What Responsibility Does the Triond Author Have to Regulate the Comment Section

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What Responsibility Does the Triond Author Have to Regulate the Comment Section

Posted on May 31st, 2009 in Online Writing by Jo Oliver

Anyone that has written a Triond article on a controversial topic can attest that it usually produces a diverse collection of comments. Often those comments produce a debate in the comment section. Sometimes it doesn’t even take a controversial topic, often it is just a very subjective topic. However, my question is what responsibility does the Triond writer have to regulate or interject in the debate?

If friends and family of the author respond to a comment, should the author make a disclosure or declaration that the commenter is a relative or friend? Does the author have an obligation to make a comment to clarify that the opinion of the relative/ friend does or does not reflect their own opinion?

I think not! If an author wishes to address a specific comment, thank the readers, etc.. that at their own discretion to do so or not. However, it should never be assumed that an alike name or a professed family member or personal friend is reflecting the authors views. The author stated their views in the article, and if not, then it is the authors’ right to withhold their personal view.

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I recently had an experience where I wrote a news article about a boy with cancer here. It was a controversial subject to say the least. It invoked a mass of responses reflecting both sides of the issue. My mother was one of the commenter’s. She and another commenter got into a rather heated debate about the boys plight, parental rights, law, etc.. My mother disclosed who she was during the debate. Although I agreed with some of what my mother said and had my own thoughts that I would have liked to add to the debate, I decided to abstain since I felt it would be inappropriate to double team or gang up on one of my readers. Instead, I wrote a second article here to further explore the comment section of the news article, bring the readers to the issue from a different perspective, and have a chance to inject some of my personal opinion.

Apparently, it greatly offended the commenter that my mother debated with. The commenter published her own article. However, much of her article was not aimed at the topic or debate with my mother. It was aimed at me. The author took the subject of my articles and combined it with the comment section opinion of my mother. Only problem was that the author did not distinguish between me, my article, and my opinion with my mother and her opinion. The author let her readers believe that I and my mother were one in the same. The author did not even link to either article to provide context. I will repay the favor here. Of course, I commented politely to clarify that the author had confused my opinion and Triond article with the comment section. Instead of realizing the mistake, the author justified mixing my article in with the comment section like this:

“An author is usually the one who writes back but in this case, you are correct in saying that at no time did you, personally, comment on any of my comments…although it did seem a bit confusing at the beginning with the same last name and all. However, in my opinion, you seem to have felt that your mom was doing just fine in putting forth your opinions to me because you allowed your mom to repeatedly comment for you when, in actuality, you as the author probably should have been the one to initially respond to me…or to at least clarify somewhere along the line that although you and your mom share the same last name and all, your mom was speaking only for herself. However, you chose to not clarify anything but, instead, wrote a second article which mirrored the views of your mom from the first article…and now you are angry that one of your commentators feels as though you allowed another person to answer for you……….” “….author wishes to appear maligned in a situation that the author, herself, allowed to happen in the first case…which, in my opinion, is unprofessional.”

Just so we are clear, my mother was posting as “Chloe Oliver.” My Triond name is “Jo Oliver.” Despite the clear name difference…. according to this author, if an author does not want to have his/her opinions mistaken with that of the comment section they should:

1. Make a disclosure that any alike name is not one in the same with the author.
2. Make a declaration what the author does and does not agree with from every family and friend that makes a comment.
3. Make a declaration that family and friends posting comments do not have the authority to speak for the author.
4. The author should be the first person to respond to commenter’s.
5. An author should not allow a debate to take place in the comment section between a reader and relative unless the author gets involved in the “situation” as well.

Interesting! I wonder when I will ever have time to write new pieces, for Triond since apparently in order not to be called unprofessional, slandered, and not have my opinions misrepresented …. I need to take several hours a day regulating, making disclosures, and personal declarations on over 17 pages of Triond articles.

What say you? How much responsibility does a Triond author have when it comes to the comment section?

NOTE: No one is allowed to reflect my opinion for me. All friends and family please clarify that you are only offering your own opinion and not reading my mind.

