I recently read an article called Censorship? at The Krazy Train, a fairly new blog. The woman had her comments deleted from another person’s blog because she disagreed with the site owner. Now, this is not a rant post, but something out of years of blogging that I have come to know. There really are facets of censorship.
While in her case, the site owner was possibly looking for a little support and really did not want to hear the other side of the argument. Or, her author just prefered that everything goes her way. Who knows? Unfortunately the only way to learn what the problem was is to go to the source and ask.
To change the point of view, if you comment on another’s site, your comment is subject to the site owner’s final opinion and actions, regardless if there is a bond of friendship or some type of relationship. People choose to delete comments for several reasons:
1. The site owner was looking for supportive answers. (In some cases when this happens, the author failed to specify what they were looking for in responses.)
2. The comment may have been inappropriate.
3. The comment was off topic.
4. Spam
5. The comment was done by someone who the site owner would prefer not to associate with.
6. The comment might bring on unwanted conflict.
Yes, free speech is great to have, but remember, just because you comment on someone else’s site means you have the right for the site owner to leave the comment up. It would be the same for forums or even social networking sites too. I have had to remove a few inappropriate responses to articles by friends because the article was also being read by colleagues. It was nothing against my friend. In fact, I read the comment, informed him of what happened, and actually agreed with him on his comment, but not the way he said it.
In fact, as I write this, I believe I will probably write up a comment policy for Blondish.net.
What is your opinion on comment policies? Do you have one for your website?
Dear flores!
Please let me put the things from a bit different angle.
Regarding Comment Policy it is your right to publish and implement. Nobody can stop you. But you should inform that the commenting policy exists and need to make user click and mark to agree to the policy. Its not a big deal. For anybody who is really moved by the post and wish to share his feeling, will certainly agree to policy.
What I feel bad is blogger or author removes the comments after it appears on post for few days. If the comment was inappropriate, why it was published? After getting it published for some day, can it be removed to boast the super power of authority?
It is better to implement comment moderation system so that you can decide from the very beginning whether a particular comment deserves publishing or appropriate to sabotage in womb. Once published, it has right to disagree and exist along with post.
Please correct me if I'm wrong and I'll always respect your right to disagree.
My recent post Allowing LPCA kick your ass? Thrash it down!
The problem is the 'left out for days' was not the issue., just that it was removed. In fact, in the case of my friend, I could have just not said anything out of all, but I thought it was courteous. My own friend was not hurt and agreed. They were passionate about their opinion.
Some authors choose different moderations. Now, as a note, moderation is more for screening comments. For me – usually you are moderated the first time or your comment reputation on Intense Debate does not have enough reputation points.
SO, in the case of my site, I am pretty lax unless it is spam, OR the comment contains extremely inappropriate language (profane language.)
However on the thought that someone would leave a comment up for days and then remove it, I would pretty much either think 2 things:
1- They are not online enough to moderate their blog
2- Like you said, they need to integrate some moderation rules.
As far as I'm concerned any comments that are left on my site become my property. I don't own the words, since I didn't write them, but I do own the virtual space they take up, and I have the right to delete them as I see fit.
With that said, I rarely delete comments. When I do, it's because the comment in question was written in a way to deliberately provoke or cause drama, or the comment was left by someone that I do not want to associate with, and thus do not want to have any traces of on my blog.
I actually agree with your policy and also, I rarely have deleted comments unless they were spam.
I haven't found the need to alter comments that weren't spam. However, should the need arise I would most likely delete the comment altogether. Not long ago I left a comment on another blog. I never intended for the comment to be controversial or insulting but some bloggers are more sensitive than others. The blogger didn't edit my comment but called it "absurd". In that case I would much rather that the blogger had deleted my comment if they felt that way.
Thanks for the conversation.
@Ileane
My recent post Some Serious Blog Engagement
I don't care if others disagree what I believe, furthermore, respect their right to disagree BUT nobody has right to tag it absurd. In fact, that brain is "ABSURD" who did not dared to discuss and argue rather ran away barking with filthy words. Poor them, God Save them.
My recent post How to remove favicon from blogger blogs?
The problem is… anyone who disagrees can say that. It is a matter of someone in the argument whether the person presenting the case, or the person rebutting the case will just let things slide. It is unfortunate, but after more than 6 years of blogging and commenting on blogs, I have seen a lot.
I have a lot of visitors and spammers that come by that even Askimet get through, so I do have to delete spammers.
The thing is that some people even if they say that your opinion might be absurd… it is the fact that you have to say "I agree to disagree." Obviously in the case of the site owner, they do not agree, so arguing the case might be moot.
Everyone have right to comment, as anything else, but if it hurts anything than you should care a bit
Rightly said Nile….Leaving comment on other site is definitely the right but as you said if the comment does not suit to the site’s owner thought and action then the site’s owner has the right to delete it. In short we have right to give quality comment not fallacious.