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Crain’s kills off reader comments

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Illinois

The editors of Crain’s Chicago Business are pulling the plug on our website’s comments section.

Since we launched ChicagoBusiness.com more than 20 years ago, we have employed a variety of tools—most recently a discussion platform called Disqus—to facilitate reader commentary. Inevitably, however, the trolls leave their trails of slime before we know it. Simply put, we do not have the personnel to manage this commentary, to keep it civil and fair and to halt the back and forth before it devolves into invective, name-calling and, in too many cases, outright hate speech. We’d rather not play host to these often anonymous commenters. They drive out more civil readers and potential commenters. They sully our content, our brand and our sponsors.

So, to borrow a phrase, we’re draining the swamp.

That said, we’re delighted to hear from you, our readers, via other means—namely, social media and email. Given the huge audiences Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media platforms continue to build, we hope you’ll find them a useful alternative for airing their views. You also will be speaking to the world at large, rather than inside the echo chamber that our comments section generally has become. Yes, people hide behind aliases on social media, too, but more often their identities are disclosed. If they’re spewing hate, at least you know who they are.

They do have a whole lot of profanity-loving mouth-breathers in their comment section. And since they won’t spend the money to ride herd on the commenters, it’s easy to see why they’d shut them down.

Your thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:20 pm

Comments

Good for them! Like many largely unmanaged sites it had largely turned into an asylum for hate filled types to spew filth in a community of like minded individuals letting them pretend to be normal. I think Crain’s correctly realized that being associated with “bat crap” crazy types denigrates their brand.

Comment by former southerner Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:25 pm
In my opinion, this is a good thing. Many if not most comments were by trolls looking to stir the pot, in a negative way, without ever leading the reader to ponder another’s perspective.

Comments should be reserved for blogs like this, where erudite, and thoughtful people share thoughts and opinions in a civil way.

I bet Rich has a trove of comments that he has had to block that could fill a novel.

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:25 pm
In a perfect world, comments could provide insight, context and debate. I spent a lot of time years ago battling the trolls on various newspaper websites trying to get the facts out. But as their number increased as did their vitriol, I gave up. I read the comments for comic relief, these days. The Trib should do the same.

Comment by Recovering Commenter Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:28 pm
Good Idea. I started a customer chat board 10 years ago for my company and had to shut it down because of inappropriate comments. It just wasn’t worth the time it took to police. I think this will be a growing trend.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:29 pm
=== erudite, and thoughtful people share thoughts and opinions in a civil way===

If only…

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:30 pm
Comment sections were much more interesting back in the day when you didn’t have an avenue to talk about stuff. Social media has largely replaced that and those accounts have the upside of making the conversation about more than just that one particular topic.

Comment by Tom B. Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:30 pm
Fantastic and quite modern business model. Who knows, they may even jump out ahead and have a Letters to the Editor feature soon! The only thing better I can think of offhand would be to play re-runs of Barnaby Jones, Canon and Murder She Wrote.

Comment by Puddintaine Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:31 pm
How will I know whether or not I should Move to Indy?

Comment by City Zen Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:31 pm
=== erudite, and thoughtful people share thoughts and opinions in a civil way===

One can only dream…

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:32 pm
Not bothered by it, but I don’t see it as a particularly good thing. Especially since they explicitly mention the other social media sites, where similar comments can be made, it’s just hosted by someone else and so they aren’t the responsible party. Maybe it’s because I basically grew up with internet comments but ignoring stupidity is not a problem for me, so I probably would have let the stupid stand.

Comment by Perrid Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:32 pm
==How will I know whether or not I should Move to Indy?==

Or that Chicago is the new Detroit?

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:33 pm
Although I will miss the musings of “Al Koholick” and “Bob of Bowie”.

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:34 pm
Good move. Next I hope is the Tribune comments, which is a cesspool. Overall, Twitter and Facebook have not enhanced our public debate, and it’s not their fault, it’s our fault. Structurally they encourage some of our worst human instincts.

Comment by Molly Maguire Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:34 pm
I agree with Colin. Most of the Crain’s comments were of a drive-by nature, the article used as an excuse to grind political axes and go off on tangents. Little value added and reputational risk for the publication to have garbage appended to the articles they invested good money and time to produce.

