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Message to commenters

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Illinois

* We’ve picked up a bunch of new commenters lately. All are welcome if they abide by the rules and they keep in mind that this isn’t Facebook.

However, some of the newbies are neglecting to pick screen names. I don’t care how thoughtful or interesting their comments are, I’m deleting all anonymous comments as soon as I see them because most are drive-by one-offs which add zero value.

But that process can take a bit. I have other stuff to do besides monitoring comments, after all.

So, I’m asking all other commenters to not respond to the anonymous goofs. If something is getting out of hand, please email me (click the contact button at the top right of the page) or text me if you have my number and I’ll try to get right on it. But in the meantime just completely ignore them because their shelf-life is brief. Life is too short to spend time arguing with the walking dead.

Thanks.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 4:31 pm

Comments

Kudos to Capitol Fax for keeping those sheltering in place entertained.

Comment by Muddy trail Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 4:38 pm
Sorry. Will do.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 4:40 pm
Thanks for running a “tight ship” Rich. Every time I almost subscribe to the Pantagraph I see what they allow in the comments section and realize I want nothing to do with supporting childish goofs. Capitol Fax is a huge breath of fresh, non-COVID contaminated air.

Comment by former southerner Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 4:43 pm
It’s the Russians. They are practicing for November.

Comment by Enemy of the State Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 4:59 pm
Jusdt use your real names, folks. If it’s worth saying it’s worth signing your name too. Then people will know who to be angry with!

Comment by tom gooch Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 5:00 pm
Kinda want to post something here as “Anonymous” LOL

Keep up the good work, Rich(exclamation)

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 5:00 pm
Thanks, Rich, will do. I truly appreciate everything you do to try keep the comments civil and on track.

Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 5:07 pm
Thanks for policing the comments, Rich (banned punctuation) It is appreciated.

Comment by Monadnock Pigeon Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 5:08 pm
My apologies for responding to the bait. I will endeavor to avoid that from now on.

Comment by thunderspirit Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 5:12 pm
tl;dr Don’t feed the trolls. Thanks, Rich for keeping this place worthwhile.

Comment by skeptic Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 5:14 pm
Thanks.

Comment by Grandpa2 Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 5:43 pm
“I’m asking all other commenters to not respond to the anonymous goofs.”

In 2016, one of my new years resolutions was to try to ignore Anonymous commenters.

My reasons, as enumerated at the time, were three-fold:

1) By and large, commenters too lazy to come up with a nickname are usually very lazy thinkers. In fact, they are rarely more than talking point regurgitaters. While I’m sure there are exceptions, I honestly can’t recall the last insightful post from an anonymous commenter.

2) In addition, anonymous comments are too time-consuming and tedious to engage. The discussion is relatively easy to follow when commenters use a nickname. There is the occasional atemporal cross-post, but it’s usually simply a matter of scrolling down to read comment, then reply, then rebuttal, etc.

But with anonymous comments it is always much more difficult. Which anonymous commenter are your replying to? Some try to use the Anonymous+timestamp method, but that falls apart once the Anonymous in question responds. Which Anonymous+timestamp are they to be identified with? The original? The response? Who knows? And is it even worth the effort to figure it out (see reason 1)? Of late, I don’t think it’s worth the bother.

3) Finally, the Anonymous handle allows commenters to make contradictory statements and claims without any accountability. They can claim that Politician Jones was brave and brilliant to do X in one comment and then claim that Politician Jones had no idea about X when that is convenient. Internal logical consistency is a very low standard for discussing the issues, but it is a standard to which Anonymous commenters cannot be held. And I am no longer interested in having a discussion without minimal logical standards.

There are plenty of commenters with whom I disagree who use consistent nicknames. I may think they’re wrong, simple, silly or dishonest, but I know that they care enough about the Cap Fax conversations and community to be minimally accountable, consistent and courteous. While I reserve the right to occasionally quote and dissect a particularly egregious anonymous comment, I intend to concentrate my attention on those who respect this forum enough to adopt a nickname.

Ignoring anonymous commenters has served me well in the four years since and I strongly recommend that serious commenters consider doing likewise.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 6:00 pm
I’ve always thought “Anonymous” posters lead the league in trolling and drivebys. Although I’m generally undisciplined in my approach to life, it’s a point of pride never to have responded to an Anonymous post (even after being accused of being anonymous myself for employing a nickname.

37B: Pseudonymous, not Anonymous.

Comment by 37B Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 6:16 pm
Will do Rich. Miss you buddy. Hope you and Oscar are safe and healthy. Take care

Comment by Eddy Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 6:47 pm
Thanks for this — and thank you for being my moderator role model. I had wonderful participation at my blog and now as admin to an assortment of FB groups because of what I’ve learned from you.

