Oh gods, SHUT UP ALREADY

[serai]

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I think a developer could make beaucoup bucks designing an add-on that would eliminate comment sections on the web. By that I mean it would make any comment section impossible to see. Such a developer could put out versions for all the big comment platforms such as Disqus, Livefyre, etc.

Just lately, I've grown more and more disgusted, dismayed, and disenchanted with the whole idea of letting anyone and everyone comment on articles or blog posts out there. I understand the desire to be "democratic" and "open", but hasn't it been proved enough that comment sections almost invariably descend into stupidity and vileness? Hell, even sites where I actually agree with the commenters political or religious or whatever views are filled with nastiness, backbiting, sneering, and other masturbatory, adolescent trash. Even sites like Metafilter, that provide so many links to interesting or important or just entertaining content, have comment sections stuffed with judgmental bitchery, concern trolling, and leaps to the ugliest possible interpretation of any given thing.

And it bleeds into the content, too. I used to really like Crooks & Liars, for instance. The site publishes to expose on extreme conservatives, mendacious politicians, outrageous court decisions, etc. But what once used to be a well-written, interesting blog has become a screed site, where the writers take the same nasty, dismissive tone towards anything they don't like, instead of presenting reasonable criticism and evidence. In my view, there is no need for such tactics - if the thing you're writing about is bad enough to write about, it doesn't need pumping up with silly buzzwords like "destroy" and "annihilate" when you're talking about a conversation, or flat out insults. I simply can't take a writer seriously when he/she talks like that.

And I truly hate the way reading such stuff makes me feel and react. I find myself joining in because it looks like "fun", but inevitably I feel slimy afterwards. I can't recognize myself sometimes in those comment sections. And when I do try to write in a way that is balanced, trying to point out things that are being missed in the chorus of shrieks and sneers and threats, I get piled on just as others do who try to take a rational tone. (And this is often WORST among those who claim to be the most "rational" in the room. I've been utterly appalled by the reactions of people who claim that science and reason are their guide - they are often the nastiest and most condescending people around.)

So I wish some enterprising soul would invent a widget that would make those comment sections invisible. If site owners are going to be so lazy and irresponsible as to allow such content on their site (or even worse, indulge in it themselves and/or egg the commenters on), I'd rather not see anybody's opinions at all.

(When Huffington Post went to allowing comments for FB users only, I objected at first. But I've come to see it as a godsend. Now I can just read the article and decide for myself what I think, without a mob of assholes hurling invectives and generally being, well, assholes. I think I'd be a lot happier if more sites did the same. Of course, it would be better if sites were redesigned to make such content impossible, but that would mean putting effort into the idea, and money, and time. We can't have that kind of responsibility on the web, oh no. Where would we get our daily dose of hate and bile then?)
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Comments

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you. Most comment sections leave me feeling disgusted and dirty just for reading them, and so sad that there is so much vitriol and awfulness in people's minds and hearts. And such horrendous bigotry and racism, too.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

It's hideous. I really can't see how all this anonymity has helped anything. Sure, some people get to connect with others of like minds, but honestly, the effect is outweighed a thousand times by the ugly mob mentality that's produced by it. I don't see that the world is a better place for it, frankly.

[twothreefour.livejournal.com]

Ghostery plugin. you'll dig it.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

I've heard that name around. What does it do? Can I get it at the FF add-ons page?

[serai1.livejournal.com]

Hm. I just went over to the FF add-on page, and I'm not really liking what I'm seeing. Everyone seems to hate the new version, which apparently has fallen to Microsoft 10 mania. Not something I want to deal with, frankly, as I hate the whole M10 aesthetic and functionality.

[twothreefour.livejournal.com]

I use it with Chrome and have no issues.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

It does say on the add-on page that the new version is only for FF, so I'll add it to Chrome and see what happens. I'm not sure I understand what it's supposed to do, though, or how it's supposed to work.

[twothreefour.livejournal.com]

you add it to Chrome, then there's a little ghost that pops up in the upper right hand of your window. Click that and alllll the trackers that are placed in every webpage will show up in a dialog box. All you need to do is "turn off" the ones you don't want, like Discus or Livefyre. This will also get rid of those Taboola web ads for "THIS STRANGE GOO ON MY FINGER GETS RID OF DIABEETUS" etc etc. Reload the page and boom, no more comments.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see. Well, I'll give it a try. Thanks!

[addie71.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you. I very rarely read comments on anything and usually regret it when I do.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

It's sad, isn't it? And so unnecessary. If only site owners would put some effort into it, the comment sections could be really good places to read. Years ago when I ran a fan forum, I ruled with an iron hand. The rules were posted right at the top, and anyone who broke them was summarily kicked out, with no recourse. I often got thanked for how thoroughly I policed the place, because everyone who hung out there knew there would be no nastiness or fighting of any kind. I simply didn't stand for it. If we got someone ugly hanging around, I'd put the comments on moderation and just deleted everything from the troll until they got bored and wandered off. Worked like a charm. If things had been run that way on the web from the beginning, it wouldn't have turned into the nearly universally nasty morass it's become.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Ugh, yeah, comment sections are the worst. It's gotten to the point where I'm relieved when a news site doesn't have comments (or at least I can't seem to find them), and am delightedly surprised on the rare occasion when the comments are actually useful or fun or nice. That snark problem again...and I wish I could blame teenagers or something, but I suspect it's fully grown adults all too often.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there are very few times I actually look for comments anymore. One is on recipe and cooking sites, where the comments are often useful, as they talk about problems with the recipes or adjustments that readers have made. I also look for comments on pagan or meditation music videos on Youtube - they're the only kinds of videos there that consistently attract really pleasant comments. (Some of the cooking videos get great comments, too, but I find that's usually only if the videos are made by women cooks. Male cooks get the usual asshat commenters.)

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

Some are okay, like the NYT where they are moderated. But I just don't read comments anymore other than the NYT.

BTW, I use Ghostery as well with Chrome, although I have a Mac. I couldn't live without it.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

I'll have to try it out, but I don't use Chrome hardly at all. I get very irritated with the way Every. Single. Thing. is hidden somewhere where I have to dig for it. I prefer my browser to have what I need right there where I can easily find it without having to poke around and guess.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I used to read comments on the sites I visited, but it got to the point where every single comment thread devolved into ax-grinding, name calling and people spewing poison all over each other. I don't read comments anymore.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

It's just awful, isn't it? I'm becoming extremely picky about reading comments, but I haven't completely give up, as there are some places where it isn't awful. Cooking and recipe sites have pretty good, useful comments. And I like the comments that are left on pagan and meditation videos on Youtube, as well - those tend to attract really nice people.