I’ve had a recent increase in users posting anonymous comments on my blog posts. More often than not, the comments are negative or degrading in nature. I’m not really sure how to handle the situation. I’ve been tempted to just delete the comments and move on with my life. I mean.. hell… it’s my blog. I should be able to do what I want… right?
I’ve never been one to delete comments… whether good or bad. I encourage discourse and debate because it builds the mind. However, I’m going to start deleting comments that do not add to the overal nature of the blog or the discussion. Individuals who post anonymously have no place on my blog unless the comment is adding to the conversation in a proactive way.
I have no respect for you anyway… so why bother with reading your comment? You are dead to me.
What is your opinion on posting anonymously? Do you allow it? Do you believe it is right or wrong?
Chrissy Ward
No one likes a coward. Do anonymous posters really think they can provide lasting influence without their being "present"? Ignore them.
kylelacy
Amen. Become the conversation!
Christina Berry
I don't allow anonymous comments if they are negative. That's just a jerk hiding behind a mask, and I'm not going to allow that on my blog. If you have something negative to say, at least have the guts to do it openly and honestly, not in hiding. I delete those comments right away because, like you said, it's MY blog!
Manon Leroux
Hi Kyle, I totally agree with you if you have an opinion STAND by it…it seems very cowardly and not worth the energy! Comments negative or positive are welcome and needed for growth & conversation, but doing it anonymously is just pointless! 🙂
Eric Wittlake
I don't allow anonymous comments, but none of us really vet identities either. Anonymous, made up info, or something that appears to be legitimate – it doesn't matter as much as the content of the comments, but anonymous certainly seem to be less likely on whole to add value or be appropriate.
Negativity and disagreement are ok, but trolling and flaming, particularly behind an anonymous identity, or just a distraction.
kylelacy
Content of comments are key! That is what truly matters in the long run.
Willie Matis
A lot of people have a boost of confidence online, and this confidence is skewed by the ability to post anonymously. It really irritates me when people post negative comments anonymously. No one should post anything online that they would not say in person, face-to-face.
Marc Zazeela
Kyle,
Sadly, it happens on lots of blogs, forums, news sites, etc. The folks who enjoy denigrating and insulting others usually do so anonymously. Wouldn't you? If you were making stupid, racist, or hateful posts you wouldn't want anyone to know your real identity either, would you?
I agree that if you don't have the guts to say it in person, don't say it behind the veil of your screen. That's just cowardly. If I were you, I'd delete every one of them. Why allow someone the satisfaction of knowing they have defaced your site? Sort of like cyber grafitti.
Cheers,
Marc
Garth O'Brien
The gutless should not have a right to comment especially when their comments are negative or degrading. Man-up and own your convictions.
I do not like deleting comments either, but if the anonymous are not as invested in their opinion by remaining anonymous I say delete them.
Randy Clark
You are preaching to the choir brother. Will you leave any anonyomous comments up on this post? LOL!
David Griffith
I totally dissagree with this practice Kyle. Censorship is not a practice whose lines ever remain clear. It also presumes that those of us reading are competent to measure what is and is not of value. Feedback in whatever form, from whatever source, is totally ambiguous. The only weight it has is that we ourselves give it.
David Griffith
…that was to say ‘not’ competent.
kylelacy
You are an advocate for keeping all comments whether positive or degrading on a blog? That has been my practice until recently. I usually just ignore them.
David Griffith
I know you have in the past and hope you continue. It is not a matter of ignoring them it is a question as to why it bothers you or why you choose to let it bother you and why why you choose to respond to some in a way that antagonises ands begs escalated rebuttal. A Brazilian beauty I knew in Amsterdam told me the best way to make a bee go away was not to give it attention or aggravate it. If you don’t wave at it it won’t sting and will eventually fly away. Address comments or not, from anon sources or not, as you will. It is your blog.
Brett
There can be very valid reasons for posting anonymously — where identity needs to be hidden to share some information or to make someone feel comfortable to open up. However, trolling, abusive, or negative comments without valid points are fine to delete. That and SPAM too!
Allison
I agree with Brett. I allow anonymous comments on one of my blogs because the content sometimes makes people uncomfortable and I want them to feel free to leave their two cents. I have a clear comment policy for that site, though. If you post something unnecessarily mean or abusive, I delete the comment. I don't want other readers to be turned off by content on my site that I didn't create.
MiniMage
Some of us are shy introverts in real life and extraverts online. Anonymity is one of the reasons why. Not every anonymous commenter goes around making negative comments. I am one of those who doesn't, which is why I say judge the CONTENT. If someone walked up from behind you and told you that you dropped your wallet, would you dismiss the comment, because he didn't tell you his name?
ExcuseMe
Correct – judge the content. Not everyone anonymous is a jerk. Delete mean-spirited and ugly blogs.
Tine Hauge
People who always criticize don't really want answers (especially if they are anonymous), they just want to look clever by constantly finding fault. I wouldn't waste my time with them, just delete.
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