by site editor Rick McCharles
Perfectly normal people in real life sometimes post nasty comments online. Become trolls.
Why?
I have no idea.
The worst site was YouTube. It took until Sept 2013 for Google to finally down rate the “poisonous vitriol”.
On Gymnastics Coaching comments have always been hidden from the default view. I spend time moderating those comments. Deleting SPAM comments.
On the other hand, I rarely ban anyone from making (civil) contrary statements.
TKO is still commenting, for example.
By contrast, Brigid McCarthy encourages discussion on her site:
… I love writing about this sport. I love collaborating with lots of people to produce news, stories, features, analysis of gymnastics. I also love the back-and-forth between writers and readers that goes on in the comments. Those conversations/debates/feedback sessions can be fun and handy as so many people are expert and opinionated in all areas of this sport.
I don’t even mind the arguments when people manage to keep it nice and keep it on the topic. I mean, it’s a subjective sport. Sometimes ya just gotta duke it out. And a lot of people seem to know how to do that in a meaningful, non-combative, fun way. …
She recommends some guidelines for online commenting:
1. Think before you speak.
2. Don’t be nasty when you can be constructive.
3. Don’t be narrow minded.
4. Don’t cast big judgements based on little knowledge.
5. Always remember that these people that you sit back, watch and talk about are working their guts out every single day to do what they do. They are also teenagers. And people. With feelings.
6. And most of all, REMEMBER THE LOVE that brought you here.
see the rest on … The Couch Gymnast’s Handy Guide to Commenting
The best place for “discussion” is on forums. They are set up for exactly that.
related:
• Bills Sands on Online haters
• Spanny – i’m so sorry. i fully understand if you want to beat me up. just avoid my nose.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 