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| Settle in, Prof. IMG is about to give a condescending lecture |
Hey, everyone. Hope you had a nice weekend. Look, we all know what's been going on lately. The number of good comments is way down, and there are an ever-increasing number of burner trolls. I don't want to throw out unfounded accusations, but I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of the burner trolls are actually former DS commenters trying to torch the new comment section, because there just hasn't been enough time for a mass troll migration from Yahoo! to Deadspin yet. So, a very special fuck you to all those guys who get a kick out of ruining things for those of us still trying to make the best of things.
I've had some good friends who are legendary Deadspin commenters tell me they're done commenting and, while I don't take the threat very seriously, that still depresses the hell out of me. Kinja isn't even a month old yet and people who have been here for years, through lots of ups and downs, are thinking about throwing in the towel. You can see it in the comments here, on DS, and on Twitter. Yes, this has not gotten off to a great start, but I think about 90% of that can be blamed on the commenters who have made a choice not to try, with the other 674% falling squarely on Nick Denton (sorry, I don't understand algebra).
I remember during the last re-design, Uwe posted a mournful retirement note in DUAN. He came back a day later to ask everyone not to follow his lead, and even mentioned that a number of editors had personally emailed him. Somehow, that discussion kickstarted a lively DUAN that brought a number of commenters back into the fold. A couple days later, Gamboa unveiled Shitehawk to the world, and the rest is history. We embarked on the greatest commenting run in the three years I've been regularly reading Deadspin comments, and it lasted right up till when cheese-mac killed MBA, but that's neither here nor there.
I guess what I'm saying is, things often look their worst right before they turn the corner. There are good comments still being made, the key is getting them the attention and positive feedback they deserve. The talent is still in the building. So, comment. Comment because it's fun, comment because it makes people last, comment to piss off Nick Denton just in case your crazy conspiracy theories are right. I don't care. I just want to read funny jokes, and reading my own comments satisfies neither of those requirements.
(I'm out of town on Monday, hence the early publishing date, so please don't construe my inactivity as evidence of my massive hypocrisy, especially when there is such better evidence on display all the time)
Here's a Youtube clip to fire you up.
I don't want to throw out unfounded accusations, but ...
ReplyDeleteBUT YOU'RE A CRAZY PERSON!1!!
Seriously, though, you are right. The format is actually fine once you get used to it (or choose to avoid it via blueTonic's add in) and does nothing to prevent funny jokes or +1s. And the infamous algorithm seems to be putting the funnier comments at least in the first row - new comments/commenters still get buried, but not quite as far now. And while the insistence on "discussion forums"/"Yakspin" is annoying, it is obviously a mandate from Denton (wait, is that a conspiracy theory again?) and easily avoided if you so desire.
The burners are the only real systematic issue, but I can almost guarantee that they are the result of 1-2 people who will eventually get bored and leave if they don't get a reaction. The question is whether they will do so before or after driving you funny commenters away. I'm hoping for "before," but my guess is that even if the veterans take annoyed and leave for a while, they will eventually come back.
6 months from now, this will all look a bit silly.
Of course, by then, BHO will have rigged the election, forcibly converted us all to be the gays and the Islams, and started driving around the country inseminating our virgin mothers with his big black cock - so we'll have bigger fish to fry.
The theory that the trolls are just a handful of formerly-starred folks seems to be prevalent. Is this just a guess? I'm not saying I disagree, but I think at this point a public shaming, if possible, would be appropriate.
DeleteI don't have any proof or idea "who" it is, but let's imagine you were a hot chick who just joined Facebook and auto-programmed your account to accept all friend requests. Then, suddenly you start getting massive amounts of insanely angry and aggressive posts all either coming from the same account or coming with the exact same tone and word choice from two accounts. Would you suspect a random stranger, or an ex?
DeleteOf course, the answer is neither. You'd suspect Phintastic. But, after eliminating him, you'd probably suspect the ex. Someone has to be emotionally invested to keep up the trolling day after day.
Seriously? I tried to comment for a while, and I've been active on here. I don't have the slightest inclination to troll over there. What would be the point? I have not and will not be trolling over there. It pisses me off to see what's going on over there.
DeleteWhy would you suspect I would do that? Because I put people on blast before for being terrible? That's kind of fucked up man, but nice to know you think that way.
Phin, I was kidding. I was looking for a representative "trouble-maker" for the joke, and you were the obvious choice (well, along with me given my occasional forays at Gawker, but that didn't work so well for the joke). And I thought saying "eliminating him" made it clear that I don't suspect you - especially as you always use your real "name." No offense intended, I promise ...
DeleteI still think, maybe because I'd really hate for it to be Deadspin people, that the burners are in large part pinks who built up a massive resentment from never having one of their comments approved. Possibly especially some whose comments were made fun of in Deadspin. They finally have the opportunity to be heard and by damn they're going to relish every second of it. Some of my belief is based on the circle jerk references, some of it is that it's hard to imagine a Deadspinner crapping in their own bed like this.
