This may seem to be an odd position for me to take...

Maximilien

"We also plan to open the comments section on select articles that lend themselves to vigorous and intelligent discussion. We hope you'll chime in with your brightest thoughts. " They still keep the door open to enable comments for select articles/topics.

I'd rather be phishing!

Mike Hankey

I think it is the right decision, most the time people don't want to debate or discuss intellectual issues they just want to throw up BS that isn't germane (yeah I know a big word for me) to the issue. Unless it's a forum where there are mostly regulars and can be self moderated like the lounge it just doesn't work. I say self moderated because I'm sure they don't have the resources to moderate and baby sit. It's a shame though that someone with a real issue of insightful (yeah another $5 word) bit of knowledge is now silenced because of the 5% that think the internet is the place to be a child.

VS2010/Atmel Studio 6.1 ToDo Manager Extension The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard. -Steven Wright

OriginalGriff

So moderate it. If you have to, do what some sites do and moderate all messages before publication. Burning all letters unopened because you don't want your wife to see the credit card bill is hardly the ideal solution! :laugh:

The only instant messaging I do involves my middle finger.

Pete OHanlon

harold aptroot wrote:

Isn't this vaguely ironic?

Precisely the effect I was aiming for.

Chill _Maxxx_
CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

W Balboos GHB

Admittedly comments get crazy on the internet, but Yahoo! has articles with no comments. When any of these are scientific in general, and chemistry-based in particular, I often want to scream at their stupidity. A good way to gain confidence is to never be questioned or corrected - for the simpleminded, at least.

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert

"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

Richard Andrew x64

It's tough to swallow, but I grow weary of every article on anthropology or evolution turning into a debate on creationism v. evolution.

The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.

Lost User

I tend to agree; just go to the comments section of any contentious, or sometimes not, "news" article on the UK news sites and see some of the moronic drivel that gets posted. Norman Tebbit often comments about this on DT when people make vile personal attacks on him, in response to some article he has written, while ignoring the content of the article.

Veni, vidi, abiit domum

GuyThiebaut

I tend towards thinking that when it comes to the internet it is best to allow comments. My perception is that comments tend to be self policing in that really ridiculous comments tend to get the ridicule they deserve. There again when it comes to science the vast majority of people do not fully understand what the scientific method is and may confuse comments with peer review. That said I would rather see the controversy through comments than have to read peer review articles as I am lazy...

“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

― Christopher Hitchens

RedDk

Thought: "Nature" way above informative, not necessarily on-line and commentable. "Popular Science", as lamentable a rag as "Scientific American".

Lost User

Who will moderate the moderators?

MVVM # - I did it My Way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

Lost User

The idiots have won.

Peter Wasser Art is making something out of nothing and selling it. Frank Zappa

Mark_Wallace

Rorschach!

I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

Mark_Wallace

If I read an article that's been composed by someone who knows what they're talking about, and has done research to arrive at their findings, why do I need to follow that up by reading comments from people who don't know what they're talking about, and whose research study only goes so far as Wikipedia (at best)? As for moderation: it's not a forum, it's a magazine, and the point of a magazine is to report news and issues that are important within the scope of the magazine, not to run a playpen. If I believe that the findings of an article are in error, or that some detail has been missed or could also be researched, or even just to congratulate the composer on a job well done, I can write the composer. Why would I want to inform the magazine?

I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

grralph1

It is a dilemma as you indicate, but I agree with you that their decision is (most likely) the right one.

"Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read." Frank Zappa 1980

grralph1

Mike Hankey wrote:

....is now silenced because of the 5% that think the internet is the place to be a child.

I agree with your post completely, except for the last bit quoted above, specifically the bits in big/bold. In the defence of the child. 1. You sound like a teacher. 2. Choosing the word child, instead of elphanting idiots, or something more inventive, was an unfortunate mistake. 3. Your Childist comments spoilt your whole post. 4. Childism like all forms of discrimination distracts the reader from the real issues of your post. 5. The child is not driven by fundamentalism, politics, religion, idiocy or plain bloody mindedness. ...and finally 6 Whilst I get your drift, I do think that 5% is a gross underestimation. ...and really finally Sorry, but I just couldn't help doing this in this over politically correct world and if you had the ability to turn comments to you post OFF then you wouldn't have to put up with this drivel. :thumbsup:

"Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read." Frank Zappa 1980

Lost User

:)

MVVM # - I did it My Way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

ExcellentOrg

Boy oh Boy, Glad to know that Talib is alive and well and now running Popular Science

Black68cougar

I think the name of the rag says it all, even though that name is an oxymoron --- Popular Science --- Not real science or actual science, just popular science And they are THE ones to declare what is popular

KLPounds

I have absolutely nothing relevant to contribute to this discussion other than saying at least my child can beat up your child ;P

PhilLenoir

Long live Pastafarianism and the Flying Spaghetti Monster! :)

Life is like a s**t sandwich; the more bread you have, the less s**t you eat.