You know what I love about the new system over there? The part about how it created the need for a forum in which the bossman LINKED OUR LITTLE BALOG! As a result, pageviews over here shot through the roof, which led to an equally dramatic spike in my profit sharing account, which in turn bolstered my collection of toys/figurines to a level I never thought possible. This is all I ever wanted.
You know what else I love about it? No, seriously, do you? I can't really think of anything.
But if sacrificing some entertainment value and readability over there leads to an increase in the same over here, that's a trade that I guess I can live with. Mostly because of the toys/figurines.
I'll be playing with them while you generate pageviews below. I recognize your value, even if I know damn well that everyone comes here for the stories. Set it to balog view, "show all" and party like it's yesterday underneath this song you won't listen to. It's open.
Hello. I have honestly been out of the office for the past few days, and I now can't sign in. I'm sure this question has already been answered and I am sorry, can someone direct me to where this was discussed?
ReplyDeleteClear the cache, history, everything. Restart your browser. Should work then.
DeleteThen buy a new computer, a subscription to iTunes, some Bose speakers with the extended warranty, pray over the bones of a deceased cat, incant something in Sanskrit, and wait 40 days.
DeleteI would murder the Hot Pocket guy with my bare hands if I knew who it was.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. It's not funny at all. And I love Lean Pockets.
DeleteYeah, that's one really sad individual. It's one thing to write a script to do it automatically but it's another thing to click around DUAN and reply to everyone manually - sad.
DeleteIMG, Joe Money disagrees with your middle class theories:
ReplyDeletehttp://deadspin.com/5921212/?comment=50397721
Well, dude has no idea what insurance runs on even an entry level Gulfstream.
DeleteAll of those crappy replies we would get from people to our jokes that drove us up a wall that weren't +1's? Well, it's about to get a lot worse now.
ReplyDeleteI guess you can dismiss them though, huh?
DeleteYup, the only real risk is that a bunch of trolls make it a habit of fighting amongst themselves. But hopefully the comment faerie would step in and put a stop to that if it gets ugly.
DeleteDismissing is the only way we have to shape the comment section anymore, so I plan on using it if necessary. There's no sense in getting into an argument about it in the thread when you have that tool at your disposal.
DeleteAnything that isn't a "+1" or an "I love you so much, sweatingmullets" gets dismissed. Not that it matters anyway as their algorithm seems to have me flagged as a shitty commenter, because every comment I've attempted to post is getting buried.
DeleteTo add insult to injury for those of you that prefer it, blog view will also be going away:
ReplyDeletehttp://gizmodo.com/5921328/?comment=50398361
To be replaced by DENTON VIEW!
DeleteIMG, why do we have to do the CAPTCHA every time we post? Is there a setting you can change to make it so if you have a google account you only have to do the CAPTCHA once per session (or not at all)?
ReplyDeleteLet me set out some construction cones and see what I can do about that.
Delete::men at work:::
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BUwjJf-N1EE/SeAabcf8DMI/AAAAAAAAA-w/D8_MWh9frDA/s320/page-under-construction2.gif
DeleteBut, that's not to say that I don't like inputting house numbers for Google Maps...
Okay, so it appears to be an all or nothing deal. No way to disable it just for registered users. The options are:
Delete(a) Restrict commenting to registered users; no anonymous comments; no captcha
(b) Allow anonymous commenting; no captcha; deal with lots of spam
(c) The current settings
I honestly never put any thought into this when I set the place up, because it was never supposed to be a real blog, just a joke for MKM in a random DUAN, but I guess my preference is to leave things as is. But this is a balogocracry, so let your opinions be known.
If it's all-or-nothing then I agree that you should leave it how it is. You don't want to have to watch the site 24/7 and I can guarantee you some goofball would abuse the system sooner or later. Plus, I use Google Maps so it's like giving back.
DeleteAlso, thanks for looking into it. I appreciate that.
DeleteNow that my 24-hour sulking period is over, here are my two cents on Kinja that nobody asked for.
ReplyDeleteDoes it suck right now? Absolutely.
Are there a lot of tweaks that need to be made? Sure are.
