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

[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.)