I’ve been mulling this over for awhile and the past few days have been over the top. SSD was created to educate readers on the goings on in the tactical industry and share things I found interesting. Lately, the comment section has become a magnet for disrespectful discourse and outright lies.
Spam I can live with, but the constant stream of dick measurers, internet experts, shills and trolls are getting to be a bit much. What do you guys think?
Appreciate you putting this to a vote. NB, at least on my browser, nothing is registering that a vote was cast after clicking the button. Just a heads-up.
I appreciate most of the discourse in the comments, but I can definitely see your point about the dick measuring. However, oftentimes I learn as much from questions asked and answered as I do from the articles. Keep ip the great work regardless!
+1
I concur. I often browse the comment section for additional input on a given subject. If I see comments that aren’t contributing to the topic, I just keep on scrolling. There’s no point in feeding trolls.
+1
aGREE
Agreed. Feel like the breakdown is thus:
30% – Good, insightful comments that I learn something from
60% – Mildly interesting / mildly amusing comments that I could take or leave
10% – Annoying, flaming, dick-measuring that add nothing but controversy.
By that measure, to me, the good far outweighs the bad.
Mick.
This is pretty accurate in my humble opinion, I probably lean more 40%/50%/10%, but that is just my take.
It is very cool that you put this to a vote, as there are many people who regularly contribute valuable info on here, thus by putting it to a vote you’re showing your respect to those individual while also calling out the trolls. Very smart move SS.
Keep up the good work
I agree. Maybe just enforce a stricter ban on anyone who makes a dickhead/troll comment.
Ditto
+1 to Ab5!!!
As stupid and uncalled for as many of the comments are, I still learn a bit from some of the better comments. It shouldn’t be your job to police the comments but some readers still do glean useful info from them.
Maybe a “Warning, pants on head stupid/inflammatory comments may be deleted without warning” disclaimer is in order?
I enjoy the comments. I must admit that I occasionally post some silly contributions, and some of the abusive stuff that other people post can be a bit much, but the comments add another dimension to SSD. Without them it is a bland news site, with them it is a community.
If you were to close comments, I would understand, and I would keep reading SSD daily, but I think it would be a lesser site for it.
Cheers,
Terry
Agreed.
It’s your website SSD, if people want to carry on like savages, and it’s stressing you out, take away the privlage you had given them.
Rather like one does to a naughty child.
Regards
Richard Schagen
I say leave them open as a person already posted sometimes we learn a bit more by the questions asked than just the articles
Dear Sir,
I really enjoyed reading inputs from SMEs in the comment section, i.e. LAV would drop by, from time to time, and comment on posts related to him. Hopefully, you can consider keeping the comment setction open.
I know it’d take work, but maybe a way for users to have “accounts” in order to comment. Public can only read. That way, the constant problem children are held accountable. (banned)
Im old enough to recognize a dickhead comment when I see a dickhead comment. However, most are honest, insightful, informative. Even the dumb questions are useful….because then I don’t have to ask them.
This.
I agree with this comment (TexAg). Keep in mond, you are basically acting as the only admin on this site with regards to vetting comments. If you wanted, I am sure you could recruit adult admins from your user base whom you actually know offline to help you keep things in line. Managing admins own styles and personalities would probably have its challenges, but you would get leverage on your time. I must say I really appreciate that you clearly personally follow each thread, but if the bad conversations make you less keen about doing this, let them go. I would suggest you drop them for a known period of time and re-engage the user base afterwards to see if the community thought comments should stay or go. . Life is too short.
Like most of the internet you have to do some sifting to get to the quality info/comments. We vote to keep the comments.
I voted no because I’ve learned stuff from the comments in the past. Shame there wasn’t a low maintenance vetting system you could put in where people had to earn the ability to comment… Somehow.
Trolls will be trolls no matter, there is some interesting information in the comments at times, you just have to dig through the garbage and understand that some ”comments” are from people who know less than I do
If moderating the comments becomes more work than you care, then close it.
However, even with the trolls, the quality of the comments usually augments the content of the articles, enhancing the value of information for the reader (poll of one – me). Sometimes the questions asked and the responses become like a question and answer session after a good presentation that engages the interest of the audience.
I was a reader before your comment section came about, and I’ll still be if it ever goes away. There are some good comments here-there’s got to be a way to highlight those without placing too much of a workload on the admins.
That being said, if it’s too much work, burn it. Burn it all.
Keep it around, the good and the bad are part of the educational experience.
I think the comments offer a sense of community and increase user engagement, so I’d prefer to see them stay.
I think the best of both worlds would be a system that would allow other registered commenters to vote up or vote down individual comments and in turn give commenters a profile that you guys can track and block if needed.
+1
Agreed, something like the kitup! website.
+1, just about made the same comment. Allowing us to self regulate would be helpful to you and the other readers.
+1
reputation based ecosystem. +1
I agree with Adam
agreed
I can see both sides as well. Although there can be some major ignorance placed in the comments, sometimes there is a jewel worth reading. I tend to scan the comments for those jewels. Sometimes there is a point of view in the comments that allows me to see another side, or that provides additional information. I find that refreshing and just try to ignore/overlook the comments that go too far off track, or are just gushing stupidity. I personally would prefer they stay enabled.