Have we all developed an irrational hatred for hot pockets? Probably.
Do I completely understand the nuances of Kinja yet? Not even close.
Are KOAN and TUAN better alternatives than DUAN under the current commenting structure? Yes.
Do I miss my star? Uh-huh.
Do I still believe that Deadspin commenters are the funniest motherfuckers on the internet, and that regardless of the commenting system we are given, we will find a way to make it work and continue to bring the funny? Yes.
This will require patience. There will be a period of frustration while the kinks are worked out of the system. I will probably never like the new system as much as I did the old one. Hopefully, at some point I won't hate it as much as I currently do. However, I still believe that the commenting community that has been created at Deadspin is still the best that there is in the sports blog and dick joke universe, and it's worth the effort to see this through. I will continue to try to make funny comments, and when I stumble into other people's hilarious jokes, I will +1 them accordingly.
I don't like this anymore than the rest of you. In fact, I'd go so far as to call it a complete disaster, but it will get better. Keep up the funny, and everything will work itself out*.
* - In the event that it doesn't work itself out, I'm sure that IMG would be more than happy to put on a team of writers and programmers to provide us with daily, free content driven by non-comment related advertising revenue, and implement the approval/star system that we all miss so much. So, there's always that too.
Yup, my thoughts exactly, including the key element of TRYING to make funny comments. +1
DeleteShould this bring you any joy, as it does me, here is a Jezbian who fled to the newly formed "GroupThink" on Gawker (to take the place of the Jez version) in response to the transition of Kinja onto Jezebel today, where they have a total comment shutdown. If there is one upside to this mess, it is the mass expression of histrionic personality disorder that is Jezebel, as they face the brave new world of trolls, or in their vernacular, "MRAs" ('men's rights advocates).
DeleteFirst I wake up to no groupthink, and now I just got a phone call from the guy I'd been on 3 amazing dates with (and slept with on the last one) that he doesn't want to see me anymore. I hate today and I hate my life right now. *sob*
It's encouraging to see the much-vaunted Kinja algorithm has placed 5th in the Daily Screencap a comment from a burner account named "fagspin" that was, perhaps surprisingly, critical of Mr. Burke's piece.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to ignore those comments and let them "sit in the corner to eat paste" when other burners are pumping them with replies. Trolls are going to be the biggest hurdle for Kinja.
DeleteThey really should have a wordlist to block the registering of burner accounts with words such as "fag" in them. If every video game company with online interaction can do it, I'm sure it's not rocket science to implement.
Burners aren't weighted the same way registered accounts are. One reply by a registered user is worth, like, fifty burner replies. That's how we get rid of burner trolls: we talk to each other.
DeleteTwoGasolsOneCup and RayLewisAndTheNews,
ReplyDeleteThe trick is to not respond at all to trolls. You're just encouraging him. No matter how snarky, or mean, or destructive your responses to him are...any response is considered a success. It's like a small child banging on the glass at the zoo. Whether an animal looks over, attacks the glass, or flings its shit at the annoyance, the kid's just pumped at the attention.
Miserable Shitehawk, if you're listening, I just wanted you to know that no one is going to blame you if you drop the daily roundup, or do it less frequently. No one should be expected to click through all of this shit just so an handful of us can touch ourselves.
ReplyDeleteSpeak for yourself, Ray. Some of us have more than just a handful.
Delete#SMALLJOHNSONBOOMROAST
I think we all need to expect a little break - or perhaps a long break - from MBA until the comments get back into some sort of reasonably accessible format. The guy is a hero, and he's done more than we could ever ask. No one should have to wade through 20 posts of Kinja sub-categories to put together a free roundup.
DeleteActually, his Monday roundup just went up. Shorter than normal, but cripes, can you blame him?
DeleteSo, I was just about to post "over/under on number of "Smooth" or "Supernatural" jokes in the Carlos Santana thread" when RMJ=H got it started.
ReplyDeleteI'll set it at 4, if only because i don't expect more than 10 replies.
Update: Big Sloppy moves us to 2.
DeleteAh. I decided to drop mine.
DeleteDude!
