Preparing to launch a “flame”.
A couple of things have happened this week that has made me look at this blog just a bit differently than in the past.
- I’ve had to ask for help for the very first time in moderating comments as I’ve run out of hours in the day. Thanks Jeez.
- I’ve had one of the most stressful weeks ever in trying to juggle all the workload with this blog, including a wildland fire that has made 5 of my 6 employees absent today. The phones are quiet at the moment and nothing had broken (yet) in our 50 or so servers.
- The realization that I’m going to have half a million unique page views this month
- Some very rude and juvenile comments were posted as of late by anonymous commenters, some of which I’ve simply deleted wholesale. Some I’ve banned. The trend for this has been upwards.
- I’m not getting other important work done, such as getting the surfacestations.org database updated as new stations are surveyed, and I need to deploy my Stevenson Screen paint experiment again. One of the screens has been damaged my a recent windstorm (knocked over, anchors pulled out).
- I’m falling behind in email correspondence.
As I review my time, I find that a good portion of it goes towards managing this blog. It has become a hungry insatiable animal. While I have no lack of material for postings, doing the moderation/management is becoming a bit much. It is often irritating as well as time consuming.
Faced with a choice of giving up blogging (as Roger Pielke did for awhile) turning off comments altogether (as Roger Pielke did when he returned to blogging) or changing the way comments are handled, I’m considering the latter.
One of the things that has always bothered me about blogging and commentary is that the “anonymous cowards” (as Slashdot calls them) generally have the upper hand. Science bloggers like Tamino and Eli Rabbet fall into the “anonymous coward” category, as do many of the rude posters here and elsewhere. Some like “Dano” and “TCO” have whole careers based on snark. Who are they? I don’t know/don’t care, as they are irrelevant. But, they waste everybody’s time nonetheless.
Being anonymous or using a handle allows you to say any stupid, hateful, inciting, derogatory, or otherwise negative thing you want and have no accountability for your actions. At the same time, your opinion or writings is generally worthless as it can’t be verified. Anonymity IMHO, serves only the purpose to allow bad behaviour while protecting oneself or one’s reputation from any real damage.
On the other hand, people that put their name out there with their work or writings, such as John Coleman, Roger Pielke, Joe D’aleo, Basil Copeland, John Goetz, Steve McIntyre, David Smith, Evan Jones, Jim Goodridge, Warren Meyer, and many others (I’m sorry if I missed anyone), including myself, often get viciously criticized for putting their word and reputation on the line every day for writing something they believe in.
The “anonymous cowards” that publish blogs or comments take no such risks when they criticize or challenge. They can work for NASA, be a member of the IPCC, work for a science organization, be a professor at a university, and can taunt, castigate, or criticize in any tone they wish, all without risk to their professional or private reputation.
So today, when I got some angry anonymous comments, one of which came from a NASA employee (which I know because WordPress.com automatically puts the source IP next to each comment, that’s not something I had to search for) it made me think about “why am I taking all the risks”?
Peilke and D’Aleo solved the problem by turning off comments. I like comments because they give myself and others new perspectives, but I don’t like the easy “drive by vitriol” that sometimes springs forth from anonymity. The commenter “MA” recently provided an example of the worst sort of that.
My father, God rest his soul, always told me to “stand behind my words”. I do that, by putting my name on everything that publishes here. I’ve taken a lot of heat for doing so.
So I’m considering this:
Change of policy – all commenters must use their real name and have valid reachable email. The name would be published, the email would not.
Sure, that will anger some folks, but at the same time it will also force those that wish to comment to choose their words carefully, to act responsibly, and to be courteous of others. It will also cut down on the volume of comments that need moderation.
I figure if you have something to say, and what you have to say is useful, factual, and important enough to add to the discussion, you’ll have no problem putting your name to it. Right?
Ok have at it. I’ll make a decision next week.
I use a pseudonym for identity theft purposes as well. I made that mistake years ago when somebody in California tried to take out a credit card in my name.
Just my two cents, but not allowing comments defeats half the purpose of running a blog. Gotta admit, I’ve learned a lot from a lot of readers in here.
In Word Press, there is a feature “users must be registered and logged in to comment.” I’ve never used it, but if it does exactly what it says, it’s probably the best way to go, IMHO.
And curiously enough, I noticed someone from NASA browsing my forum today as well. Happened to see the server name when they were browsing.
I agree with you whole-heartedly. While anonymity has its benefits, all the “f” word scientists seem to come out of the woodwork to stir things up. I think it is part of their entertainment.
My suggestion, as others, is to have a registration process with real name, address, etc., and allow some degree of anonymity for those who truly need it for privacy and professional purposes.
There will be a significant overhead in approving those who wish to comment, and you would probably need help.
At any rate, I enjoy your blog, and whatever system you choose is OK with me.
bob
I think your are doing the right thing. Maybe you will learn how I am on day
Whatever you do, please make sure that this blog doesn’t end up like a certain pro-CAGW blog which deletes a lot of dissenting comments.
It seems to me that skeptics have the moral high ground in this debate because (generally speaking) we don’t attempt to silence the other side.