Sometimes the comments do have value. I usually check them to see if they are worthwhile. Your frustration is very understandable, however. Maybe strike though dumba$$ posts and put up an unmistakeable gif in place of the offending posts. Like a soiled measuring tape.
Well I’ll be darned, there’s a comment section!?! The reason for my “no” vote is that I’ve truly never noticed it so I don’t care. Your blog is great and I’ve never found the internet ninjas or chairborne experts to interfere with consumption of the content.
Maybe reddit style comment prioritization (and/or anything you directly reply to gets automatically boosted towards the top) so that the odd great comment ends up somewhere other than buried, making them a bit more worth the hassle of leaving them enabled.
I vote to keep. I like the semi direct links to ask industry folk here. I’ve seen some questions answered in comments which saved me an email to directly ask it.
This is a tough question to answer. I do glean much info and insight from other people who post useful feedback, some of the comments make me laugh and bring a smile to my face, but there are some ass hats who need to be policed. I vote for the comments to stay enabled, but like another user said, maybe a registration/up-vote/troll reporting feature/s.
Anyone who has been on any discussion board on the internet and is capable of thought realizes that when free discussion exists it is expected to have some shit posts and shit posters regardless if registration is required.
In my opinion the potential benefits of open discussion outweigh the negatives.It should be up to the reader to extract what is useful and reject the garbage.I saw at least one section that turned into a “flame war” but there still was some good info there.
I think some of the suggested solutions above might mitigate the problem but moderation would still be required,as it stands we can’t choose those solutions.I think completely eliminating the comments would be foolish.
YES.
What the absolute “F” do anonymous posters add to the conversation here?
Nothing.
I’m not going to tip our hat on what we do internally, but suffice it to say, that their hidden agenda is as clever as the guy who dresses up as a Grayman for the apocalypse.
As previously stated by others, some of the comments are great. I’d say offering good insight based on years of institutional knowledge.
A lesser, but still important reason to consider keeping the comments open is the comedy. I can do without the juvenile comments and flame wars, but I appreciate the humor offered by SSD and many others – helps the day go by just as much as the great articles!
There’s some good info in the comments. Trolls gotta troll and I know they’re a PITA.
Sadly, visibility attracts trolls. GearScout and KitUp comments get stuck on stupid, and I think it was one of the regulars from over there who precipitated this latest discussion…
No.
While some of the comments are trash, there is the odd interesting qiestion+answer especially when companies chime in to answer people’s questions.
People that voted to close them are free to not read them.
I keep my posts few and humorous, because anything composed and cogent will bring out the booger eaters, and arguing with retards makes me sad. I could post that water is wet, pussy is good, and NO ONE would rape Lena Dunham. As soon as I do I know some tool will jump in and say that in his tier 1 unit they used dehydrated water, gang banged Lena Dunham before each op, and that you have never lived until you have had balls resting on your chin. I would not put up with it. But, it’s your call, esse.
I can definitely understand the frustration of people’s shitty comments, but as others have said above, I often learn quite a bit from reading the worthwhile ones. If you feel like it’s worth trying to have a system to track and ban people, maybe that would help, but whether you keep the comments or not, I am still going to read SSD every day.
You can do what Slashdot does, the website stays free for reading articles etc, but if you want to post comments, you have subscribe. Even if the subscription is only a few dollars per month, that would cut down on most of the trolls.
Keep the section, I always find something interesting to learn about.
Thanks for the heads-up! Sifting through the comments I usually find something educational. Usually I skim then read first the comments which are grammatically correct. Am I being a grammar Nazi? No. But I find that those usually are written by educated and well-informed people.
Don’t worry about the trolls and don’t feed them.
I have not posted much on this site, but when I have I would like to think that my comments have been insightful. I voted “no” to disabling comments, but since I’ve never been one to chop someones head off via the internet it only seems natural that I would. And thats coming from a hard type-A.
My 2 cents..
This is an intelligent community here on SSD, and generally speaking the crap is sifted fairly well by commentators here.
If some-one makes an off comment, or is ignorant, or typing with a particular slant or bias.. the community is quick to educate, site reference, and or call out said BS.
If you only want “INDUSTRY” opinion to be heard, vet your commentators to a set of authorized commentators from the industry.
In the end, it’s your ball.. take it and go home if you like.
I am tracking with the self-moderating that goes on here; asshattery and general dickery are not suffered gladly by the community…kinda like the blanket party scene from Full Metal Jacket:)
Keep the comments, please. They’re useful.
I like them.
I am only me so my opinion matters only to me.
It’s up to you to keep or lose this section of your (great) web site.
Maybe I’m just numb to internet garbage because I skip over the nonsense and don’t give it a second thought. There is useful info in the comments and I’m assuming even some of the industry folks use it for open source feedback on what the market is offering.
I vote to keep them but I also have nothing against stricter registering or posting rules.
It truly is your site, but sometimes the hilarity of the comments is the only thing that brightens my day.
