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The Cruel Power of Comments

By Aaron Tersteeg (Intel) (126 posts) on August 1, 2007 at 9:59 am

The Intel Software Network site gives visitors the ability to post comments at the bottom of most pages on our site. We do this to make sure that any feedback we receive is public, open and unfiltered. Today someone made a comment that was malicious and vulgar. It was with a very heavy heart that we took it off the site. Basically, the comment said that our site was bad.

I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion and should be given the opportunity to express their thoughts. The Intel Software team is actively looking for critical feedback and we don't expect everyone to be an advocate for our products and services, but we want to be given the opportunity to improve our site and help developers.

If people continue to post malicious content we'll be forced to limit our flexibility in listening to developers. I'm passionate about not letting this happen. I encourage all of your to continue to post comments on our site and give us context so that we can take action to address your specific concerns.

I've reached out into the blog-o-sphere to see what others think.
FrankP posted some great ideas on his blog about posting comments that add value. I understand that value can be subjectively discussed. In my opinion, value is a statement or opinion that can be used to validate or improve the community actions. If we only post the good stuff then we miss the point of opening up the site for comments. FrankP drew up some comment guidelines on his site that are worth reading.

Joel on Software posted on his blog that comments can get out of control very quickly. The scenario he proposed made me smile but I can totally see a controversial blog about land use turn into firestorm because comment #18  has "launched into a middle eastern nuclear conflagration which continues for 100 posts."

Here is the string of comments that were posted. We are still learning about how best to interact with the community. I'm very focused on providing meaningful content on the site. Should I take them all down?

ALI AHMED (8/1/2007 2:23:22 AM) wrote:
Yeah...! i'm really i dieing to work with multicore processor

urafag (7/30/2007 9:55:58 PM) wrote:
"This was a derogatory comment that ridiculed people who visit the site"

calvin (7/30/2007 4:56:02 PM) wrote:
I want to know how to make a game

bob (7/30/2007 7:58:39 AM) wrote:
"This was a comment that said our site was bad"

TEREFORE (7/24/2007 7:47:28 PM) wrote:
yeah yeah I Love this place

Dilip tripathi (7/24/2007 3:34:23 AM) wrote:
intel is the best

Deford (7/23/2007 12:17:43 AM) wrote:
What are the best programs to make your own gamemainlyfirstperson

JECQUIN HILTON (7/21/2007 9:49:47 PM) wrote:
PLEASE BE ON YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR

Categories: Intel® Software Network 2.0, Parallel Programming

Comments (5)

August 1, 2007 11:09 AM PDT Josh Bancroft (Intel) Total Points: 3,504 Status Points: 3,004 Brown Belt

Here's the rule I apply to comment moderation on my own blog, and here on ISN. It's called the Living Room rule. By inviting you to post a comment on our site, it's like we're inviting you into our house for some conversation. We don't care if you disagree with us - we like it, in fact. It makes the conversation interesting. But when you start to behave rudely, with crude, vulgar, or insulting language, personal attacks, etc., you'll be invited to leave (e.g. your comment will be deleted in moderation). In short, don't say something in a blog comment that you wouldn't say if we had invited you into our living room. Aaron, I don't see anything in the comments above that should cause them to be moderated/deleted (except for the ones that say "This was a comment..." - that depends on what the comment said". We NEED the comments from people who tell us we suck (politely, of course), or we'll never get better. If we delete any comment that says our site is bad, even if they don't give specific ways to improve, we're sending the message "we only want to hear from you if you agree with us!"

August 2, 2007 8:57 AM PDT Gael Holmes Hofemeier (Intel) Total Points: 14,618 Status Points: 14,618 Black Belt

Kind of reminds me of the saying: "I went to see a fight, but saw a Hockey game instead..." I think people see Blogs as kind of a "free for all" where anything and everything goes - and maybe those blog sites that are hosted on "non" huge-chip-manufacture websites can take on those tones and can be more like the ice rink than the living room. Because of where this site lives however, bloggers and commenters do need to practice politeness otherwise their posts will be removed. I have had to moderate Forum posts as well, but those that are polite and non-vicous I do allow to stay (because we need that feedback badly.)

August 2, 2007 10:26 AM PDT Nitin Mayande

Criticism is gladly accepted and appreciated but only with in the realms of civility.

August 2, 2007 7:45 PM PDT zombiegrrrl

My experience with public, non-personal blogs is that unless the comment contains offensive language or some sort of spam URL, then leave it be. I've been and editor/writer for a public news blog for a while and we get hit a lot. Mostly, comments that are benign but inane or nonsensical are overlooked by serious readers as a matter of course. Don't worry about them! The plus is they add to the number of comments for the post and actually might attract a serious reader. It's a fine line to walk, but it's there. Just use your discretion and something that might be offensive to a reader or the company should be filtered out. Otherwise, keep up the good work!

September 23, 2007 1:37 PM PDT s

Sounds like you guys made the right decision - it was vulgar, so off it goes. It is quite possible to say the exact same thing with the necessary passion, without getting vulgar. So, *shrug*, their loss.

Trackbacks (1)

• Too bad. « MediumTall
  August 1, 2007 3:02 PM PDT

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