DeleteI was just goofing around here. Don't delete on my account.
Besides, I'm about to post my worst comment ever in that thread.
DeleteNo, I decided to drop before I read this.
DeleteAnd... then I couldn't do anything at all.
Deadspin just go down for anyone else?
ReplyDeleteI guess it would be more accurate to say "slow to such a crawl it's effectively unusable."
DeleteYup, me too. Thereby saving all of you from having to read "Carli-toes Way"
DeleteOne too many "Smooth"/"Supernatural" jokes.
DeleteYup. Pretty sure I just posted the same comment 8 times in the Carlos Santana post.
DeleteI was going to give it another try today, to see if I could start liking Kinja, but since the site doesn't even barely function, I guess I'll have to wait for another day.
DeleteBack up.
DeleteYou back up.
Delete+1
DeleteI was going to save my Top Ten list for later, but since Deadspin is down...
ReplyDeleteMaybe the kinja is attacking its tormentors, a-la King Kong.
DeleteJust in case anybody missed it, yesterday's comment of the day was left in the IFL van post. Hint; it was me.
ReplyDeletehttp://deadspin.com/5921091/?comment=50394199
Because that is a comment to be made by a clown.
DeleteSo you anonymous stiffs are capable of humour.
Delete/+1
That joke is terrible.
DeleteThis is precisely the kind of candid and honest discussion that this site provides.
DeleteThanks, IMG, for both the platform and quite possibly the above comment ;)
Not me. And I've never responded anonymously on this site or elsewhere. If I think your comment sucks, I'll just tell you.
DeleteCobra, I think your comment sucks :)
I do what I can, IMG.
Delete/+1
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTDK gets an earful from "RetardMike." Whether or not RetardMike is trying to be funny, he's not.
ReplyDeletelobstr doesn't understand your crazy sport games.
ReplyDeleteIn Soviet Russia, baseball appeals you!
Delete@img
Delete[dying]
Well, Denton finally jumped into the thread Steve_U started and I jacked (and jacked up) by getting into what I hope was a civil fight with Tommy over whether this was change was monetarily motivated. Here is Nick's response.
ReplyDeleteIn case direct linking doesn't work, he said (in response to my claim that Tommy's "we don't count pageviews" response was misleading at best given Nick's own interview):
"Most tech journalists are foremost business journalists. We briefed them before the launch of the new discussion system. They obviously want to understand the "business model" of internet discussions.
Now I do have some ideas of what "sponsored conversations" might look like -- and I shared my speculation. Felix quite naturally took that as his angle. Next time I'll refuse to be drawn!
But the central business model was and is this: make a compelling experience for readers and future readers and the money will take care of itself. Yeah, naive, I know!"
That is a fair response, and I'm glad he didn't deny that he wants to monetize comments. But, his final line is simply ridiculous - everything he does is calculated, not naive.
But, I'm done with the argument. As I told Tommy, we'll find a way to make it work if we can, and they'll find a way to make money if they can.
Just a guess, but it seems like he's responding to your use of the word "naive" up the thread.
Delete@Anon,
DeleteI know. But he also is implying that he is just rolling it out and hoping for the best, which we know isn't true.
Unrelated, I did reply as did he with the following:
"We did have a LIVE page which showed all replies in reverse chronological order. But then we got complaints that our system had allowed in too much junk. One can't win!"
I think that if they do implement a chronological view option, the new system would work just fine. Perhaps if we keep asking?
You are a crazy person.
ReplyDeleteThis analysis was meant for Dubai up there. I died before the internet was invented. Give me a break.
DeleteThis is, what, the fourth time you've gone with "crazy person"? Trolling is fine, but at least make it creative. Or explanatory - I mean, my wife and employer would both agree with you, but I doubt you are them.
DeleteOr, really, anything but this dull repetition.
Well, "Hand to God," I've never complained about not being able to "drop gold" or any such nonsense. Find a counter-example.
DeleteI, like about three dozen other people, questioned the effectiveness and motivation of the switch. The EIC and the owner of the site engaged, so I replied and we eventually came to a constructive option which Denton seemed amenable to.
