Note to self... Walk away from the online newspaper comments section!

Parents Forum Parent Cafe
#1

<p>Why do I do this? I wish newspapers wouldn't make the comments section so easy to see at the end of an article. Our local paper had an article tonight, that after it was edited four times with new information, made the nasty, speculative comments look even more mean-spirited than they were originally intended (also made worse by people not owning up to their ignorance).</p>

<p>I used the links provided in the article to get official information, and tried to explain how these people were jumping the gun and looking for an excuse to hate someone, and I was continually attacked. I did my research, but none of them would admit that, in going back and reading the article, they jumped ship.</p>

<p>Now I know why I appreciate CC; even when it gets heated here, it's barely lukewarm compared to some of the stuff I've read.</p>

<p>Do any of you even attempt to comment on newspaper websites? </p>

<p>Starting to think I'm a glutton for punishment.</p>

#2

<p>teri, there is a good reason I never post any comments in the comment section of our local paper. It is like talking to a wall or trying to convince a bookshelf... My dining table is probably more intelligent that some folks who post those nasty comments. Yes - I love CC!!!</p>

#3

<p>I learned a very long time ago that online newspaper comments are a cesspool of truly vicious misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia. So I try not to read them.</p>

#4

<p>Resist the urge to post there. Or read it. It will only make you crazy.</p>

<p>I think that half of the crap on those sites are drunk college age kids who are laughing their butts off, trying to get a rise out of people like us. :cool:</p>

#5

<p>DonnaL and Teriwitt ~ my experience exactly. embarassed to admit that when I first read through the online newspaper comments years ago I was shocked and frightened at the level of viciousness, misogyny, racism, sexism, antisemitism, homophobia,etc. is the format a breeding ground for people who hate, or are there really that many people filled with hate?</p>

#6

<p>It's easy to be a blowhard when hiding behind a screen name. </p>

<p>I've discovered when reading our local paper online, it's the same dozen-or-so people who post on everything. They know the answer to every problem, every local official and politician is corrupt, every accused person is guilty and should be jailed for life, etc. They write in ALL CAPS with misspellings and bad punctuation.</p>

<p>Don't go there. Just don't. And don't try to reason with them - it just proves to them that someone is reading their blather and makes them feel even more powerful.</p>

#7

<p>Lafalum84 - don't even get me started on the spelling, ALL CAPS, etc.!</p>

<p>But you're right, everyone is guilty once the paper reports an 'alleged' crime.</p>

<p>I'll bet none of them have served on juries!</p>

#8

<p>
[quote]
I learned a very long time ago that online newspaper comments are a cesspool of truly vicious misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yet you purposely forget to include in your list the evil of misandry.</p>

#9

<p>Purposely?? Wow... I didn't know you could read Donna's thoughts.</p>

<p>I hope I'm missing some sarcasm here.</p>

#10

<p>The dross of the internet can be found in online newspaper comments and You-Tube comments.</p>

#11

<p>Interesting, yesterday I heard on All Things Considered that some magazines and newspapers are re-thinking the idea of letting anyone and everyone just post comments to their hearts' content. They mentioned that one magazine is going completely Old School, and will now require that letters to the editor be submitted, well, to the editor, who will then decide what to post.</p>

#12

<p>
[quote]
It's easy to be a blowhard when hiding behind a screen name.

[/quote]
Amen to that! I've pretty much stopped reading the comments since so many are nonsensical jibberish/displays of ignorance.</p>

#13

<p>Absolutley. I used to enjoy the Letters to the Editor section back when I read the paper in print. Now I try to avoid the comments sections. I can't begin to explain how revolted I was by the recent comments when our local paper printed a story on the repeal of DADT.</p>

#14

<p>My father once told me to never argue with an idiot. It is impossible for the passerby to tell which is which.</p>

#15

<p>Same thing here: the newspaper comment columns are the stalking ground of those who hate everyone except right wing white men--and a very few women--exactly like themselves. Every single thing that happens is the fault of "liberals," immigrants, people "on welfare," gays, feminists, and the other usual suspects. That may not please you, toblin, but it is the truth. While left-wing and radical feminist lesbian whackos certainly exist, they are in comparatively short supply in our local comment columns. They must be infesting some other public comment space: perhaps calling in to the Randi Rhodes (sp?) show. :)</p>

#16

<p>Here is what I learned when reading those comments- facts do not matter.</p>

#17

<p>The same can be said for CC. Many schools are bashed by anonymous experts, usually without any data: X University is crap; University A is was better than University B etc. etc. Many of these bashers are rejected applicants I imagine.</p>

#18

<p>I've stopped reading the comments section of our local online paper, as well. Doesn't paint a pretty picture of humankind. The ugliness when the article is about a fatal accident is heartbreaking. And it's so disturbing to think about what kind of person would actually make those comments. </p>

<p>I sometimes do read the comments sections in the online versions of national magazines. They're much better-written and nowhere near as hateful.</p>

#19

<p>"My father once told me to never argue with an idiot. It is impossible for the passerby to tell which is which. "</p>

<p>KYParent - great quote! Your father is a wise man.</p>

<p>I hate when I let myself get sucked into the comments section. It seems like it is just full of trolls who want to bait people to argue with them. It's sad to think these horrible people exist.</p>

#20

<p>
[quote]
The same can be said for CC. Many schools are bashed by anonymous experts, usually without any data

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No where near the same level as online newspaper comments. The most antagonistic remarks (even by trolls) on CC would be an optimistic post for these newspapers.</p>

<p>LasMa - why a novel concept!!! I hope they do it. But what would all those hateful people do with their time then?</p>

<p>KYParent - great quote!!!</p>

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