Review: The Unclutterer comment policy
With the rising temperatures in the northern hemisphere, we’ve had a similar influx of spammers, trolls, link dumpers, and general negative attitudes in our comment section recently. Thankfully, it isn’t a large percentage of our comment traffic that is behaving this way. However, it’s significantly larger than what we’re accustom to and monitoring it is starting to interfere with our work flow.
As a result, we thought it might be nice to review our comment policy to help everyone play fairly in the comments for the rest of the summer:
- No nasty grams. Nasty grams are clutter, so we clean them off the server the same way we throw away junk mail in our homes. What is a nasty gram? Ad hominem attacks, filth, things you would never say to someone’s face or in front of your boss, and offensive statements all qualify as nasty grams.
- Broken link/spelling error notifications. We prefer that you e-mail us when we have broken links or spelling errors in our posts, but if you do tell us about our mistakes in the comments, we’ll delete your comment after the problem is fixed in our post.
- Advertisements. These are usually left by spam bots on old posts and we have a script that deletes these automatically.
- Link dumps promoting your site/product/brand. If you’re someone we know in the real world, we might keep up your links because we can vouch that they’re safe and reputable. If we don’t know you, your links might disappear because we can’t verify you’re not a spammer.
We love the vast majority of our commenters, our readers who share insights, suggestions, personal stories, and encouragement for the benefit of others. Our guess is that most of the spammers, trolls, link dumpers, and negative Nellies aren’t regular readers of the website — they’re people who swoop in once and then swoop out never to be heard from again. Reviewing our comment policy will hopefully discourage these folks from taking up root in our amazing community.
In short, this is a blog called Unclutterer. We’re people who obviously are not fond of having clutter in our homes, so we try our best to keep it off the site. We encourage an active and robust comment section where people can exchange ideas and insights while being respectful of others.
26 comments posted
Posted by Reader - 06/15/2010
Whenever I read a post like this, I always wonder if it’s directed at me. But as my comments, at their most negative, are rational, on point, and civilly expressed, I’ll assume it doesn’t.
I would imagine some people post typos in the comment box because they don’t have the time to write an email or they want to preserve their privacy. To my mind, pointing out a typo is a reader courtesy. I always try to proofread my writing with care (although I can’t print out and read blog comments). But we all make mistakes. If someone points out a typo, I’m appreciative. I look less silly and it makes my writing easier to grasp.
Posted by Another reader - 06/15/2010
Second the motion. I’ve seen comments here whisked away in record time, even though they were rational etc. Even grammar/typo corrections are ignored and stuffed away. It really gives the impression this is supposed to be a kind of fan club, where nothing is tolerated that’s not adoration. Really too bad, because the site is great other than that.
Posted by Erin Doland - 06/15/2010
@Another reader/Boris/Tanya/Whatever name you’re using now … We ignore grammar and typo comments when they’re actually incorrect suggestions. If the suggestion were to introduce a mistake, we delete the comment and don’t make the bad change. Additionally, there are countless comments on this site that disagree with information in a post. It is far from being a fan club. You’ll notice, though, that the negative comments that remain live all have things in common — they’re polite, fair, rational, and don’t include jabs, insults, put downs, or childish name calling. Disagreeing is fine, but it should be respectful.
Posted by Karen - 06/15/2010
Ugh, I’m sorry that things reached a point where you felt you had to post this.
I really, really hate spam. I don’t know if I’m a representative sample, but for what it’s worth, I don’t mind doing a CAPTCHA or other Turing test, or registering to comment, if it means you spend less time clearing spam and I spend less time reading it.
Hm… And on most sites, I’d be opposed to clearing abusive posts via scripts, because I wouldn’t want to blindly strip good posts that happened to have colorful language. But here? Meh, it’d be okay. I can’t imagine posting that my new filing system is mothertrucking bizzomb or anything like that. It’s too far from the tone of the site.
Posted by Lilliane P - 06/15/2010
I often read comments at news sites. I am amazed by nastiness of some of them. It almost seems like one-ups-manship at times. It’s discouraging.
Posted by Anita - 06/15/2010
I used to love this site, but the past few months have, sadly, changed that in a rather drastic manner. Comment-wise, I agree with the Readers above. It’s baffling to me that you perceive perfectly rational and valid comments as “hateful” or “nasty” for the simple fact that they overtly disagree with you or with other commenters.
To me, a blog is not a chance to have people agree with you; it is, as you say so aptly, an opportunity to “exchange ideas and insights”, whether they are in agreement with the poster’s ideas or not. After all, isn’t that supposed to be the great virtue of the Web, being the first truly democratic medium? I agree that spambots and ads bring nothing to the discussion, but really, deleting valid comments because you don’t agree with them is a little much.