The Trib is the same, but suspect unlike Crain’s, they are so desperate for clicks to justify whatever ad dollars they can bring in, they know if they cut off comments the trolls will go elsewhere and fewer people will visit their site.

The comments on this blog are often of high value, but the proprietor has to spend a lot of time policing the one’s that are not. That’s unfortunate.

The Washington Post is starting to employ a new system via something called The Coral Project. They describe it more here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/ask-the-post/2017/10/06/changes-to-washington-post-comments-october-update/?utm_term=.4beb6120ad05

Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:34 pm
Addition by subtraction

Comment by Lincoln Parker Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:35 pm
Given the high quality of Crains, I was always sort of amazed at the terrible quality of the comments. However, I made the mistake of posting in my real name on a few issues that either impact my neighborhood or my business, and many of the responses were pretty creepy.

I stopped commenting (in my real name or any other) a while ago. The comments just were not interesting.

Comment by Gooner Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:37 pm
good. such hate filled posts found in many of these places. not healthy.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:39 pm
Good riddance.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:41 pm
Here’s what the Sun-Times wrote in 2014 when it shut down its online comments: “These forums too often turn into a morass of negativity, racism, hate speech and generally trollish behaviors that detract from the content.”

Comment by anon2 Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:47 pm
In this day and age of journalism, I’d rather organizations use resources for more reporting, rather than pay full time staff to moderate comments.

Comment by Bebe Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:48 pm
Bloomberg and PBS use Disqus and manage to have very insightful commenters. NYT has the gold standard for comments. Check out their recent column on the NY transit system and you’ll see what I mean.

As bad as they think Disqus is, nothing can compare to the Trib’s comments where the swamp was drained regularly.

Comment by City Zen Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:48 pm
Excellent decision.

Comment by Dome Gnome Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:48 pm
My default position is that the media of all entities should be encouraging discourse with its readership. Then I see the state of the “discourse.”

Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:49 pm
I think it’s unfortunate. I’m a Crain’s subscriber and they have high quality articles and thoughtful opinion pieces worthy of comment.
I’ve seen the Rauner trolls really go after Greg Hinz and they have continually made off-the-wall allegations against him and others fact-who post fact and reality-based comments.
In case anyone wonders where Tone went - it was there.
Too bad it was ruined by the trolls, they win - no fact based discussion of the issues there anymore.

Comment by Frequently Blocked By Rich but not by Crain's Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:50 pm
My thoughts? Pretty much along the lines of our host. It’s it that they can’t do it; it’s that they don’t want to spend the money to do it.

Their decision but I think it may be a mistake. In this day of social media, rople flock to where

Comment by RNUG Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:55 pm
Now where is Tone going to go?

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:56 pm
==n this day and age of journalism, I’d rather organizations use resources for more reporting==

Or proof-reading. One of Crain’s recent headlines: “Tax rewrite to important to rush through”

Comment by City Zen Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 12:56 pm
Continuing … People flock to where they can easily interact and participate. I think a better approach would have been to require registered users with real names or, if alias, real name part of registration. Won’t stop the less cordial, but will.dlow them down.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:00 pm
Colin -
The “blocking” is so good when I used a Shakespeare quote Thursday with profanity had to Bowdlerize it before it would post.

Comment by Smitty Irving Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:07 pm
RGUN - same as you, Typing with my elbows isn’t as easy as it sounds /s.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:25 pm
=== They do have a whole lot of profanity-loving mouth-breathers in their comment section.
===

Rich… watching Stranger Things lately? Mouth breathers

Comment by Just Observing Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:30 pm
“They sully our content, our brand and our sponsors.”

At least the Crain’s editorial board admits that this move is to appease the corporate interests. We as readers wouldn’t want their “brand” to be “sullied” in any way. What’s best for corporate sponsors is what’s best for the masses. Free speech is so 20th century. It’s messy and upsetting to children of all ages. Wahhh! My feelings are hurt! Wahhh!

Sounds like the boys are sitting around in high backed leather chairs at the private gentlemen’s club during the waning days of the British dominion, lamenting the fact that plebeian ideas like free speech are spreading throughout the Empire.

