Allowing Comments, Good or Bad?

Because of the advanced technology, we have embraced online newspapers and online news sites for many years. Many benefits come with the launch of online news sites; one of them is the immediate response from readers. However, not everyone - or every newspaper- is happy and open to see that happen.

Why? I first did not understand why someone did not want to hear from their readers. Then I listened very carefully in my class discussion today, and came to understand their difficulties and concerns about readers' comments.

When thinking about online comments, I cannot ignore the fact that a good number of them are emotional and aggressive comments which attack the authors or publishers for no reason or simply for fun. The most outrageous comments I've ever seen are mostly on Youtube. A simple news coverage on Youtube could result in people giving abusive speeches and insulting one another in comments. Because of these uncontrollable reasons and people, I understand why some newspapers or news sites do not allow comments on their news articles.

The Exponent is one of those who do not allow readers' comments on their websites. It may seem just fine when nothing serious happens. But what about when an incident occurred last Friday that the "Sex Position of the Week" provoked a massive anger of Purdue students? According to many of the Exponent writers, they published the sex position on Friday and received angry emails from readers right afterward, but since the newspaper didn't run in weekends, they had to wait till Monday to file an apology.

I could imagine that things could get worse if they had allowed readers' comments on their website. One of the possible consequences is that the sudden huge flow of comments might crash the website or cause online traffic. However, not allowing comments on their websites didn't mean that people would just shut up. Instead, people commented on their blogs and on Facebook like they did over the past weekend. From the way I see this incident, not allowing reader's comments did not protect writers from receiving angry comments. Instead, they limited themselves from responding immediately to the offended readers.

I'm not an expert on this issue. I just think it might help if the Exponent could establish a place in which Purdue faculty and students could express their opinions and exchange thoughts. Because, after all, if you do not let them talk on your website, people will always find ways to express them.