On November 20th, 2010, All Things Considered ran a segment on “Get To Know An Internet Commenter.” The following are selected comments from the written version of the story on NPR.org.
Miriam Newton (skipfinder):
I’m sorry but I just can’t resist saying that this is the most boring article I have read in a long time anyplace."
Peter Rabbit (peterabbit):
[…] you ask: "Why can’t some people resist the urge to hit that ‘comment’ button?
The question you should be asking about some should be: “Why do some people go through the trouble of hitting that ‘comment’ button and sharing their pov?”
Charles J (YYUR):
When the commentary is better informed and more accurate then the article, it must be uncomfortable.
Michael Newmark (Sub_Rosa):
How meta is this comment thread! I mean really!
Suburbicus Metalicus (TonEighty):
NPR has NEVER been about hearing the other side. See Juan Williams for example.
This story is nothing but fluff. Comments on a movie review site? Of COURSE you are going to see bad comments mixed in with the good. Personally, if I like a movie, I just enjoy it and don’t bother trying to ‘convince’ other people to like it. Review sites mean little to me. Why would somebody else s opinion impact my own?
Some trolls do exist to just stick a thumb in other peoples eyes, but usually ‘trolls’ are people that have an opinion that isn’t in lock step with 98% of the rest of the comments…
brennan moriarty (socialvaccine):
Oh I’m silent… when a crime or injustice is being committed… I let it all sink in- first [life EXPerience] but…“……..[subterfuge]” then I WILL TELL [algebra?] This “cold steel” is a close shave, but it’s form is settled, DEFINED. “remains” can tell more than “old pictures” in the moment:)
Michael Barnes (Rocketman38):
This article just inspired me to leave this comment
david mott (davidm2010):
I think people comment for several reasons. Here are a few possibilities…
1. Because we care
2. Because we see what we believe to be a blindspot or bias in the words of the article’s author or other commenters.
3. To be heard
Because we exist inside of each other.
Toby Saunders (TobyNSaunders):
The US public is largely psychopathic: they aren’t playing characters, they are largely sadistic faith-heads who pay for conscious distant cousins to be killed torturously for food, they believe everything is part of a ‘great plan’ so they throw morality & reason out the window.
David Templeton (Temple62):
Free speech has become an endangered species thinks to Obama, George Soros and NPR’s very questionable style of censorship. I don’t listen to the local NPR station as Rush Limbaugh more reflects the America I live in where we fly the flag, respect the constitution and feel free to debate.
N Orchard (onanz37):
If David Templeton thinks his so-called loss of freedom of speech is because of Obama, he’d better journey back a little further. George Bush was notorious for keeping people out of his town hall meetings if they had a dissenting view—even as little as a t-shirt or lapel pin he did not care for.
Pat DeAngelis (Garabaldi):
Let me see if I understand—Kevin Collier , the WRITER , has opinions and points of view that are valid while commentators are some kinds of freaks. Funny, I haven’t seen NPR produce a Dante yet, or even a Collins.
C Rice (CRice):
[…]Thank goodness people still have the right to be engaging, and opinionated, and quarky, and right and wrong, and individuals.
B Evans (Innbound):
[…]But, alas, I am not paid one red cent to post my thoughts by anyone for any reason. Maybe if I were the things I do write might be properly edited or vetted or even spellchecked. Meh
paul schoaff (bfloxword):
Please forgive me in advance.
I have an abiding concern that every opinion, movie or restaurant review and email I have ever issued, every survey I have ever filled out, is being saved in my own little file somewhere in the ether […]
Cody Roach (thenewcalamity):
I thought that since this is a comment thread about and article that’s about internet comments, everyone would be on their best commenting behavior—but it seems not.
Charles Schopen (Shakedown):
My favorite children’s fable is “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” Snip, snap, snout. This tale’s told out.
mystery meat (ms_meat):
i can’t believe i justed 3 minutes reading all that… ning.
All the comments on “Get to Know an Internet Commenter” can be found here: http://www.npr.org/2010/11/20/131471581/internet-commenters-this-is-you.