Leading Off: The Last Word on Comments

By William M. Macfadyen, Noozhawk Publisher | Published on 02.26.2010

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Thank you for your patience with our slow-rolling implementation of Noozhawk’s new policy for story comments. The transfer is complete, the freshly installed format appears to be working throughout the site, and all comments seem to have migrated without incident. We apologize for the inconvenience during the switch.

Thank you, too, for participating with us as we strive to improve the Noozhawk Web site, our professional news reporting and your community coverage. We know that requiring registration to comment isn’t universally popular but we are grateful to the several hundred people who already have enrolled.

We also are obliged for the numerous, persuasive appeals to keep the comments with the articles. We thought a second page was a good idea; we were wrong.

Thanks again.

— Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk.

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» William Smithers on 02.26.10 @ 02:14 PM

Congratulations to Noozhawk on its responsible and appropriate new policy re public comment.

I began using a computer in 1985. In the topical “chat rooms” of the time, it quickly became apparent how nasty, insulting and abusive many people become once they realize they’re anonymous - not to speak of the false “science” or inaccurate “facts” they frequently cite.

One chat room devoted to “high-end audio” became so saturated with personal vitriol that another moderated one had to be created.

I make my share of mistakes, but I put my real name to my opinions. I think it would be great for everyone to do the same.

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» sbacmb on 02.27.10 @ 06:26 PM

Congrats indeed, and thank you for your new comment policy.  And for being an alternative source of news in SB.

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» Jeremy P. on 02.27.10 @ 07:41 PM

Thank you for taking this step. I understand your reluctance to limit free speech, but the fact of the matter is there must be some accountability and responsibility that comes with it. When anonymity is an option, it’s easy to exploit it. Registration is entirely reasonable.

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» b_reynaldo on 02.28.10 @ 08:02 AM

It is interesting that the new comments policy coincides with Bill Macfadyen’s invitation to appear on Real Talk with Jerry Roberts.  Jerry Roberts, Calbuzz, and the Independent have been actively suppressing a “Real” discussion of controversial local topics such as legal/illegal immigration, bilingual education and GATE.  Roberts has never discussed the impact on the state economy of insane environmental regulations and over-taxation, but instead advocates abolishing Prop. 13 as the sole answer to our financial ills.

The Noozhawk comments section was one place where such issues ignored by Santa Barbara’s elites could be discussed.  The new policy seems to be an attempt by Noozhawk to curry favor with said elites and join the local Jerry Roberts/Independent/Progressive club. I suspect we won’t be seeing more guest pieces from Mark Cromer either.

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» Claudia V. on 02.28.10 @ 08:05 PM

Thanks for doing this. I happily registered and hope this will raise the level of discussion. As a Noozhawk reader from the start, I know the Noozhawk community is very smart and thoughtful. It’s too bad it’s been hijacked by flamers over the last year or so.

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