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Tags: articles, author, Comment section, debate, How To, professionalism, regulation, triond, writer, Writing, writing advice

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25 Responses to “What Responsibility Does the Triond Author Have to Regulate the Comment Section”

hiho
May 31st, 2009 at 5:22 am

I think everyone is entitled to their opinion and you only have to read my article “All Men Cheat” and the accompanying comments to know that I am not afraid to say what I think. If people misinterpret its meaning, or expressly disagree and tear strips off of me, then I have to refrain from obscenities and cop it on the chin. However, no-one should cop a disgruntled commentator’s wrath, particularly when they themselves, are supposed to be commenting on your article, not on other people’s comments..that’s what blog-sites are for. It dosen’t matter who makes the comment, whether it’s a stranger, your dentist, your best friend, your neighbour, your grandmother or your mother..YOU ARE ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINION WHETHER YOU ARE THE AUTHOR OF AN ARTICLE OR THE AUTHOR OF A COMMENT AND YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO JUSTIFY THAT OPINION TO ANYONE!. I consider you to be one of the most eloquent, intelligent, resourceful, complaisant, endearing writers in the Triond community and for anyone to accuse you of malice is just sad or is it jealousy..who cares Jo. I personally have not invited friends and family because I am worried that their opinions might be too subjective and argumentative. If I did invite my family and friends to view my work and they made a comment that did not reflect my views, I would be very annoyed..but what do you do? Chloe’s your mum and she has an opinion and a right to voice it. I think this article is one of the best you’ve written to date..what a bold, brave move and that’s why I like you..don’t stress princess!!
Uma Shankari
May 31st, 2009 at 6:28 am

Hey, I have an article coming on the topic you have so nicely argued ( about parental rights…). That said, any relative is a reader entitled to his/her opinion. You only have to clarify your own stand, nobody else’s. Similarly, no one needs to argue for you or against you; they can argue for or against your point.
papaleng
May 31st, 2009 at 9:41 am

let us (writer/reader) are entitled to his/her own opinion on a subject matter, be it opposing to majority of the readers. as commenter, bear in mind that there is an unseen etiquette one should apply. One of this proper conduct is to respect each commentor’s opinion regardless his affiliation with the author.
B Nelson
May 31st, 2009 at 9:51 am

You have the responsibilty to delete SPAM, comments unrelated to your article
you have the responsibility to delete vulgar comments.

Remember – every hit on your article, every comment, good or bad, is still ATTENTION for your article, as such if you can launch a good debate – people will come back just to read the comments.

I do not think Trionders should be writting anything that is a personal attack on each other, that is just unprofessional and discredits us all.. attacking former President Bush on the other hand, is always welcome!
Athlyn Green
May 31st, 2009 at 11:03 am

It can be troubling when our words are misconstrued or when something someone else has written is said to have originated from us.

I usually will attempt to clear up any confusion for readers but if a commenter continues to cause trouble I, at times, delete, comments that muddy the issue.

Another Triond writer alerted me to the fact that writers can actually delete comments that are insulting.
DA Cournean
May 31st, 2009 at 11:06 am

I feel bad that you have run into this problem. You are a terrific writer!
Joe Dorish
May 31st, 2009 at 12:03 pm

Jo, my feeling is that Triond just does not pay us enough to deal with the comments section to any great degree.
Mama Heartfilled
May 31st, 2009 at 12:12 pm

She is clearly the one out of line here, not you Jo.
BoJack
May 31st, 2009 at 12:19 pm

This is a tough one.I don’t like being berated for something I worked on,I also fail to see how even while in a heated arguement,if I’m Bo Russo and a comment is posted by Jim Russo, you’d have to be pretty stupid to think the two the same person,it sucks that antagonizers are out there or they just seem lost on the fact of what you are trying to tell them,I never have and never will get that,they want so bad to get their turn to fire back at you that they are blind to the points you’ve made,if we cold all just ignore it that would be fine, but that’s not reality.

Beyond that,the word opinion is vastly understood and sickenly overused.There IS such a thing as an incorrect opinion.Some people will argue blatent indisputable facts all day long and call it an opinion,while others sit on the fence to see what the majority will do,those types I have zero tolerance or use for.I hate the word opinion. Most people don’t have a clue as to what it means,and it is a simple word really.
JLEck
May 31st, 2009 at 12:55 pm

I have disagreed with you and have agreed with you, but I’ve never held your views against you. I think you have never held my views against me. We play on a fairly level field and respect the others points. I have even taken your article to the forum and disagreed with you there.<A HREF=”http://newsflavor.com/world/usa-canada/cell-phones-banned-after-massachusetts-trolley-crash/” THIS ONE I however, would not hold you responsible for what anyone else said in response to my view toward your work…That would be ridiculous! I would expect the people responding to/commenting on my work to believe what they want, say what they want, think what they want as long as they pay attention to the situation in such a way as to not confuse my views with someone else’s. If that were to happen, I would have to correct them as you have obviously done here. I hope the debate goes on for you as views pile up that way!;)
Goodselfme
May 31st, 2009 at 2:53 pm

I have also posted something that was not the NORM. Isn’t it great that we live in a country that allows us the freedoms to voice our words. This goes without saying that these words are not always LIKE the readers believe, think or agree.I would not, and did not, in my controversal piece debate or further post anything more. I think you chose your territory well.
Ruby Hawk
May 31st, 2009 at 3:48 pm

I am of the opinion that it’s out of the authors hands after she posts her article. People are free to make any comment they care to. I wouldn’t be concerned about any comments. If anything it’s to the authors advantage when there is controversy. it brings more clicks to your article.
Liane Schmidt
May 31st, 2009 at 6:38 pm

Wow, this is quite a unique situation. I truly believe that “freedom” to do what you want to do is the key in any situation. Just because you write something there is no guarantee that you have to follow it with anything else.