Comment by Payback Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:40 pm
@Smitty Irving

I wager a hefty sum if if this was not the first time someone used the term “Bowdlerize” in a post!

Mr. Bowdler would be proud.

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:49 pm
Readers of the SJ-R comment section might debate the point that using one’s given name to post a comment elevates the quality of the commentary and discourse.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:51 pm
===At least the Crain’s editorial board admits that this move is to appease the corporate interests===

Oh, stop.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:53 pm
@Payback

I don’t think it’s an attempt to stifle “free speech”. I suspect it has more to do with not wanting to read drivel. You know, like your post.

Comment by Colin O'Scopey Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:56 pm
===And since they won’t spend the money to ride herd on the commenters, it’s easy to see why they’d shut them down.===

Gotta like that Miller does spend the money to ride herd here. lol.

He’s spendin’ somethin’ to keep y’all in line. His sanity pays a price some days I betcha.

Comment by A guy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 2:42 pm
Oh man. This will really let Hinz go off the deep end….

Comment by Wylie Coyote Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 2:48 pm
===profanity-loving mouth-breathers====

LOL- not as many as the Trib does

Comment by Boone's is Back Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 2:59 pm
People need to learn how to have a civil bagger of beliefs or points without being nasty.

Comment by Mama Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 3:21 pm
Irresponsible to have comments if you’re not going to have paid moderation.

Comment by Educ Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 3:35 pm
Crain’s articles only received a hand full of comments anyway and they were mostly from people who retired years ago and have no clue what is happening in the world.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 3:41 pm
You must have clicked over here directly from Crain’s Comments 3:41.

Comment by A guy Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 4:04 pm
@Colin O’Scopes -
Thank you kind sir.

Comment by Smitty Irving Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 4:09 pm
So, how will the hardworking editors and reporters for Crain’s know if their article was even “troll worthy”?

Comment by Poor Richard Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 4:20 pm
Sometime I get so angry with Rich deleting some of my comments that I yell at the Nook. But after reflecting a moment I apologize to my friend. Rich on the other hand……

Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 4:58 pm
–How will I know whether or not I should Move to Indy? –

Actually, Crain’s debunked the tronc/Rauner/IPI Indiana talking point nearly two years ago.

But I doubt if they, their acolytes or most Crain’s commenters could make it through 25 paragraphs without mainlining their Ritalin.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150103/ISSUE01/301039989/inside-indianas-campaign-to-lure-illinoyed-businesses

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 5:29 pm
Really Crains you can’t edit the bloggy content of others ? … Is this a Onion article? Rich Miller has no problems keeping it real

Comment by the Cardinal Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 9:31 pm
The posting of hateful racist posts never bothered me because I just pass them over.
Now those that use their social media to post provocative and thoughtful posts are specifically targeted by the hate crowd. One is never going to eliminate these individuals from discussion.

Besides does anyone really believer that posting on a web site is going to lead to change.

Just except it and move on.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 5:46 am
==Besides does anyone really believe that posting on a website is going to lead to change?==
I do. Maybe not to society but myself. I like being challenged and I like testing my logic against a worthy opponent and see if my ideas hold up. Of course finding a worthy opponent is a challenge itself. Most of the time I just get insulted, called a librard, and the ideas gets left alone. Sad.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 6:04 am
Comments were the more interesting reads in Crains. This will hurt their readership, but can see the arguments for this decision.

Comment by macattack Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 6:26 am
===Besides does anyone really believer that posting on a web site is going to lead to change.===

This I know.

Rich’s website makes change possible by the work he does, and I constantly surprised how many times I read comments here and then seen what was written in both a Post and in a Comment in a policy or a political move.

That’s all because of Rich, and that’s pretty cool.

Another reason why this place Rich created is the 800 lb gorilla.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 7:54 am
@The Cardinal - I would not at all assume that “Rich Miller has no problems keeping it real.” I know from experience, in an effort now long abandoned, that keeping comment threads civil and relatively on point is very time consuming and requires making dozens of close judgement calls every day. The Cap Fax boards are worth reading because of a lot of work that you don’t see.

Comment by Eric Zorn Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:33 am
Eric Zorn for the win…

Comment by Ann Dwyer Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 1:52 pm
What Zorn said.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 1:54 pm