Thursday, August 27, 2009

[poll] on de-trolling options


A poll is going up which I'd like you to vote in, if you would. You may recall this post about trolls and how to deal with them. People don't like word verification, moderation or having to register and yet something is necessary.

It seems to me the way to go is to leave comments open whilst I'm at the computer but in those wee hours or when away, to:

1. Allow registered members to comment freely [non-registered would not be able to comment until this was switched off].

This is the safest option because only known commenters would comment but as my friend said today, people don't like having to register to comment on a blog.

2. Switch on moderation.

This is a pain in the butt because your comment would not appear, say, until morning and most of us like to see our comment go up. Also, I'd have to filter out the trolls next morning - distasteful.

Anyway, the poll's going up now.

11 comments:

  1. Do you not have the facility to selectively moderate? Wordpress has the facility to moderate all new commenters until a comment has been approved. Also, I have the ability to put individuals back into moderation based on IP, email address or key words. That way, I can deal with trolls without disrupting genuine comments. If I really need to, I can use the same filters to automatically bin comments from such people without ever having to see them. One other facility is a neat little plugin that allows me to completely ban abusers using IP address or referrer.

    My troll has pretty much given up - although I do notice a couple of attemts to access the blog via banned IPs from time to time.

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  2. Sadly, no. Blogger allow you either:

    * Anyone - includes Anonymous Users
    * Registered Users - includes OpenID
    * Users with Google Accounts
    * Only members of this blog

    You have to click on one of them. Of course, you can manually go into the settings and change it at will.

    I don't really see the difference between Registered Users and Members of this Blog.

    There's a thing at my blog that for a bigger blogger, it's not quite respectable to comment at Higham's place and so to have to be a member or register might put them off. At the moment, they can comment as Anonymous.

    I like your system and might just do that. I have a wordpress version of this site now but I'm thinking of my own domain with wordpress.

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  3. Longrider has said it but the effort of changing from blogger to wordpress may be too daunting.

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  4. Welcome Ivan.

    I've been in it and it was OK. Blogger has some options which was nice but maybe own domain with wordpress is the way to go.

    Typepad?

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  5. The free Wordpress option is fine as long as you don't need to analyse your stats too much.

    I found that Wordpress with own Domain had the best of all worlds.

    The comment moderation/blocking is very configurable as are so many other features. When I am away I use the feature that Longrider mentioned (only allow previous comm enters to show).

    I fell in love with the latest versions which is why I moved my personal blog to the Wordpress platform with my own domain.

    So if you decided that option I could help you out with things if you got stuck.

    I could go on about the features for ages so if you want to know more perhaps email is best?

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  6. Sounds easier to just get an elephant gun and sit sentry with your friends for a few nights.

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  7. Where's the poll? I couldn't see it.

    I agree that having to register for comments is a schlepp, especially if it is a blog I visit because I'm interested in one particular post, and don't plan to visit regularly. That's why I prefer blogs on generic blog-hosting sites, like blogspot and wordpress.com, ince I'm already registered there.

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  8. Uber - thanks.

    Cherie - might do and shall write.

    Steve - it's top of the right sidebar.

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  9. James between your friends[and me being a night owl] I think we can do effective troll patrol. I would of course take nights while you lazy people sleep.:)

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  10. And after our wedding, it would become even easier.

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  11. Poll's predictable but when I went exploring the registration, they only meant "register with google". The trolls must have been laughing aloud - they'd know all this nefarious stuff - have it down to a tee.

    Well, looks like either moderation or move the blog. Thinking on't.

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Comments need a moniker of your choosing before or after ... no moniker, not posted, sorry.