital surveillance law in the country. Digital security is a controversial topic, and the conversation around security issues can become heated. But the conversation in the comments of the article was respectful and productive: Commenters shared links to books and other research, asked clarifying questions, and offered constructive feedback. The team at NRKbeta attributes the civil tenor of its comments to a feature it introduced last month. On some stories, potential commenters are now required to answer three basic multiple-choice questions about the article before they're allowed to post a comment. The goal is to ensure that the commenters have actually read the story before they discuss it.

5 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. I like it by TFlan91 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "The goal is to ensure that the commenters have actually read the story before they discuss it"

    A+ idea.

    +1 insightful

    Too many RTFA's...

    1. Re:I like it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      If it were to be tried at Slashdot, I think the editors would have had to have read the articles in order to make up the quiz questions. It couldn't possibly work.

  2. I don't like it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't know why I must pass a test before being able to read a website. Also, do I have to pay for the test? How long is it? I think this is a stupid solution for a non-existent problem.

  3. Awesome! by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This sounds like a surefire way to get only the best trolls! ;)

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  4. Re:Isn't this like by Maritz · · Score: 5, Funny

    If this was about voting, and if the quiz was a literacy test, then yes.

    --
    I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.