Why Liberal Bloggers Disable Comments: A Defense

The online world can be a challenging place for anyone, especially for liberal bloggers who often face backlash and trolling. One of the common practices these bloggers adopt is disabling comments on their posts. This article delves into the reasons behind this action, providing a defense for those who choose to do so.

The Problem of Trolls, Keyboard Warriors, and Abusive Comments

Liberal bloggers frequently find their posts overrun with trolls, keyboard warriors, and individuals who confuse the comment section as a place for heated debates or attacks. This section explores the nature of the problem faced by liberal bloggers and the steps they take to mitigate it.

Quora, for instance, often becomes a battlefield where comments can turn hostile quickly. Prominent features like the 'keyboard warriors'—highly vocal individuals keen on debating contentious topics—and trolls—a generic term for people who post inflammatory content to stir up trouble—make the atmosphere toxic. The result is often irrelevant noise that detracts from the core content, leading to a distracted and frustrated reader base.

The Impact of Disabling Comments

Disabling comments is seen as the easiest solution to deal with the aforementioned issues. By removing the avenue for comments, liberal bloggers can focus on providing quality content without the distraction of aggressive or irrelevant comments. However, this method also means foregoing the valuable feedback and dialogue that comments can provide.

Striking a Balance: Partially Disabling Comments

Many liberal bloggers choose to partially disable comments, allowing rational and respectful discussions while blocking abusive ones. This approach aims to balance the need for constructive dialogue with the desire to avoid toxic environments.

For example, after experiencing an increase in abusive comments, a blogger may disable comments temporarily. They may leave comments open for those who wish to engage in meaningful discussion, but disable them when they predict that there will be a significant influx of aggressive or irrelevant comments. This strategy involves trusting the audience to engage in a respectful and meaningful dialogue while preventing disruptive behavior.

Moderation and Dealing with Toxic Commenters

Moderation is a critical component of any platform. Liberal bloggers often resort to deleting or disabling comments from abusive individuals to maintain a positive environment. They may also mute and block these users to prevent further disruption.

In some cases, liberal bloggers use humor and personal satisfaction to deal with these comments. For instance, they might delete comments and then respond with their own, knowing these responses won't be seen by the audience. They can then mute or block the individual without causing a confrontation. This strategy not only helps in maintaining a clean space but also provides a bit of humor, as one blogger mentioned, 'I get some amusement out of it and since I cant afford healthier forms of amusement I have to get my chuckles where I can.'

Dealing with Excessive Partisanship

Liberal bloggers may also disable comments when they feel their posts might incite further partisanship or negativity. In the case of discussions about political figures like Donald Trump, liberal bloggers often notice that comments become excessive, with some readers conflating political content with personal attacks.

By disabling comments in such circumstances, they hope to prevent further division and reduce the hostility that comes with echo chambers and divisive rhetoric. This approach aims to ensure that the discussion remains constructive and focused on the content rather than degenerating into personal attacks.

Conclusion

Disabling comments is a complex decision that libral bloggers often face. While it addresses the problem of disruptive and abusive comments, it also limits the potential for constructive feedback. By striking a balance and employing effective moderation strategies, these bloggers can create a more enjoyable and respectful online space for their audience.

Ultimately, the choice to disable comments comes down to maintaining a positive and engaged community of readers. It is a decision that must be made carefully and with the best intentions in mind.