Then again, I suppose the way you run your blog is your business, and I’m free to stop reading and keep my “democratic Web” ideals for my own blogs (which I won’t link to, should I be accused of link dumping…).
Posted by Erin Doland - 06/15/2010
@Anita — We leave up valid disagreements that are respectful of the Unclutterer community. Comments aren’t removed just because they’re in disagreement with the author of the post or another commenter. Feel welcome to search the site, you’ll find hundreds (thousands?) of comments that disagree with content on the site. Start with the posts about hoarding, that is where you’ll find the greatest amount of them.
Posted by Erin Doland - 06/15/2010
For people wondering what is considered respectful disagreement and what isn’t, maybe approach it this way …
Before hitting the submit button for your comment, ask yourself, “Would this be how I would phrase my disagreement if I were being asked to state my opinion during a job interview for a position I really wanted/speaking with a head of state at an embassy cocktail party/writing an opinion piece for The New York Times/out on a first date with someone I’d had a crush on since the third grade?” If you can’t think of any changes you would make, then you’re probably not at risk for having a comment removed. If you look at it and think, “I probably wouldn’t say it with those exact words,” then, you might want to make a few adjustments before hitting submit.
I’ve deleted comments I’ve written. There have been a few times when I’ve shot off words in frustration that shouldn’t appear on the site. I’m far from being level-headed. But, when I calm down, I come back and erase them (or an intern has already taken them down). If your comment is removed, rework it and try again.
Posted by Mike - 06/15/2010
I like the fact that there aren’t snarky comments distracting from the point of the article. Useful comments to an article expand my understanding for the topic.
I also don’t care for grammatical corrections. I get the point and thoughts are more fluid than grammar.
Snarky is the new ironic. Neither indicates intelligence.
Love the site and keep me motivated toward better, simpler living so I can focus on what is important to me.
Posted by themusiclivez - 06/15/2010
Erin, I agree with you. It’s the way people phrase their opinions. The internet has become a way for people to attack others without thinking about the severity of their comments. After reading multiple articles on Yahoo! I have been shocked to see that people call each other every disgusting name imaginable and seem proud of it. I want to ask them, “Would you want your children reading what you wrote? Would you be proud of yourself then?”
I almost wish that sites would disable comments. I know it worked for Leo at ZenHabits.net – he ended up disabling the comments after his articles and I think it’s great!:o)
Posted by Amy - 06/15/2010
I am glad to see the spam removed…A lot of it takes you to places that will hurt your computer.
As far as being negative goes, I think what happens on many sites is really awful and is designed to be hurtful to our selves.
I agree with most of what I read here, and come away with lots of good ideas. Sometimes I don’t agree with what I read, and if I come across as being negative, I apologise. This wouldn’t be the first time my mouth got me in trouble. That’s what happens when you’re an old skeptic.
Posted by chacha1 - 06/15/2010
I’m all in favor of site owners regulating comments. I’m well and truly tired of Judgy McJudgypants people logging on to say “well I would do it differently and therefore you are WRONG.” It just adds nothing to a useful debate when “right” and “wrong” come out.
Or when people write a comment as if an original post was directly specifically and exclusively to them, and they get all huffy and defensive.
Frankly, I very rarely feel the need to disagree with OP material because if I disagreed with the main writer of a site … I wouldn’t read it. If I disagree, it’s most commonly with other commenters! But after some early missteps (it does take time to master netiquette) I think I’ve gotten it to the point where I can write a reasonable comment.
So, Erin, I’m with you on this one. If I get PMSy and start bitching, delete me with my blessing.
Posted by Ann - 06/15/2010
After I read this I spent WAY too much time tracking down my only two comments to this blog to see if I had been too snarky…whew!! Safe! I have been rather gun-shy lately to post any comments to other blog sites ever since one of my comments became the pointed example of the next day’s post by the unhappy blogger. It was very uncomfortable.
Anyway, love this blogsite and hope the postive vibes stay postive!!!
Posted by Shalin - 06/15/2010
I’m sorry it’s gotten to the point where it’s becoming a serious hindrance.
>> “Would this be how I would phrase my disagreement if I were being asked to state my opinion [...] out on a first date with someone I’d had a crush on since the third grade?”
You mean Amanda I.? awwww…
There’s a whole blog dedicated to that topic…somehwere…
Best,
Shalin
Posted by Krys - 06/15/2010
Bravo, Erin. A sincere thanks for keeping this site truly relevant, right down to the comments!