This is a real dilema. I understand the reasons some do not want their names made public. I do not have a problem with your new rules, afterall, this is your blog. I found this blog through Junkscience.com and have made it a daily read, sometimes it is the first thing I look at when going on line. I have learned so much, not being a scientist or an engineer. I have commented from time to time, mostly trying to put a laymans spin on things, sometimes realizing I showed how dumb I can be. The bottom line is this is such a great place to get information, especially from all the intelligent posters who provide lots of insight to us novices (or is it novici?) Please keep up the good work you are doing.
Tom Bruno
Tom in Florida …. Venice, Florida that is.
Anthony,
Great blog I try to check it every day. I rarely comment as I seldom have much to add or I usually find someone else has already made the point I wanted to make and usually they do so better than I would.
I have an unusual name and if Googled I come up and not a bunch of other people with the same name, except of course for all those weird Swedish references. I use the psedonym because I prefer the anonymity and also because it reflects my birthrite.
However time is valuable and I certainly can appreciate not having enough. Whatever you chose to do just don’t quit the blog as it is one of the best sources of information I have come across in a long time.
Sounds good. I am up.
I do think that there should be a collection site for “anonymous cowards”
Sort of like a Credit Rating for Commenters.
Fine by me. I don’t comment much, but I do appreciate your blog and the info you provide. Real name appears as of now.
Kim Mackey
I would hate to see you change anything. Traffic is way up, right?
Your readers are grown-ups, Anthony. They can discern the “wheat” from the “chaff.”
However, in the case of ad hominems, and “extreme” foul language I would ban.
No problem!
Brent in Calgary
I use initial and last name – hope that would be allowable. I’ve got no problem with verifiable emails, either.
It’s your blog – I’ve seen a lot of good forums ruined by the actions of one or two people, the sort who are professionally offended by differing views and beat you over the head with their dissent (no matter how contrived) until the whole communications channel shuts down. Banning trolls? Give them one warning, then play whack-a-troll.
You have an invaluable site here. Illegitimi non carborundum! (And yes, I know it’s not proper Latin…)
I for one don’t really want to make it easier for someone to get my home address and/or phone number than it already is. I’m still arguing with Verizon about my IP addresses not only about being listed in my name but also registered with my physical address. I can sympathize with swampie. Furthermore, I already get enough hack attacks as it is. If it comes down to it, though, I suppose I could always use a faked IP address and name. It’s not all that difficult — trivial, really.
—–
Steve Moore:
Well, then, here’s a treat for you!
Enjoy.
Anthony
This is a great website … one of the best. Since this will make your job easier, go for it.
OK by me.
Anthony,
I’m on board for the long haul no matter what. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree with Kum. I would hate to see the traffic drop. Maybe a combination of several ideas. Maybe limit comments to eight or ten lines? Maybe four or five of your trusted could alternate days of being sherriff? Of course always encourage the use of real names, but there are so many ways around it.
I’m glad I live in Texas and don’t have to worry about speaking my mind or using my real name. The fact that we are even talking about this makes me realize that we now live in a socialist state. God help us all.
Mike Bryant
“However, in the case of ad hominems, and “extreme” foul language I would ban.”
That is the problem, I suspect. Being nanny, deciding who to ban, dealing with the sh*t storm that results is time-consuming, energy-draining, soul-sapping unpleasant work.
Bill is my real name and I have no problem using my name and I do remember the first time I heard the words anonymous coward and have signed my name since.
Have at it Anthony.
Bill Derryberry
PS I googled me and found me but there are sure a lot of other folks with the same name. Oh well.
I agree that comments should not be anonymous. This leaves a small percentage out who fear persecution for expressing their views. But leaves most posters.
I also think . . . you need a support link. Bentrideronline.com take voluntary contributions and gets along. You also could take discreet sponsorship links. Then you could afford to hire some help.
Finally, develop a cadre of volunteer admin that you trust. Let them weed out the spam, ad hominem attacks, etc. . . . .
Grant Hodges
Other sites I visit require registration to comment. This seems like a modest proposal in comparison
The main thing is to keep your time and attention on continuing your site. I am retired so I’m immune from intolerant bosses or lost sales, but others aren’t. Would prefer registration using a valid email for conformation. But, whatever you decide, do it!
A good idea with a registration form for e-mail address and real names. I hope someone can help you at least with the initial rush, if you choose that.
Thanks for your kind words.
Obviously I have no problem with a true name policy. (Though I do show up on goog. I only hope that poor Evan Jones, the movie actor, hasn’t been been pranged for climate heresy on my account!)
But I’m more than happy to stand on my name and my words.
In fact I got an offer for a writing gig (which I’ll explain more about soon) partly based on what I’ve written here. For which opportunity I am very grateful. Thanks, Rev.
So I’d-really-hate to see the comments go!
Besides, it’s a big draw. Folks clearly like the comments here, and they like to be a part of it, too. So do what you gotta do, but I urge you to keep us on.
At any rate, the shop has sure grown since I started hanging around the middle of last year, and it has been a blast watching that the whole way through. Here’s to the future!
Nobody beats the Rev!
Registration for membership I mean. I support that, or whatever you choose.
I’m a long time reader and seldom poster. I have been disappointed in some of the comments lately. I support your decision even though I have always posted anonymously.
What drew me to the site orginally was the qaulity of your posts, but also the comments.
It’s true. The comments are a big draw. An “ignore” feature would be helpful and perhaps all that is needed. Surely this problem has been solved before somewhere.