Do you need a comment thread? And can you make it more civilised?
In this post Alex Hayes talks about the evolution of comments threads and how they can develop as earners if utilised effectively.
The cases for and against comment threads on websites are many and varied. At best those user-generated words at the bottom of a page can add insight and stir debate. At worst they’re a troll-filled cesspit turning normally civilised people into rabid lunatics.
So why would publishers have comment sections?
Great article – if you’re trying to compete for attention getting this dynamic working well is critical, surely.
Good piece. I write for an US-based enthusiast site with an international audience that posts 4-5 pieces a day. The amount of comments generated ranges from 20-200; every piece gets commented upon (including by the contributors).
The format is WordPress and the comment stream allows for reply to comment (indented in a slightly different shaded box) and three generations of reply to reply with successive indentation. The commenters are in many cases just as knowledgable as the contributors, and the ensuing threads make for very interesting reading as well. Given the amount of traffic on the site is about 30000 page impressions a day, the yield in comments is quite high.
I read The Guardian and NYTimes regularly, and sometimes visit the comments. The NYTimes with its side bar comment interface is a little awkward but The Guardian’s has easy to follow threads – although there is only one generation of reply to comment indentation. What I find most effective with the enthusiast website is that the comments are graphically separated by boxes. I find the free-floating comments interface less intuitive.
As to the issue of civility, The Guardian has very little interaction by the journalists and is littered with moderated (i.e. completely censored) comments. I suppose that goes with the territory. Mumbrella seems to be making a good job of it, though sometimes I wish the contributors would be more involved with comments.
I love respect buttons. I also like to be anonymous. ‘Pen names’ were rife when letters were published years ago. Some people want to give input to the conversation, however don’t want to be famous, other than others and of course unlike self promoting you know who’s…
Sold!
Oh, never mind.
Makes this comments section seem rather drab….?
Hi Peter,
You’re right – and we are working on it. Any suggestions from your own experiences?
Cheers,
Alex – editor, Mumbrella
The inclusion of a comment section is a very fine idea.
There should always be a moderator or a panel of moderators, to keep out the loonies and the blasphemers, and balance the self interested.
Opinion is a fine thing, and respectful commentators are a stimulating and complementary force. I like Mumbrella, therefore I like to feel a part of it, even in a very slight way.
Hurrah the industry is one step closer to recognising the value of community management!
Alex there is fantastic research being done in this area by Dr Fiona Martin at Sydney Uni. She would be worth getting in touch with: https://twitter.com/media_republik
As for building healthy, safe & welcoming online communities and comment sections, always happy to help as it is our area of expertise 🙂