I had a couple of comment related experiences a few weeks ago that I feel compelled to, well, comment on. One of them was in response to a post of mine, which started a brief volley of comments between myself and the author of the comment, or as he’ll be referred to from this point forward, the ‘defendant’. The second was actually the result of my own desire to post a comment on Endgaget, and the subsequent replies to my comment.
STRIKE ONE
Both of these have served to cement my firm opinion that comments are far from a functional component of most websites.
The first case on the docket for today is the domain of geoffmitchell.com vs MC poster. MC saw fit to post a comment on my Spoiler Warning entry, negating the rational and reasoning behind the thoughts I’d expressed about what ruins a film. I, in return, felt compelled to, patiently, and with sincere consideration of his feelings, rip him a new asshole. He responded in kind, somewhat, still standing firmly on his position that my perspective was incorrect.
I held back his 2nd comment for a day or two while formulating my response. Then released it. Then deleted it. You’ll learn why as you read on.
My response was simple, in writing and in a face to face discussion that followed. You’re wrong, MC. You’re wrong. And not only are you wrong, you’re also unable to admit it. Admitting you’re wrong isn’t easy for any of us. Or at least that’s what i’ve been told, having never experienced being wrong myself. But I know it and believe you know it as well. You’re wrong. A film might not be ruined by knowing the ending, but the experience of seeing it the first time certain is when you’re told the ending in advance, especially when that ending is clearly meant to be a surprise to the viewer.
End of story. There’s no arguing it. You’re wrong. And if you don’t like it I’ll take my blog and go home. I’ve got plenty of Matt’s to choose from.
STRIKE TWO
The second issue came in the form of a response to a comment I posted on Engadget. I’d recently written my own summation of my experiences with a Chinese made iPod Shuffle copy. It was cheap as hell and lacking many important features.
Jess subsequently sent me a link to Endgaget where an article and subsequent string of comment postings were discussing that same product. I felt compelled if not obligated to my fellow shoppers to post my list of issues and to make the buyer aware of what they’d be getting and not getting. The point was simply that you get what you pay for, and functionality was not in this item’s feature set.
I used the list I posted on my blog entry, with little revision.
Shortly after posting it, a response questioned if I was an Apple employee because I sounded like a sales rep. Flattering, perhaps, and half right, but not a big deal. I didn’t feel a need to respond.
The second response was three words. No, strike that. Two words and a symbol.
“Geoff == idiot”.
Huh?
I didn’t feel compelled to reply to that, either. The only thought that crossed my mind was that the author appeared to be versed in PHP programming due to his use of two equal signs. And it was rewarding to see that the follow up posting was one in my defense, questioning the reasoning behind the accusation that somebody sharing their experience might somehow merit the moniker of “Idiot”. At that point I did post a brief response thanking the defender.
STRIKE THREE
That same week, I was looking at an online article, and in the comments, one of the more articulate entries ripped into the stupidity and ignorance of the childish bleating and grunting of the prior posts. I wish I remembered the site so I could quote him verbatim, but he was dead on. He nailed it. Viciously. And although one could accuse him of being mean or harsh, I don’t see it that way. I see him as having reached a breaking point after being subjected to far too many poorly spelled and illiterate four-word, gibberish, grunting, mook-boy authored, spittle-riddled comment posts. Ones likely authored on a full size keyboard, yet still typed as if they were text messaging with one hand while doing god only know what with the other.
The comments sections on business websites is bullshit. It’s ridiculous. It’s as if the 90% of the comments are made by snickering 14 year olds tapping away on their daddy’s 386 in the basement, between shooting YouTube video uploads and accepting bot-generated mySpace friend requests.
GAME OVER, MAN
The potential for comments seemed really unique. It brought a utopian vision of articulate, educated and rationally polite contribution. A sort of online town meeting of the nation. A chance to listen, be heard and perhaps be inspired.
Sadly, that utopian vision is about as far from realistic as a Michael Bay film. No, the reality is that the comments section, with rare exception, is the online equivalent of either a political soapbox for agenda driven drivel or the graffiti scrawled sides of a bronx subway train.
As far as comments on my own website go, I greatly appreciate any and all comments. Sincerely, I do, even those that challenge my assumptions on the everything from the value of an electric toothbrush to confronting my neighbors about shredded pornography. I don’t solicit or anticipate comments but they’re always welcome.
Sorta.
What’s occasionally difficult, and greatly my own issue to contend with, is how I might choose to manage a comment that rubs me the wrong way. Case in point, the “defendant” MC poster’s response. In hindsight a simple “I disagree but we’ll take this offline’ would have been more appropriate, and then I’d have ripped the new asshole in a direct email and not a public forum where the debate might rage on.
And when it does rage on, although it’s a dialog I enjoy and will continue to have, it takes away from the time I’d prefer to spend recording the memories, rants, stories, ideas, and off kilter observations that are what I want to do with this website and my time here.
I still hold strongly to the desire to make this a resource for friend and family to have a laugh, find a movie recommendation, or get some insight into the chaotic and dysfunctional mess that is my psyche. But not a debate forum. And it’s for that reason that I’ve removed the back and forth debate about Citizen Kane…. to preserve my own vision of this effort, and of course, to avoid my dear friend MC from any further embarrassed or humiliation from his painfully off-target perspective. :-)