Comment by yinn Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 6:52 pm
Watch V

Comment by a noun o mouse Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 6:55 pm
Siiiiiiiigh, fine, I’ll fight with trolls on facebook instead

Comment by Suburban Mom Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 6:55 pm
The high quality of comments here keeps me coming here every day. Thanks for your hard work keeping it smart and civil, Rich.

Comment by The Way I See It Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 7:10 pm
“Jusdt use your real names, folks.”

Um. No. Have handle going back to blago days. If switch to real name no one would know who I am. Secondly, when real name is 28 letters long, run out of room in tiny boxes.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 7:12 pm
How about commentors are limited to one comment per post?

Comment by Rare Commentor Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 7:19 pm
What do we do about Willy?

Comment by Token Conservative Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 7:28 pm
===What do we do about===

Meh. I’m not on your blog, or lawn.

“You’ll be fine.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 7:35 pm
===Jusdt use your real names, folks. If it’s worth saying it’s worth signing your name too. Then people will know who to be angry with! ===

I don’t know about this. Two of my favorite commenters on here were Bill and Wordslinger. We didn’t learn of their identities until their deaths but it made me appreciate them for their insight (or humor) rather than on what their motivation could be because we knew of their jobs or backgrounds. They were both great and we miss them even though we didn’t know who they were.

Comment by Been There Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 7:52 pm
Can’t really limit commenters to one comment because sometimes there just has to be a follow-up. Someone accidentally or purposefully misconstrues what you’ve said, snark is not recognized, there are updates, all kinds of reasons. But I do follow MrJM and don’t respond to anonymous commenters, no matter how badly I’m misconstrued or humor which sounds good in my head doesn’t turn out that funny in print. And thanks Rich for your service in these trying times.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 7:57 pm
“What do we do about Willy?”

If history is any guide, you’ll probably bellyache.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 8:05 pm
Thank you, Rich. It’s your approach to moderating that keeps this not just a top notch source of information (which it would be without any comments), but also a place for thoughtful conversation. Many of the regulars have opened my mind on topics; not a single anonymous commenter ever has.

Comment by Leslie K Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 8:07 pm
Raises the question as why my witty use of May Soon Be Required or Willy slang for (I can’t say) is better than anonymous. If you want disclosure May Soon Be Required

Comment by May Soon Be Required Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 8:11 pm
Lost my virgi…anonymity a loooong time ago.

Comment by danray Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 8:15 pm
“just use your real name” . . . . unfortunately I can’t remember it any more

Comment by Flapdoodle Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 8:28 pm
=== - tom gooch - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 5:00 pm:

Jusdt use your real names, folks. If it’s worth saying it’s worth signing your name too. ===

You have no idea the number of state workers here. Too easy to line up the comments with the time cards. Never happen.

Comment by Cadillac Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 9:04 pm
Thanks Rich for all you do. I don’t comment very often and When I do I try to not step in it. Sometimes I need to try harder.

Comment by Captain Who Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 10:21 pm
== “Just use your real names, folks.” ==

== You have no idea the number of state workers here. ==

While I am retired, hence my handle Retired Non Union Guy aka RNUG,I still have close relatives working for the State, with at least one in a fairly high position. If they ever retire, I may switch to using an abbrevation of my name … or not.

And for what it is worth, probably at least 15 or 20 people besides Rich know who I am. Most of my former co-workers picked up on my writing style.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 12:11 am
== “Just use your real names, folks.”

It’s not a secret, but most people wouldn’t know my real name. But seriously, it’s fine to stick with a regular name so people ‘know’ you and not the anonymous. RNUG, Willy, and MrJM are, as examples, pretty well known by their handles to not be a problem. Even if someone new joins, using a pseudonym is fine as long as they are consistent and not difficult.

Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 12:35 am
===, I may switch to using an abbrevation of my name … or not.

That would just be confusing.

I’m feeling left out on knowing you (just kidding)

Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 12:36 am
I am a very infrequent poster so this was likely always bound to happen but, some years back, I used (what I thought to be) a rather witty nickname that was still anonymous but would at least track with me. Being somewhat infrequent, I went quite a while without making a comment and was then surprised to see a comment under my name on one of the new posts. I guess that’s what I get for not using my actual name - confirmation that I am not so witty after all. So I switched to this one since it should be uniquely me. And now if I find a comment under this name and I didn’t make it, I’ll really know one of you is up to no good.

Comment by Ccapilla Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 8:31 am
If we’re not using our real names we’re all kinda anonymous. Certain commenters anonymous nicknames are well known but they are still anonymous and sometimes feel empowered because of that. I sometimes read CF but that’s why I largely quit commenting

Comment by Soccertease Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 9:11 am
Comment moderation can be a real lot of work, even sans politics. IMHO, you’ve managed to maintain an exemplary comments section on CapFax (and especially given the content matter.) It’s refreshingly reminiscent of web 1.0 communities. Thank you, Rich.

Comment by XonXoff Thursday, Apr 23, 20 @ 10:04 am