Open Source Comment Policy (Wizbang)

Lately, I've noticed a rise in what I call "drive-by cut and paste bandits" in comments sections, both here and on other sites. People find the top article on a blog and just dump their rants in the comments, and if they're related to the topic at hand even tangentially it's entirely by accident.

It's getting on my nerves, and I want to do something about it.

Normally, I'd bounce this off my colleagues here, but my Wizbang e-mail account is still a bit wonky from my recent computer issues, and I can't rely on that working properly. So, instead, I thought I'd toss it out and let everyone in the Wizbang community have their say.

In the end, that won't really matter much, as enforcing comment policy is in the hands of me, Maggie, and the author of the piece in question, and setting policy is Kevin's right alone, but I think it would be very helpful to hear what you folks think.

The options that come to mind for me are:

1) Ignoring them.

B) Mocking them.

III) Disemvowelling them.

d) Deleting them.

iiiii) Banning them.

Naturally, the latter can be used in conjunction with any of the above, but most of these people are one-hit wonders; they haven't commented before, and aren't likely to try again. So it's largely symbolic, but still satisfying.

So, what say you folks? What do you think we ought to do?

I can't say that what you say will have any effect, but I do promise you that at least I will read and consider your opinions before I make my case to my colleagues.

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Section Editor: Maggie Whitton

Editors: Jay Tea, Lorie Byrd, Kim Priestap, DJ Drummond, Michael Laprarie, Baron Von Ottomatic, Shawn Mallow, Rick, Dan Karipides, Michael Avitablile, Charlie Quidnunc, Steve Schippert

Emeritus: Paul, Mary Katherine Ham, Jim Addison, Alexander K. McClure, Cassy Fiano, Bill Jempty, John Stansbury, Rob Port

In Memorium: HughS

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Comments (39)

I'd say disenvowellment. N... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by JLawson | September 4, 2008 2:18 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)

JLawson:

I'd say disenvowellment. Not much point in banning them - but yanking their vowels will certainly shorten some of the screeds, and might make them more comprehensible...

Posted on September 4, 2008 14:18

I say for the most part dis... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by WildWillie | September 4, 2008 2:18 PM | Score: 5 (9 votes cast)

WildWillie:

I say for the most part disenvowel them. But sometimes, even some of the regular trolls just get plain vile. Banning them would not be bad.

We can tease and name call, but we don't have to be personal or vulgar. IMHO ww

Delete them.... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Paul A'Barge | September 4, 2008 2:20 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)

Paul A'Barge

Delete them.

Posted on September 4, 2008 14:20

Motion to delete.Dis... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by hvywgt | September 4, 2008 2:20 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)

hvywgt:

Motion to delete.
Disemvowelling them still leaves a bad taste.
Save banning for unforgivable infractions.

Why not a hard character co... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by CR | September 4, 2008 2:30 PM | Score: 2 (10 votes cast)

CR:

Why not a hard character count limit to comments? A few sentences, a paragraph or so should be enough to make a point. Anyone needing more than that should start his own blog.

Posted on September 4, 2008 14:30

delete... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Larry | September 4, 2008 2:36 PM | Score: 2 (6 votes cast)

Larry:

Posted on September 4, 2008 14:36

Disemvowelment, remember wh... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Eric | September 4, 2008 2:41 PM | Score: 8 (10 votes cast)

Eric:

Disemvowelment, remember when you take out the vowels in Obama all that's left is a BM.

Posted on September 4, 2008 14:41

I think it depends on who's... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by Mac Lorry | September 4, 2008 2:43 PM | Score: 6 (8 votes cast)

Mac Lorry:

I think it depends on who's posting. Regulars who generally contribute meaningful content should get more leeway than one-time or rare contributors. When action is needed then disemvowelling is a good step. As for Troll's, well what would Wizbang be like if we all agreed on everything? As long as their posts contain some reasoned content then I would just as soon let them have their say.

Posted on September 4, 2008 14:43

Nuke Em from Orbit. It's th... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by Son Of The Godfather | September 4, 2008 2:43 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)

Son Of The Godfather:

Nuke Em from Orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Why not a hard charac... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by HughS | September 4, 2008 2:44 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)

HughS:

Why not a hard character count limit to comments?

That would eliminate one known problem.

I think the current policy works well.

Posted on September 4, 2008 14:44

If you guys have time, just... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by Falze | September 4, 2008 2:45 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Falze:

If you guys have time, just delete them, maybe with a 'off topic comment removed' note if possible. Biggest problem is that people will have likely already responded, so you're going to have comment sections littered with responses to missing comments.

Posted on September 4, 2008 14:45

Disemvowelment +1... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by kbiel | September 4, 2008 2:59 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

kbiel

Disemvowelment +1

Posted on September 4, 2008 14:59

Personally, I like it when ... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by maggie | September 4, 2008 3:09 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

maggie:

Personally, I like it when Jay has finally
had enough and gets out the Troll Hammer. :)
Drivebys need to be disemvoweled or
deleted, IMHO.

Posted on September 4, 2008 15:09

I vote disemvowel. ... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by ClobberGirl | September 4, 2008 3:15 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

ClobberGirl:

I vote disemvowel.

Posted on September 4, 2008 15:15

This poll is flawed. There ... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by The Listkeeper | September 4, 2008 3:26 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

The Listkeeper:

This poll is flawed. There is no option for "Call in massive airstrikes on their location" or "Hire elite assassins to kill them and then place their heads on pikes as a warning to others".

