Newspaper comments - a fix

[KT2000]

It sure was a Pandora's box when online newspapers allowed comments. It has been so disheartening to see how horrible people can be and the ugly thoughts they feel compelled to express publicly and anonymously.
Our local newspaper has instituted a link to Facebook for all comments people post after articles. This makes it so the person's real name, or at least the name used on Facebook which would have to be the same as the one used for the paper, shows up on the comments after the article. According to the paper, this is expected to be used by many online papers.

At first I was really against this change but after seeing the results, I am amazed at the new civility.

Have not tried it myself so I don't know if the comment also appears on the person's Facebook page also, but it probably does. In that case people have to be careful what they post that future employers might see. That is a real down side.

[Taverner]

1. Assholes fuck it up for everyone

This is the case for public forums just like it is the case for anal sex

It's that damn asshole getting in the way

Ooops, I shouldn't have said that, should I have?

[MedleyMisty]

2. Whenever I want to hate the human species

I read the comments on a news story.

It's a thin line to walk, between trying for civility and respecting privacy. I don't have the answers.

[Fumesucker]

3. Hmm.. Another way to try and force people onto Facebook so their info can be sold..

[KT2000]

5. Yes - that is what

I was wondering about. Political opinions might be useful to some and profitable for Zuckerberg.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Our newspaper did the same thing but only for the opinion page

And you can still post as anonymous if you change the settings.

It doesn't seem to make much difference. Still some very nasty comments.

[Tunkamerica]

6. I hate that. I left facebook 2 years ago.

They should have several different options.

[hlthe2b]

7. So those who want nothing to do with Facebook are SOL, eh?

I'm no Luddite, but enough of my friends have had serious privacy problems with Facebook, I just prefer to skip it.

[KT2000]

8. Yes - and that

is a big problem. I reluctantly signed up recently to see the DU page.