Kinja Rant about Approved Comments.

"Tom McParland" (tommcparland)
10/21/2013 at 11:30 • Filed to: KINJA, mercedes monday

I just realized how being "greyed out" discourages me from participating in conversations on other websites. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Now I'm not the type that must get stars or responses, but I feel I had a significant contribution to the conversation that will go unnoticed. I get that "approved comments" reduces trolling, but it also reduces conversations across websites, and thus may reduce the likelihood of someone with some productive contribution from participating. Food for thought Kinja people, in the meantime enjoy this Gullwing

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DISCUSSION (21)

Victorious Secret > Tom McParland
10/21/2013 at 11:33

You're absolutely right.

Just to get approved you have to post comments like a moron, and even then there is no assurance that someone won't strip you of your commenting powers.

I've NEVER commented on Kotaku since the redesign, even before it. Not because I don't like to, just that I would read and move on. Now that I want to comment, I can't. Not only am I not approved but I'm so far down the rabbit hole that any comment I do make disappears. It doesn't go into the "waiting for approval" section, they just disappear point blank. Its frustrating and makes me want to not post at all anymore.

Even on FP...but that's cause FP.

McMike > Tom McParland
10/21/2013 at 11:37

Best to reply to an already approved commenter.

Sucks, but sometimes hitching yourself to someone else the only way to get a good comment noticed sometimes.

Tom McParland > McMike
10/21/2013 at 11:41

Good tip Mike, thanks I'll keep that in mind.

McMike > Tom McParland
10/21/2013 at 11:46

Of course, that sometimes means you might have to totally reword your comment, and/or search the sea of Gawker comments to find one appropriate...

Or link to it here and we'll all recommend it. (not sure if that does anything)

Hermann > Victorious Secret
10/21/2013 at 11:46

I noticed this on Jalopnik today: One of my Oppo posts was FP'd over the weekend, and I noticed many comments that were in my notifications page weren't even showing on the post, and some of them were actually good comments!

This means you have to rely on the luck the Author actually cares to read your comment on his notification page to recommend it.

PS9 > Victorious Secret
10/21/2013 at 11:46

I just realized that I don't comment on Kotaku anywhere near as much as I comment on Jalopnik. Not anymore anyway. Some of it's for the issues you mentioned, but at least 3/4ths of it is just to stay away from people arguing about the dumbest fucking shit you've ever read.

I'm not even going to repeat it here. I don't have to. You've seen it. Yeah, you could wade into that idiot convention and unpack that unbelieveably dimwitted comment, but any idiot can throw a grenade. It takes time, energy and intelligence to unpack and explain whats wrong with it. Who wants to waste their existence doing that? Especially after they can just throw another one after you're done? Fuck that.

I can't say jalopnik doesn't have that problem, but it's waaaaaay less rampant than it is over on Kotaku. By extension, it's almost non-existent over here. That's probably why I come here the most out of all the other Gawker sites. It's like an oasis.

Meatcoma > Tom McParland
10/21/2013 at 11:54

No one expands the additional comments? I always do. While I feel it's a slightly additional hassle it's not a huge one.

Tom McParland > McMike
10/21/2013 at 11:56

Yeah but the fact I have to do that dance is something that the Kinja folks should be aware of and at least consider with this commenting system. Because I am approved on the Jalopnik FP, I participate frequently probably more so than if I was not. Though most of the time I probably don't have much to say other than silliness.

mambochapchap > Tom McParland
10/21/2013 at 11:58

Thanks for the pic...not just any Gullwing but the 300SLR "Uhlenhaut Coupe"....the most highly insured vehicle in the Mercedes Museum collection.

nctrns > Tom McParland
10/21/2013 at 12:04

I'm a regular on io9, have posting rights on the odeck. I rarely post anything on the mainpage, partly because by the time I get to the article everything I want to say is already said, partly because I'm grey and no one will reply.

stuttgartobsessed > Tom McParland
10/21/2013 at 13:01

Sorry what were you saying? Too in love with the 300SLR Ulenhaut Coupé... MMMmmmmmmmm.....

stuttgartobsessed > Tom McParland
10/21/2013 at 13:02

Sorry what were you saying? Too in love with the 300SLR Ulenhaut Coupé... MMMmmmmmmmm.....

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > Tom McParland
11/06/2013 at 10:01

And in yet another injustice, to reveal the "Dismissed/Inconsequential commentary of little to no redeeming value," you have to go the bottom of the comments section, which means that you have already read through the "commentary from on high." Very frustrating to those of us who feel we could add something, but cannot devote the time needed to get on Kinja's good side.

*edit* oooooo- grey on grey. Shiney!

*2nd edit* What drawbacks would there be to having all comments start approved, with the ability, either through downvote of the public (a three "you're useless's and you're grey" kinda rule) or give the power of the grey to the thread creator?

Also, as someone who has tried to post thoughts to the public at large and failed, is there an unfiltered list of posts to oppo that have been made by the non approved?

Tom McParland > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits
11/06/2013 at 13:50

Yes, as to your final question. If you are approved by a mod here you can post freely and not be greyed out. Now some good news/bad news. I am a mod and can approve you especially since your screename references one of my all time favorite comedians but I'm on mobile and stupid Kinja won't let me take that action. I won't get to a PC till Saturday. So you can either drop me a line then or find another mod. If you look for the tag "club openings" that will help any post will give you clues as to other mods. :)

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > Tom McParland
11/07/2013 at 19:58

Thanks, I managed to crawl in on someone else's coat tails! What can I say? I brought a flag.

StinkySock > Tom McParland
06/27/2015 at 14:31

I’m on Kotaku a lot, with some good points, but I’m forever confined to the grey section. :(

silver6kraid > StinkySock
07/13/2015 at 20:38

Yeah, that’s been happening to me a lot lately. Suddenly I just can’t comment on anything. Even if its a really basic and non offensive post. The pending approval thing seems to break Kinja even more than it already was.

cyrylthewolf > McMike
08/14/2016 at 15:51

That doesn’t seem to make much difference.

McMike > cyrylthewolf
08/14/2016 at 19:36

That doesn’t seem to make much difference.

It may have back in 2013 when we had this discussion.

Gizmoduck > Tom McParland
07/23/2017 at 10:32

As long as we keep flinging Godly values out the door (and off park benches) no system will work. A free system *with moderation for extremely bad comments* is likely the best one but without Godly values that too will just lead to a free for all then to a boot in the neck police state.

Even that will eventually fail as there is no economy with personal incentives to do extraordinary things under fascism OTHER then to try and be the guy with the whip so you can have extra stuff. The digital world is now very close to a tyrant system but without it you’d have people fling monkey poo at each other.

Gizmoduck > Tom McParland
07/23/2017 at 10:36

Also the people in charge of the comments are likely sick and tired of being called out for their left wing bias (which they don’t even try to hide anymore) and instead of improved articles they ban the comments hoping the problem is swept under the rug. No sirree bob! If anything the fake MSM is getting blasted to the moon but you’d have to go to sources OTHER then MSM to find it as they will just toot their own horn.

CNN/Fox/ABC.etc they are all under fire and have admitted they lie but people refuse to see it as supporters act like a death cult.