Posted by RealMe42 - 06/15/2010
Just out of curiosity, I am a regular reader here and elsewhere. I also have my own blog (very few readers) and sometimes I feel like something I just wrote is on the same issue and rather than write a long comment, I’ll write a short message and a link to my post. Is this considered spam if it is on topic and related?
Posted by Corrie - 06/15/2010
Erin, I love love love the positive, clutter free comments on your blog! Thanks for the editing, I appreciate not having to see those negative posts.
Posted by klutzgrrl - 06/16/2010
Personally, I dislike the zero-comments policy on Zen Habits – I fully understand why, but I do miss the lively discussions and contributions from readers, which were often useful.
I think a firm hand with moderation, simply deleting without explanation if necessary, is better. Unfortunately posts like this will do little to deter the link farmers and spammers – would it be worth looking into an anti-spam system like the one WordPress uses, or something? Or a membership-based system?
I know I’ve often had a bad habit of firing up and mouthing off without thinking, something I’m trying hard to remedy.
This is a wonderful blog and I hope it will ‘stay nice’ despite the increasing popularity. (Popularity is sometimes a negative force, no?) By the way, if you’re a regular reader and not participating in the forum, do pop over and join in. Really nice people and fun conversations.
Posted by HelofaMess - 06/16/2010
Great post Erin. I totally support what you’re doing. I also don’t think that you only accept positive comments. I like that you reply to the balanced negative ones with your response. I also agree that there is no place for unbalanced or filth.
Keep up the good work.
Posted by Kalle - 06/16/2010
The comments here are almost always very smart, informative and interesting – a true resource worthy of defending from snark, spam and noise.
Posted by Erin Doland - 06/16/2010
@RealMe42 — If it’s just one link, it will depend upon the day. If we have time, we’ll follow the link and check it out for safety. If we don’t have time, and we’re unfamiliar with your site, we might delete it for security reasons. (First, do no harm.) Usually, if you explain why you’re linking to your site and talk about its relevance to the post, we’re a lot more likely keep it around than if you just link dump. I’ll give you an example of what will always be deleted:
“Hi. You have nice written here. Good discuss. I shall read often. IRRELEVANT LINK TO VIAGRA CANADIAN DRUGS.”
Posted by stephen crane - 06/16/2010
I too agree with your comments Erin.It’s a great site and in the main a positive one.Keep it simple,uncluttered and interesting-that’s what I say.Keep up the good work
Posted by Meg - 06/16/2010
Very glad you aren’t eliminating comments altogether, and hope your policy does what you need it to do. I find it amazing that people need to get insulting on a site like this!
Posted by Sue - 06/16/2010
Thank you for keeping the comments section from becoming toxic. I’ve been reading your blog for at least a year, and I know that you aren’t “sanitizing” the comments by deleting posts that simply disagree or present a different point of view.
You’re just keeping the spam and truly nasty internet trolls away. It’s a breath of fresh air, and I wish other sites would follow suit.
Posted by Leonie - 06/16/2010
Erin
Thanks for the laugh with that viagra link spambot. Now…where’s the grammar police when you really need them?
I like much. Keep write good!!
Posted by ecuadoriana - 06/16/2010
It is such a sad commentary on what we have become as humans when grown adults (and I am assuming that people who log onto sites like this ARE adults & not middle schoolers!) need to be told how to have polite discourse & debate.
One would have thought that the lessons that we learned in kindergarten would have by now become second nature & we wouldn’t need to be reminded to play nice.
There have been several blogs/sites that I stopped visiting because all I would have to type is something as simple as “I love sunshine & fresh air” and I would be slammed with insults! That is crazy! Sometimes I would agree with someone’s post & the poster would come back & tell me to buzz off (well, not those exact words, but you get my drift), that he/she doesn’t need my validation! That is even crazier!
That people are so quick to just start firing off insults, and even threats of physical violence, over someone’s opinion is just so sad. I can’t begin to imagine that these same people would speak to their boss, neighbor, spouse, children like that!
And unless something is spelled so incorrectly that it takes away from the meaning I see no reason to play “English Major Patrol Officer”. All one would have to say is “I am sorry. I don’t get your meaning. Perhaps something is misspelled?” or something polite like that. Heck, we all get dyslexia fingers now & again. It is insulting to constantly point out someone’s spelling & grammatical errors. If we were speaking face to face would we point out each others accents, mispronunciations, speech impediments? No, that’s impolite- at least that’s what my kindergarten teacher told me! So that same respect should apply to posters.
Well, I for one have enjoyed this site and only recently started posting any comments- I wanted to read how people were treating each other before putting my own neck out only to have it chopped. So far, so good! I haven’t noticed anything too “snarky”, but maybe that’s because they’re removed before I see them?
Thanks Erin!
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