How Do Comments Work On This Blog?
Image credit: Александар Цветановић: Pexels
One thing I've noticed when it comes to commenting on blogs is that two things invariably happen that can negatively impact the conversation experience on blogs.
- Keyboard warriors want to come in and thrust their opinion in a way that can suck the oxygen out of the overall discussion.
- SPAMMERS litter the conversation requiring human or automated intervention to remove it.
For the first item, let's be clear, I don't mind opposing points of view. I may never agree with you or be convinced, but that doesn't mean it's never happened, either. However, when someone comes in, guns blazing, thinking that aggressive or shaming tactics is the way to win your argument, it either hinders others from making their own sound arguments, or escalates the hostility.
Either way, that's no bueno.
For the second item, human intervention requires constant vigilance. That goes against the simplicity I'm trying to embrace via this blog. To automate it would require me to learn how to do that, if it's even possible, with the commenting system that the Write.As platform uses.
And, again, that takes away from the simplicity I want for this blog. So, what to do?
Well, I'd like to try something a little different. This idea isn't entirely mine, as I've seen other versions of this out there on the Interwebs, but here goes.
If you'd like to comment, contribute to the discussion, share a different point of view, or levy an opinion, feel free to do so over at my Ko-Fi page. I'll be posting a link to every post I make on this blog over there.
So, when you'd like to comment or contribute to the discussion feel free to do so on the entry for that posting. I can also reply and others can, too.
But, there's a twist that I think will cut down on items 1 and 2 from rearing their ugly heads. You must've bought me a coffee in order to comment.
WHAAAT???! You have to PAY to leave a comment?
And the simple answer is, yes, you do. Now, here's the why. If you bought me a coffee, you must care what I think and are really wanting to share with me what you think. By buying me a coffee to comment, it means you want to engage in discussion, not just bantering and badgering.
It's more likely that you'll keep the discussion civil, and therefore we can participate in a healthy exchange of ideas and even debate in a way that doesn't demean or take away from the interaction as a whole.
It's sort of a natural filter. Will it be 100% fool-proof? I doubt it, as perhaps there are some out there that would gladly buy me a coffee just to be able to virtually throw it in my face. And, if that's the case, that's fine, because I still got the coffee money.
I do think, though, it'll weed out 99.9% of the keyboard warriors, and 100% of the SPAM bots. But, if an Internet marketer wants to buy me a coffee just to manually post a SPAM comment or link over at my Ko-Fi page, well, I gotta admire that kind of moxie, even if that person is wasting their money.
So, there you have it, head over to my Ko-Fi page for any article I post here to add a comment, engage in a discussion, and keep the conversation going. Thanks for understanding, and I hope to see you there!
tags: #updates
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