You, on the other hand, spend your time not making comments, but telling other people (anonymously) to "just make fucking comments" while hiding behind a stupid moniker. But, yes, I'm the crazy one.
Have some balls and use your handle so we can learn from your "gold," or shut the fuck up.
Somehow, Dubai's last response got caught in the SPAM filter and I'm going to leave it there, not because I am taking sides in this beef, but because you are both retards. Let's cool out and focus on the real enemy, this Abe Sauer dude none of us had heard of until this morning.
DeleteSo I've had the response notifier reset on me a few times. No big deal, kind of fun to see it open up and read "52 new replies" or whatever it is. But now it's just stuck on "2". And if I click on it, it just reads "View your inbox", with no names listed...and my inbox hasn't changed from the last reply being AOBTS last night.
ReplyDeleteThat's going to drive me nuts.
All I ever see is: you have 1 response from RMJ=H
DeleteGreg from Gawker Tech has some interesting things to say when he comments.
ReplyDeletehttp://deadspin.com/people/gregt
(click on comments to read him)
Here's the best one!
DeleteGreg [Gawker Tech] Greg [Gawker Tech] @heymeitsyou 6 hours ago REPLY
Drawing stars in avatars is actually kind of funny. It's sort of akin to making yourself a police badge from cardboard and pinning it to your shirt. I think we did that in second grade. It doesn't mean anything and eventually you grow up and stop playing cops and robbers. People will stop doing it once they realize it doesn't mean anything.
SO SUCK ON THAT, RAYSISM AND FREEMAN MCNEIL!!1!
I enjoyed Greg's take on the quality of comments:
Delete"...once people achieved stardom, they coasted on it and they took it for granted. Then they would get pissed if they lost it. Now, every comment counts."
He must mean that they will count "financially".
That didn't make any sense at all. Why do they count? Because you might get dismissed? Oooh, what a deterrent. Even if you get banned by a Fairy (why not Kinja Ninjas) you can just jump right back in with a new burner. Big deal.
DeleteThat depends entirely on how invested your are in your pseudonym.
DeleteAccording to Gizmodo this morning, there is no more banning at all. Apparently that was a hot topic over there - people were really happy to hear that. Now whether that's Gizmodo-specific or network-wide, I dunno.
DeleteBut I'm with Phin - the new system theoretically encourages unfunny marginal people like myself. I avoided commenting because the downside was losing my star and/or getting moved to HineyHoleIsland and/or showing up on MBA or here; the upside was a +1. Now, there is no downside (except actually having to wade through the cesspool of the navigation system), and the upside is the same.
He must not see how good my star looks pinned to my pleather vest.
DeleteThere's been a lot of discussion about the mechanics of Kinja, and rightfully so. But I'm also disappointed in the execution by the writers and staff, many of whom seem not to care or understand what a good comment even looks like (Tommy being an obvious exception, I think).
ReplyDeleteTake this for instance. It's annoying to have someone reply seriously to your joke. It's more annoying to have someone else reply to that reply. It's even more annoying if the subsequent reply is from a writer. That's all true even if the initial reply is coherent, interesting, and not written by a moronic troll.
But "#S ... T ... F ... UUUUUUUUU" gets a fucking reply from the staff? Are you kidding me? That's garbage, Koblin. And you're encouraging it. Stop.
Lionel, I'd send a PM but they aren't up and running yet. Hope you don't mind, I took a slightly different path to a nearly identical joke on the Beadle post.
ReplyDeleteNo problem, my man. To be honest, yours was a lot funnier.
DeleteSo the DeWayne Wise post tonight has only 2 comments from commenters I actually recognize, and a plethora of terribleness from burner accounts. This is the moment where it really hit me, this "no ban, everyone gets a voice" thing really removed all enjoyment from Deadspin. I held hope that the "discussion" section would still be good after the switch, but this was a dose of reality.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Gawker. You've officially transitioned into the world of "everyone gets a participation ribbon, everyone is equal." It was the quality of comments, not the quantity, that kept people coming back. Whereas before it was a 1:1 bad comment/good comment ratio, it is now more like 5/1.