I have often heard that one of the things most feared by the majority of the world is “public speaking” – - very equal to writing. You’re putting your heart and soul on paper for the world to do as it will. People will always interpret things from their perspective, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is a reflection of the truth. Even if you did comment back to this person, she may not have understood your mindset and often you have to simply choose to focus your attention on those who do understand you.

Thank you for the courage for sharing this piece.

Blessings.

Sincerely,

-Liane Schmidt.
Joshua Miguel
May 31st, 2009 at 8:48 pm

Personally, I think the responsibility of the author is just to delete vulgar and unrelated comments from his readers. The author already expressed himself through his article, so what’s the purpose of reacting to comments?
skylite
May 31st, 2009 at 9:05 pm

Well … In My Opinion that is just plain juvenille on that individuals behalf to think that this would be possible, for starters we are not paid enough on this site to take the time to spend all day responding back to comments made by everyone especially in a heated debate. And as you already stated, one would never have the time to write another article because they could spend their entire day trying to respond back to comments made by others. I don’t beleive that for a site like this, that there should be any responsiblity to comment back. It should be up to the author and what they choose to do with those that respond to their articles….. I agree 100% with what you have to say ( I am not as good with words as you are to express what I am trying to say
kate smedley
June 1st, 2009 at 2:57 am

I think I am with Ruby on this but also keep in mind that you can delete any comments you are really unhappy with Jo. I never get the mindset of people who have to be excessively confrontational or critical to prove a point. The article in question was well written and your arguments well presented as they always are.
swatilohani
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:56 am

rich on content Jo, marvellous
Cashmere Lashkari
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:23 pm

Jo, Its her problem. Not yours. You are under no obligation to clarify who is commenting on your article. Half the time the people who comment on the articles have never met you in person. Okay in this case it was your mom, but have you ever met me? No , so how can you take responsibility for all your commentators?
Doug Oldfield
June 5th, 2009 at 6:57 pm

First of all let me make it clear that I am not the author, nor am I related to the author. Also, my name is not anything like the authors. So, my opinion is that once the article is finished the author has no responsibility to even read let alone referee any comments on the article.
Adam Henry Sears
June 6th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

Well, in all propriety, some level of decencey and responsibility should be adhered to by everyone. When people cross that line because of bias or misinterpretation, that’s their problem—why cause more of it simply because their words were injurious? There’s a difference between defending the truth and being vengeful. Retaliation is what continues the cycle and it is also where that cycle should be broken. Why can we not as humans simply make the truth be known and leave it at that? Why don’t we just let our yes be yes and our no be no? Because we are too attached to our feelings? Feelings are fleeting things. This is not meant as an attack against anyone, it is simply a statement based on your article.
Debra.
June 7th, 2009 at 10:30 pm

If the remarks are disparaging in anyway, then I’d delete them. However, if the remarks are an opinion, whether in agreement or not, about my articles subject matter than I may respond in the comment section to that person. Sometimes, another opinion can be crucial to the article itself.
Debra.
June 7th, 2009 at 10:35 pm

A logical and thought-provoking piece, Jo! Great article!
Anne McNew
June 8th, 2009 at 12:50 am

I suggest you should not react. It will fire up a simple argument. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. After all you don’t know each other personally.

Better click on the “comments” and delete those that you don’t feel like to read. lol

YOU CANNOT PLEASE EVERYONE. Ignore.
Theresa Johnson
July 26th, 2009 at 12:23 am

sorry to hear that something like that happened to you
Andromeda
August 26th, 2009 at 9:22 am

I write tame articles for Triond, but have had a doozy of a time dealing with the comments on my HubPages articles, some of which are controversial. I wanted to expose a top-moneymaker for plagiarism. I did not include her name but alluded to it. I made the mistake of personally messaging the name of the plagiarizer to a couple of close ‘Hubbers’. I had to take down the article because of crazy stuff that was being said. I never have any intentions of hurting someone’s credibility because I don’t particularly agree with their opinion. I will post my adverse opinion respecfully. I like Triond for the respect within the community, occassional bad apples notwithstanding.