Discussing Websites and Forums
Without getting into detail why, I am curious what your thoughts are about opinions on message boards. With this message board in particular, I moderate it so that I may keep it welcoming and not have it turn into a place for personal attacks and 'cyber-bullys'. I do like when someone feels compelled to give an opinion, good or bad, about a business, band, artist or whatever. As long as nobody is attacking anyone personally I love to read opinion.
It has been my experience that people love the concept of the public expressing opinions on message boards and blogs when the opinion is positive but think it should be illegal when it's something bad. You can't really have it both ways.
So what if someone posts an opinion that is factually incorrect or motivated by something besides the topic? Is it the role of the website owner to research what is fact? I Should a business feel compelled to reply to opinions they disagree with?
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Re: Discussing Websites and Forums
There could be a kind of organic, Wikipedia-like, self-correcting evolution to the threads, whereby people who lie or speak erroneously would be called out and corrected (and, in some cases, publicly humiliated and ostracized).
Obviously, though, sides may not be represented, either because no one supporting the position subscribes to the blog, or because they are too timid to question the authority of the core of bloggers. I think that that happens here at VB, where the majority of posts are by a pretty close-knit, homogeneous group.
http://www.hatondrinkingwine.com
Re: Discussing Websites and Forums
I think negative opinions backed up by argument are OK. If the person's facts are wrong, someone can post a critique. But if someone just posts "Such-and-such is lame!" there's not much you can do to argue, and I don't think it adds anything to the forum.
(Whereas positive comments not backed up by fact are great, IMHO. We could all use more "Great job!" or "This business is awesome!" comments.)
Re: Discussing Websites and Forums
Quote:
I don't think so. When someone says something on here that I disagree with or don't think is factual I don't think, "This is Duncan's website, so he must support this person if he doesn't reply with disagreement."
Re: Discussing Websites and Forums
Quote:
ouch! I hope you are kidding. I don't agree with much of the stuff up here. I only moderate this site when someone is personally attacked. Since 2004 when we launched the site I have only had to delete a handful of posts and most of them were things that were pretty funny, and I got the joke, but didn't feel it was good for the environment we are going for here.
So yeah, you must be kidding right? This isn't my site, I just keep it running for people to use. My question was not in regards to this site by the way. I own and operate dozens of different sites.
Re: Discussing Websites and Forums
I think you need an understood theme or purpose of the site/board and the discussion should stay pertinent and productive towards that. Opposing and negative views should be presented in that context; if not then the actual reason the board exists becomes compromised and productive participation erodes.
Re: Discussing Websites and Forums
Individuals may feel compelled to reply. I see nothing wrong with that. Positve or negative comments in proper context isn't a bad thing. A business entity, on the other hand, would use a disclaimer or create a site that either prohibits comments or does what you would do, moderate with a reserved right to edit as deemed appropriate.
Re: Discussing Websites and Forums
Duncan,
I see what you mean, and I agree with you. I probably should have thought that post through a little more.