DeleteI'm going try to "maintain an even strain", not do any bitching on Deadspin, and hope the algorithm evolves, which really is going to take some time. There have been large exoduses from Deadspin after prior changes, followed by many coming back, and likely the ones who didn't were already thinking about backing off already and chose the changeover as the time to do so.
And no, I can't imagine anyone thinking that any of these dolts could possibly be Phintastic. He might ream you out but by golly you're going to know it was him doing so.
@ Dubai
DeleteI guess I overreacted. No hard feelings, man.
I think Phin should be a ninja because we all know he would actually do something about the terrible comments lately.
ReplyDelete- The comment faerie mentioned that some commenters had more pull as far as ordered comments in the Kinja system are concerned.
ReplyDelete- blueTunic stated that it was adjusted to move your own comments (and your friends' comments) forward within your view of the comments.
I think they're likely both correct and the various Gawker sites have slightly different workings (sounds like "+1" responses are treated differently at Deadspin than elsewhere)and I think bT's description is likely just for Kotaku. But I'm curious...if I open the "Rawlings Sues Wilson Over Brandon Phillips' Golden Glove" post...my giant reach of a Ernest Rutherford comment is the first one listed. Is that true for others or just me?
Whatever silliness I put up shows in the first position for me. You have to log out and refresh to see your actual placement. Wish they'd just show them as they are.
DeleteJust you. I've got you in the #6 spot on that post. Sorry buddy.
DeleteHmmm. That's interesting and strangely irritating, glad I asked. I'd much rather see Kinja's ranking of the comments. Oh well, bT's Classic view fixes that issue.
DeleteIt's more Raysism friendly that way.
DeleteYeah. I've tried to use Kinja as much as possible and wean myself off of the Classic view so I've noticed it quite a bit lately.
DeleteIt would be nice to eliminate that feature, as it would be beneficial to our self-evaluations as commenters. Until they do, I guess logging out and refreshing the page is the next best option.
Appropos of nothing, my stupid opinion is that there are many bugs yet to work out with Kinja. Witness my not being able to load comments, which is a pain after reading the articles. Granted, it's my work computer so I probably should be working not screwing around, but isn't that the American Way?
DeleteThere was an initial problem with a setting for IE, that was resolved, now this loading bs. It makes for a long boring day.
E-stinko
For those interested in checking their position in line on a given thread, logging out is unnecessary if you're using Chrome or Firefox. In Chrome, just open an incognito window (File > New Incognito Window), and in Firefox choose Tools > Start Private Browsing. Then navigate to Deadspin. You won't be logged in, so you can check whatever threads you like, and when you close the incognito window or stop private browsing, you'll be back where you came from, logged in and all. Still too many steps for my liking, but for me it's quicker than logging out and logging back in. Of course, that may be because I use incognito windows whenever I'm scopin' out the nugget porn forums.
DeleteInstead of raising your hand to ask a question in class, how about individual push buttons on each desk? That way, when you want to ask a question, you just push the button and it lights up a corresponding number on a tote board at the front of the class. Then all the professor has to do is check the lighted number against a master sheet of names and numbers to see who is asking the question.
Delete@ Mantis Toboggan, M.D.
DeleteCool. It opens a second browser session in Chrome so you're flipping on the bottom of the screen instead of the top, but that let's you leave it open. Then you just have to navigate to whichever post you're interested in.
And the incognito is, in and of itself, pretty cool. No history, no cookies, etc. Likely will come in handy.
Thanks a bunch.
(I wasn't making fun of your solution, Mantis. I'm making fun of the fact that our placement in the system is considered important, but the default is to just put you up front, so you can't check yourself to see what Kinja thinks of you without resorting to ridiculous workarounds. How about creating different views?)
ReplyDelete-RAC
Figured, and my response was purely in jest, just wanted to get in some Handey of my own. Best friends again?
Delete/creates "MKMIsUltimateBastardButMantisTobogganIsMyUltimateFriend.blogspot.com
DeleteThat's how we do HEARTED on Blogspot meta meta blogs, right?
Edit: There is no joke being made.
ReplyDeleteGod damnit!
The LEAST he could have done is reference the OBSCURE death of a MINOR celebrity!
ReplyDeleteSo it looks like some of the weaker burner accounts are not showing on the Blue Tonic format.
ReplyDeleteNot complaining, just an observation.
The thought of the Kinja algorithm being able to do the same makes my nipples hard.
DeleteAny place doing comment recaps anymore like shitehawk was?
ReplyDeleteGuys, I think we may be spending too much time discussing algorithms and burners, and not enough time discussing my win in the recent caption contest:
ReplyDeletehttp://deadspin.com/5924345/the-yankees-really-flexed-their-muscles-at-fenway-park-this-weekend