Letters to the Editor
-
I Like It!
I am so glad that this new policy was instituted. It should be a good way to drastically reduce the spam that has a tendency to creep into some of the forums. Good Going Salon!
-
Hey, it works
I'm glad the new registration system works - although my confirmation email linked to an error page.
I wish it was technically possible to track the old system aliases to the new one, since I always used the same email and alias. On the other hand, many of my old letters are impulsive statements of questionable coherence and occasionally awful typos.
I think this will make me more careful, not about the content of my opinion but the manner of presentation. Even if can choose anonymity and still don't use my real name, the view all letters option means every separate letter is potentially part of the collective impression attached to my alias.
It may only be a momentary restraint on trolling, but for many it will be enough.
-
Idollies...
Another question: What is the proper procedure if you want to engage in a dialogue with another reader but not necessarily subject everyone else to it? There's no way to engage that person except to post another letter to the editor. I've seen those "dialogues" run into 20 or 30 posts. But I understand the desire to ask and answer questions or to clarify previous posts.
It's called starting your own blog... for yourself or for a group. Lots of people do it. I know of a couple of women who met in a comment thread on a knitting blog, decided to take it off-line (maybe via email at first), and then started their own blog. Oh, and they ended up with a book deal.
I, for one, would appreciate not being subjected to these one-on-one or -two or -three dialogues. They are more than tiresome. And, as alternate threads were one of the suggestions on the 600+ comment thread, I am still hoping that will happen.
Another blog I frequent will sometimes use an IM site as an alternate when traffic is very heavy. That might be another possibility.
-
http://web.mac.com/pilotofthefuture/iWeb/Pilot%20of%20the%20Future/Blog/Blog.html
http://web.mac.com/pilotofthefuture/iWeb/Pilot%20of%20the%20Future/Blog/Blog.html
check my blog out for my great salon letters of the past
-
http://web.mac.com/pilotofthefuture/iWeb/Pilot%20of%20the%20Future/Blog/Blog.html
http://web.mac.com/pilotofthefuture/iWeb/Pilot%20of%20the%20Future/Blog/Blog.html
check my blog out for my great salon letters of the past
-
this works?
sweet.
-
thanks for doing this
I look forward to more productive interaction.
-
About time
Excellent idea. It would be fun to also limit how many times you can post to a particular article or news story. It will restrict people from getting personal and divert issues from the article to showcasing how savvy they are or how well they can attack someone else posting comments back and forth. I am sure that one should be able to express their opinion in 4 attempts.
-
need some strokes, folks!
only see negative vibes here. so if you *like* my posts, now is the time to say so (you can always use pseudonym anonymous)
-
not necessary to read this
Just wanted to keep my previous user name.
Oh, also, I like having the letters paginated-- when there are a bunch on a topic I'm interested in, it's nice to quickly see where I left off. Or could there be an option along the lines of "number of 'results' displayed per page" vs. "view all"?
-
Links Links Links
An absolute essential and fundamental tool for internet discussion is the ability to link to sources for context and to provide transparency in posting. This is particularly an issue for a column like Glenn Greenwald's who sets a very high standard for providing support for his assertions. His readers try to also meet that standard, but it is nearly impossible under the current interface.
And, of course, it could be argued that any application on the web that doesn't support links is violating the central design element that has made the Hypertext Transfer Protocol a stunningly successful protocol.
-
Sorry David.
I too get the impression you're a few tacos short of a combo plate.
But by all means, keep posting!
Let freedom ring
-
Good
This works.
I don't think it's ok to post anything online anonymously. Just my personal opinion.
In the past, have wished that i could take back some of my comments.
Post in haste...
-
*sorry*??? Emily? that was an endorsement!
by the way, are you the same emily i had a run in with on the last thread? if so, your reply i took as apology, so i just forgave without any hoopla. all start fresh after apology/forgiveness. i think that's the american way.
-
I agree with the new policy
I like the new policy. I am willing to post a username now if it will keep the trollers off the boards.
-
let's be honest here...
You always had to put in your email address to publish a letter, and there is nothing keeping people from creating a dozen differnt junk gmail accounts for their anonymous posting.
Sure we can track all the letters anonymous214356 have posted, but what differnce does that make?
I belive, that Salon probably had some personal qualms about selling our email to spammers before "registration" and now that we're official "customers" they can feel free to sell that information on to others.
Ahh well, could be worse, they could be charging.
Of course, personally I think the ease of letter writing was an advantage to Salon, and helped keep the eyeballs up. But we'll have to see.
-
i don't think they are going to sell our addresses, Clockwork
i just don't. i think Salon has ambitions to be force in national politics, not a quick, going out of business scam. but even if i'm wrong, do you think people won't notice if they suddenly get deluged with spam? and somehow the news won't get back to us? the internet doesn't work that way. so never you mind, little smurf.
-
anonymity is cowardly
Although I can understand the need for occasional anonymity for professional journalistic purposes, Salon is not the proper place for it.
If you are so nervous about what you are saying that you cannot stand behind it with your own name, perhaps you should just keep it to yourself.
Polite and intelligent discourse and even disagreement among adults is legitimate speech. Legitimate speech and conversation and debate all preclude trolling and verbal drive-bys.
I agree to use my name and encourage others who wish to be taken seriously to change their screen names to their real names as well.
If I step in it from time to time, that too is what and who I am.