Crosbie: Unmoderated online discussions naturally degrade
Consultant Vin Crosbie says what happened at VenturaCountyStar.com, which had to disable comments on stories because they became abusive, wasn't surprising because history has shown "unmoderated online discussions naturally degrade into cacophony."
"Any news organization website that publishes anonymous, unmoderated discussion forums will get the risks and results doing so deserves. The organization might not have staff to moderate forums; but, sorry, there is no free lunch. There are very good reasons why the editors of a letter-to-the-editor and Op-Ed pages verify the identities of contributors (even those who want the newspaper to give them anonymity) before printing their letters or comments. And just because sites that aren't owned by news organizations publish anonymous, unmoderated forums doesn't mean news sites should, too. Newspapers, broadcasters, and news magazines have special responsibilities to their readers or users, responsibilities those other sites don't have. Those responsibilities are not just to prevent libel, but to foster high quality discussions."
May 24, 2005 | E-MAIL | SAVE | PRINT
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1 comments about 'Crosbie: Unmoderated online discussions naturally degrade'A-the-Heck-Men Mr. Crosbie! I think newspapers leave their blog sections unmodderated so they can drive traffic to their site. It's a darn shame that commentors can do an ignorant hit-and-run post and not be personally called out on it. As I say, rights come with responsibity and free speech is a right, then you have to be responsible to send and take whatever response, good or bad, as a grown adult.
Posted by Akilah at March 16, 2007 2:23 AM
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1 Weblogs reference 'Crosbie: Unmoderated online discussions naturally degrade' Freedom of speech - not lost yet.Trackback excerpt: Halley Suitt is worried (here and here) that bloggers may be losing their freedom of speech as they attempt to satisfy others. Nobody - bloggers included - can "lose" their freedom of speech. The can either surrender it or have... [Read More]
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