Matt Stoller: MyDD Will No Longer Have Comments

by Matt Stoller, Thu Jan 19, 2006 at 02:33:17 PM EST

Jerome, Chris, Jonathan, and Scott just appointed me ombudsman of MyDD. As such, I will now represent the readers, so that you have a voice and that commentary isn't as one-sided as it has been to date. I have heard complaints, for instance, that there are personal attacks of a nature that is personal posted on the web-blog, and that is bothersome. And uncivil-like. I have heard that the people who post them, known as 'citizens', often come on to web-logs like this one, or web-sites like that of the Washington Post, and point out 'errors' and 'factual inaccuracies'.

This type of uncivil discourse is not appropriate for this web site, or any other web site. Transparency and reasoned debate are crucial parts of the Web culture, and it's a disappointment to us that we have not been able to maintain a civil conversation, especially about issues that people feel strongly (and differently) about. In other words, I have decided to close comments. Greatly awesome fabulous web sites like this one thrive on criticism, and we can handle it. But not, you know, on Thursdays.

We're not giving up on the concept of having a healthy public dialogue with our readers, but this experience shows that we need to think more carefully about how we do it. Any thoughtful feedback on that (or any other issue) is welcome, and you can send it to executive.editor@washingtonpost.com myass@idontgiveafuck.com.

UPDATE: Dammit, how do I close comments?!? Curse you, internet!

Tags: Blogosphere (all tags)

Comments

19 Comments

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I MADE IT IN!

I am the last commenter.

By the way, the NJ GOP has decided not to allow comments on their press releases either -- seems they don't like people knowing their Communications Director was indicted for violating privacy laws!

by nathan 2006-01-19 02:36PM | 0 recs

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Laughing Out Lo-- Oh wait...

Matt, be honest. Were you running out of juice at the end? I mean, we'd all understand...But myass@idontgiveafuck.com? We expect more from you buddy.

by Matt Lockshin 2006-01-19 02:54PM | 0 recs

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I was worried for a minute..

But it was a great punchline, and I laughed.

by Winston Smith 2006-01-19 02:55PM | 0 recs

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WaPo doesn't really want reader input,...

they just want to pretend that they do. The reason readers were so upset at the mischaracterization of who got Abramoff money was that it goes to the heart of what the Abramoff scandal is all about.The WaPo could have diffused this whole thing by offering an apology for their Ombudsman mischaracterizing the contributions. Instead they let it fester and then they overreacted by throwing a temper tantrum and shutting down the comments. Too bad. Another black eye for the traditional Washington media.

by Alvord 2006-01-19 03:04PM | 0 recs

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funny in a tragic comic sort of way- but

it only gets 2 and half stars

by bruh21 2006-01-19 03:08PM | 0 recs

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obuds are duds

is it just me or have the obuds gotten worse and worse resently, or have I just started to pay attention?

by DaveB 2006-01-19 04:03PM | 0 recs

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Howell...

...wouldn't last five minutes on Usenet. It's a wonder that she can go out in the sun at all, with that thin skin of hers.

Same goes for the Post's executive editor.

The Post is in deep trouble right now. They really need to get their act together in multiple ways, and that includes hiring some people who 1) can deal with the public and 2) do it online.

by jonweasel 2006-01-19 04:31PM | 0 recs

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How is it...

that the Post is in deep trouble? With who?

Come on, it is a great newspaper. And their multiple daily webchats makes their writers more accessible than any other major newspaper.

by Steve Hill 2006-01-19 05:50PM | 0 recs

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error on last line

it's "Curse you, internets!"

by msobel 2006-01-19 04:32PM | 0 recs

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I AM SUFFERING

The closing of comments on this post has already affected me. I am unable to express how I feel, or even communicate the fashion in which the closing of the comments have made it impossible for me to write this comment which I cannot write.

I have only one choice. Since my ability to comment no longer exists, I cannot discuss with you what that choice may or may not be, or even spread the word regarding the existence or cardinality of that supposed choice. Choices.

by sdedeo 2006-01-19 04:54PM | 0 recs

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No Comment! n/t

by kitebro 2006-01-19 06:41PM | 0 recs

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What?

I thought it wouldn't let me comment but I guess you turned it back on.

I'd like to thank Jack Abramoff just to get things rolling on this early Friday morning.

by kydem 2006-01-19 07:02PM | 0 recs

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Not having commented here before

I'm sorely disappointed I couldn't even post this!

You're bumming me out, Matt.

by Wordsmith 2006-01-19 07:28PM | 0 recs

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Is it OK to us M$M again?

Whaddaya say Matt? Or perhaps you have something, shall we say, a little more boldly shrill in mind?

by Gary Boatwright 2006-01-19 09:02PM | 0 recs

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Love it Love it

That was brilliant. Prominent newspaper gets into a spat with easily verifiable factual errors and responds by silencing the people that pointed out the error. Pretty fucking pathetic

by KosTexasliberal 2006-01-20 04:36AM | 0 recs

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It's crap and they know it

Great post, Matt. You had me going for a second there. When will they learn that this will only deepen their troubles rather than solve anything. Is she turning her email account off as well?

Do you think they would do this in the face of criticism from the other side of the aisle? Not sure...just wondering.

Joshua Shimkin

by bubba76 2006-01-20 04:43AM | 0 recs

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I Will Freep No More Forever . . .

by clare boothe lucid 2006-01-20 06:25AM | 0 recs

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I only made 1 comment -

please don't torture the real bloggers !!!!

I suppose you're gonna change parties now, too, this is so, yesterday.

by Schwede 2006-01-20 08:36AM | 0 recs

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Whew!

You had me going there for a minute, Matt.

by Ellen Dana Nagler 2006-01-20 01:02PM | 0 recs