Posted on September 4, 2008 15:26

I suggest forcing them to r... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by Bill Jempty | September 4, 2008 3:32 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Bill Jempty:

I suggest forcing them to read more of my posts I wrote when under the influence of a bathroom cabinet full of medications.

Bill

Posted on September 4, 2008 15:32

Can't we just call their mo... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by MagicalPat | September 4, 2008 3:32 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

MagicalPat:

Can't we just call their mommy and ask her to bring junior a fresh glass of ovaltine?

I vote for deleting with ex... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by OregonMuse | September 4, 2008 3:34 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

OregonMuse:

I vote for deleting with extreme prejudice.

Posted on September 4, 2008 15:34

I could tell you ... but th... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by DJ Drummond | September 4, 2008 3:39 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

DJ Drummond:

I could tell you ... but then I'd have to kill a troll or two.

Posted on September 4, 2008 15:39

If it is not too much datab... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by BrianinFairOaks | September 4, 2008 3:40 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

BrianinFairOaks:

If it is not too much database space, record the name and email address of everyone that has commented for the last nnn (90?) days. If they have commented in that time frame then their comment gets posted immediately. If not, it goes to moderation where one of you lucky folks gets to decide if it appears or not.

Posted on September 4, 2008 15:40

Delete. Especially if they ... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by cindermutha | September 4, 2008 3:41 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

cindermutha

Delete. Especially if they have links

Posted on September 4, 2008 15:41

Editing their comments for ... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by rodney dill | September 4, 2008 3:41 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

rodney dill:

Editing their comments for comedic value -- Nearly any rant is more entertaining when prefixed with.

"I may have my head up my ass but I believe that ...."

Or some other such comments.

Blood for Odin!... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by Son Of The Godfather | September 4, 2008 4:06 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Blood for Odin!

Posted on September 4, 2008 16:06

Post a clear warning that i... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by OLDPUPPYMAX | September 4, 2008 4:11 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

OLDPUPPYMAX:

Post a clear warning that imbeciles will be severely mocked.

Posted on September 4, 2008 16:11

thnk y shld dsmvwl thm ll.... (Below threshold)

25. Posted by Tim | September 4, 2008 4:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Tim:

thnk y shld dsmvwl thm ll. Thn bn th smbtchs. Aeaey, ou ou ieooa e.

Posted on September 4, 2008 16:14

All the above, at owner's ... (Below threshold)

26. Posted by twolaneflash | September 4, 2008 4:16 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

twolaneflash:

All the above, at owner's discretion, since these discussion are in your house. Trolls must die, that's a certainty. They soil the furniture and stain the carpets.

Posted on September 4, 2008 16:16

Disemvowelling looks pretty... (Below threshold)

27. Posted by apb | September 4, 2008 4:21 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

apb:

Disemvowelling looks pretty cool - enough scratch to see they were there, not enough to waste effort on...

Posted on September 4, 2008 16:21

All of the above?... (Below threshold)

28. Posted by Mycroft | September 4, 2008 4:31 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Mycroft:

All of the above?

Posted on September 4, 2008 16:31

Delete.... (Below threshold)

29. Posted by Peter F. | September 4, 2008 4:37 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Peter F.:

Delete.

Posted on September 4, 2008 16:37

Disemvowelling is good.... (Below threshold)

30. Posted by Sheik Yur Bouty | September 4, 2008 4:51 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Sheik Yur Bouty:

Disemvowelling is good.

But I really like suggestions 20 and 22.

Posted on September 4, 2008 16:51

I'd vote to first disemvowe... (Below threshold)

31. Posted by Jim | September 4, 2008 4:51 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Jim:

I'd vote to first disemvowel, which leads right into mocking. Once that palls, by all means delete.

Delete them, they're a wast... (Below threshold)

32. Posted by Gmac | September 4, 2008 5:12 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Gmac:

Delete them, they're a waste of bandwidth and disk space.

Posted on September 4, 2008 17:12

MY vote is DELETE.. <... (Below threshold)

33. Posted by Knightbrigade | September 4, 2008 5:37 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Knightbrigade:

MY vote is DELETE..

Reading disemvoweled comments makes me want to learn Russian....which I DON'T want to!!

Posted on September 4, 2008 17:37

Dont delete them. Since the... (Below threshold)

34. Posted by retired military | September 4, 2008 7:07 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

retired military:

Dont delete them. Since they are cut and paste bandits just cut and paste back.

Replace their entries with something like

"I was going to vote for Obama and then he didnt choose Hillary so I am not voting at all"

Something to where if they ever do come back they will wonder what happened to their post.

Posted on September 4, 2008 19:07

I would say the funny edit.... (Below threshold)

35. Posted by Rich | September 4, 2008 7:22 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Rich:

I would say the funny edit. I still find myself trying to read the words with the disemvoweling. Its like reading captions on a show when you know the language. I just can't help myself.

Posted on September 4, 2008 19:22

I say B, then III. At leas... (Below threshold)

36. Posted by Oyster | September 4, 2008 8:48 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Oyster:

I say B, then III. At least give us our fun for a little while first.

Or you could get something that would not disemvowel them but replace nouns with other nouns. Now THAT would be entertaining.

Posted on September 4, 2008 20:48

37. Posted by Darlajune | September 4, 2008 9:06 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Darlajune:

Posted on September 4, 2008 21:06

Delete... (Below threshold)

38. Posted by CoolRich59 | September 4, 2008 9:59 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

CoolRich59

Posted on September 4, 2008 21:59

Disemvowell them!O... (Below threshold)

39. Posted by Arthur | September 4, 2008 10:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Arthur:

Disemvowell them!

Off with their Vowels!

Posted on September 4, 2008 22:03

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