As to the Metric Winkie Competition? (shrugs) You have that in the real world as well. I just ignore it.
the beauty of the Internet is that everyone has a voice… as many posted, there are gems in the comment section… and even the crazy ones are fun…
a 4th of july strawberry post would have never been possible without user comments…
oh and nobody ist ordered to read the comments…if you don’t like them, just don’t scroll down…
Its interesting that those who are the most responsible for this discussion are the least likely to show up for it.
I enjoy the perspective that the well thought, earnest and honest comments deliver. Your readership is wide and its opinions are diverse- this is a strength in my opinion.
I feel what is required- unfortunately- is a firm hand with the delete button. If you don’t have the time or the inclination to moderate the comments (and I would understand that) do away with them. I’ll still be here every day.
If the comments close, then we’d loose a lot of great discussions and good additional info that is provided in every single news post.
Cut it loose. It’s dead weight.
Thanks for the content.
I have a rule in life: NEVER read the comments…of ANY website. Whenever I fail to adhere to this rule, I find myself severely disappointed in the state of humanity.
and yet.. you left a comment..
I’d require a paid subscription in order to comment. Industry and certain .mil/gov folks comments are occasionally valuable and perhaps they should be granted free access to comment. It probably adds a maintenance headache for SSD but it’s entirely acceptable that he/they start making some more money for the service they provide. e.g. Camo seems to be the big comments-driver, perhaps because it’s easy to comment on and for many it seems to be a fashion-driven/emotional issue, but of the hundreds of comments on camo, the valuable ones (maybe 25%) come from industry SME’s and professional servicemen with a vested interest in doing more than bashing. I could do without the 75% garbage-comments and would pay to have the Angry/uneducated/”i have a miserable life so let me do some risk-free virtual wife-beating here against company/person X” -type comments sifted out as I wouldn’t expect SSD mgmt to want or be able to do this for free….and perhaps addt’l funding would allow for more/higher quality in-depth info by hiring writers, photographers, etc. I would anticipate some hue and cry here but face it, free shit is great but anything worth it usually costs at least a little money or effort.
The other option SSD is get 4-5 guys you know and trust and have them moderate the comments.
+1.
agreed. this is what I tried to say with 450% more words somewhere else in the comment chain.
I’m a different Jack than the one who posted above, and I have been a reader here for quite a long time, back before comments were open. Here’s my opinion, which of course, is more important and better than anyone else’s…
The occasional asshole is gonna be an asshole…it’s their nature and it goes with the territory of having a comment section. I don’t think it’s as big an issue to us as it is to you, SSD. Since this is your “house,” you react very strongly to those being less than respectful in it, and understandable so.
I dislike trolls. That being said, there’s a huge difference between a troll trying to stir up drama and looking for attention and someone who has a different point of view or questions a product’s worthiness.
Occasionally, (again, IMHO) I think you come down harder than necessary on some comments. I’m not talking about obvious trolling, I mean comments that that question the validity or value of certain products spotlighted here. Sometimes it seems as if you are personally invested in a product and feel determined to “defend” it against the slightest negative remark. At times it comes off as pissy, at least to me.
I’ve been on the receiving end of that once, so it’s possible my perspective is skewed. However, I think you, as the site owner and HMFIC set the tone. When you use snark and an abrasive attitude to call people out for comments you disagree with, it does not lend itself to the sort of adult, civil, intelligent comment section you seem to value and desire.
Bottom line is, of course, your house, your rules. I vote to keep the comments open. They serve a purpose.
This is my third comment ever in years of readership. For every bad comment, there are way more insightful and good ones. For instance my comment sometime back about CIF and plastic wrapped gear, it blew my mind to hear others had that issue and it has been resolved. With the good comes the bad.
I voted NO for 2 reasons:
1. The First Amendment even allows idiots the right to free speech…
2. More often than not, there is some really good, useful, rich discussion and further insight gained from the comments. Sure, there are way too many keyboard commandos, etc. but they are easy to spot and the SSD community seems to be quite good at telling them to shut up or go away.
Hang in there bro – you’re doing the tactical community and the industry that supports it a huge service with SSD. Don’t let a few stupid oxygen thieves put you off. 😉
I will go along with others that suggest user accounts. If you just want to stop by and read SSD articles no user account should be required. If you have something insightful to post/comment you can log in and do that. I admit I posted some comments that were borderline troll, maybe because of the easy commenting access that without thinking I did that, other times I tried to post constructive comments. I think a user account would make you think twice before trolling or simply being a dick to others, fearing a temporary suspension/account blockage. We live in times where hiding yourself behind a user name is a standard. People post comments that would most likely never say such things to ones face.
This does nothing to someone who cares enough.
Restrictive speech, I agree – I voted yes, but THE POLL IS USELESS since you can vote multiple times.
I must be getting immune to dick waiving. I went back a page or two looking for egregious trolling and flamewars and didn’t see a thing. Or maybe you’ve been moderating it all away? I think the level of discourse here is usually pretty good. Case in point being the discussion of those camo tests at Ft. Polk. 79 comments and all pretty reasonable as far as I can tell.