Oh gods, SHUT UP ALREADY

[serai1]

I think a developer could make beaucoup bucks designing an add-on that would eliminate comment sections on the web. By that I mean it would make any comment section impossible to see. Such a developer could put out versions for all the big comment platforms such as Disqus, Livefyre, etc

Comments

[claudia603]

I totally agree with you. Most comment sections leave me feeling disgusted and dirty just for reading them, and so sad that there is so much vitriol and awfulness in people's minds and hearts. And such horrendous bigotry and racism, too.

[serai1]

It's hideous. I really can't see how all this anonymity has helped anything. Sure, some people get to connect with others of like minds, but honestly, the effect is outweighed a thousand times by the ugly mob mentality that's produced by it. I don't see that the world is a better place for it, frankly.

[twothreefour]

Ghostery plugin. you'll dig it.

[serai1]

I've heard that name around. What does it do? Can I get it at the FF add-ons page?

[serai1]

Hm. I just went over to the FF add-on page, and I'm not really liking what I'm seeing. Everyone seems to hate the new version, which apparently has fallen to Microsoft 10 mania. Not something I want to deal with, frankly, as I hate the whole M10 aesthetic and functionality.

[twothreefour]

I use it with Chrome and have no issues.

[addie71]

I completely agree with you. I very rarely read comments on anything and usually regret it when I do.

[serai1]

It's sad, isn't it? And so unnecessary. If only site owners would put some effort into it, the comment sections could be really good places to read. Years ago when I ran a fan forum, I ruled with an iron hand. The rules were posted right at the top, and anyone who broke them was summarily kicked out, with no recourse. I often got thanked for how thoroughly I policed the place, because everyone who hung out there knew there would be no nastiness or fighting of any kind. I simply didn't stand for it. If we got someone ugly hanging around, I'd put the comments on moderation and just deleted everything from the troll until they got bored and wandered off. Worked like a charm. If things had been run that way on the web from the beginning, it wouldn't have turned into the nearly universally nasty morass it's become.

[mollyringle]

Ugh, yeah, comment sections are the worst. It's gotten to the point where I'm relieved when a news site doesn't have comments (or at least I can't seem to find them), and am delightedly surprised on the rare occasion when the comments are actually useful or fun or nice. That snark problem again...and I wish I could blame teenagers or something, but I suspect it's fully grown adults all too often.

[serai1]

Yeah, there are very few times I actually look for comments anymore. One is on recipe and cooking sites, where the comments are often useful, as they talk about problems with the recipes or adjustments that readers have made. I also look for comments on pagan or meditation music videos on Youtube - they're the only kinds of videos there that consistently attract really pleasant comments. (Some of the cooking videos get great comments, too, but I find that's usually only if the videos are made by women cooks. Male cooks get the usual asshat commenters.)

[lbilover]

Some are okay, like the NYT where they are moderated. But I just don't read comments anymore other than the NYT.

BTW, I use Ghostery as well with Chrome, although I have a Mac. I couldn't live without it.

[serai1]

I'll have to try it out, but I don't use Chrome hardly at all. I get very irritated with the way Every. Single. Thing. is hidden somewhere where I have to dig for it. I prefer my browser to have what I need right there where I can easily find it without having to poke around and guess.