Creating a Stronger Conversation
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — On the blogdowntown masthead, we say that this site is "a conversation about life in Downtown L.A." Over the last five years, you've added roughly 18,000 comments to the stories that have been posted here on the site. Your thoughts have helped to shape the direction of Downtown's development.
Every good conversation needs a few guidelines, though, and tonight we've launched a change to our comment system that I believe will help keep us on the right track as we continue to grow and move forward.
Most importantly, we want to strongly encourage those leaving comments to create an identity and stick to it. Conversation is strongest when it is a discussion between individuals, not between randomly-created pseudonyms.
This has two pieces to it.
First, we've tried to make creating an account on blogdowntown as drop-dead easy as we could. If you already use Facebook or Twitter, you can use your existing account on either of those services to log in to blogdowntown. Either process takes about three clicks and a total of roughly 30 seconds.
Second, we've made a change to how comments work if you don't use an account. You'll no longer be able to attach a name your comment; all un-authenticated comments will simply show up as "Guest." While you can -- and should -- include a name inside the comment itself, we believe that this will reduce the silliness that comes with the names that people make up to match their comment or to appear to be multiple people.
Obviously, no system is perfect. Folks that want to cause trouble are still going to be able to find ways to do so.
Going forward, nothing would be more exciting than to see folks create such strong identities here on blogdowntown that you recognize other commenters while walking down the street.
So have fun, and let's create a better, stronger community together.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on February 11, 2010, at 08:01PM – #1
Just thought I'd add a few things to my own story:
If you've got an existing account and want to add a link to your twitter account in your comments, just log in and click the 'Profile' link under the navbar to access your user dashboard. From there you can associate both Facebook and Twitter profiles to your blogdowntown account.
Right now, you can only get a profile picture via a Facebook account. That will change, allowing you to pull in your profile pic from Twitter or add one here, but right now Facebook's your ticket.
And finally, none of this is intended to make comments more serious. Like I said, have fun and feel free to be funny! Let's just try to keep in mind that Downtown's a small place and there are real people behind each of these comments.
Guest on February 11, 2010, at 08:06PM – #2
Just testing a logged out comment really quick.
ER
Ken Hall on February 11, 2010, at 08:12PM – #3
Alright!...account created,now I'm offical.
Don Garza on February 11, 2010, at 08:35PM – #4
I think it is important to be responsible for what you say... good job... it makes no sense to use pseudonyms on blogdowntown...
Most people won't be so mean if they have to use their real name on here.. and they won't say things they usually wouldn't. I use my facebook account because facebook will more than likely take the issue of someone using my name seriously and investigate it... so this is awesome... I think more people should use their real names when commenting...
J-M on February 11, 2010, at 10:37PM – #5
I like the idea of registering to comment, but JM/J-M is actually what my friends and family call me and how you'll meet me Downtown. It's not an anonymous acronym. Hope that works for you.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on February 11, 2010, at 10:51PM – #6
J-M: That's a good point. We aren't requiring that everyone show their driver's license and use their real names (though I think the more real people are, the better). Mostly, we're just asking that people create an identity and stick to it.
Bert Green (@bgfa) on February 11, 2010, at 11:39PM – #7
Thanks Eric. I think this is a really good solution.
Alex Brideau III on February 12, 2010, at 12:07AM – #8
The name John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt was taken, so I'll settle for Alex Brideau III.
Jamie DeFrisco on February 12, 2010, at 12:44AM – #9
At first I avoided using my Facebook account to comment. Then I realized that I would rather be a person than someone hiding behind a name. My views can be rough sometimes, but it's just honesty. If you asked me in person I would give you the same response.
I think it's good for others to use their own names or actual nicknames, so we can create more of a community amongst us.
Maybe one day you'll be able to create a forum or an actual profile system.
Tornadoes28 on February 12, 2010, at 08:08AM – #10
Good changes.
Jasmijn on February 12, 2010, at 08:40AM – #11
All right! I'm official. So proud ;)
Now if we could just have some kind of button to skip over the "You chose to move downtown so just put up with it", "It'd be worse if you lived in NYC so quit complaining", and "Go back to the suburbs/Westside/Iowa, you weenie" comments automatically, we'd be set. (Notice I'm not saying stop people from posting what they want: I'm just saying let's have an option to skip over the scratched parts of the record.)
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on February 12, 2010, at 09:10AM – #12
Jasmijn: I banned the use of the "If you don't like it, just move" argument tactic a little while back. I need to add that into the guidelines.
I'm also looking into why some Facebook profile pics aren't loading, at least for me.
Jeff Alu on February 12, 2010, at 10:39AM – #13
Done deal! Except I can't seem to click on the "connect with Facebook" button...button is there but it's not active.
J-M on February 12, 2010, at 10:39AM – #14
Thanks guys. Still like the idea of fixed names. Jasmijn, that's pretty funny.
J-M on February 12, 2010, at 10:41AM – #15
How about an option to add a photo or small profile even if you're not using Facebook, Twitter or a website?
Guest on February 12, 2010, at 11:15AM – #16
All i get is this:
We're sorry, but something went wrong.
We've been notified about this issue and we'll take a look at it shortly.
I'm a mac running firefox..
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on February 12, 2010, at 11:39AM – #17
Thanks. Found and fixed a bug in the Facebook account creation (and actually, I think it was affecting twitter as well). Give it a shot now.
Vero Queero on February 12, 2010, at 12:13PM – #18
Had already created my account a while back. Nothing to hide here, my real name is Scott Bogash but I love my "pen name" and you can guess which building I live in. I can also be found on Facebook--there's only 2 of us in the whole country (hint: I'm not the one in Maryland.) Love the new guidelines.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on February 12, 2010, at 01:36PM – #19
Vero: I've had a couple people mention similar things. I think what we'll do is add some fields to the profiles so that people can go by a nickname, but still share their real name (and maybe stuff like their neighborhood, etc) to those who want to click and find it.
We should be able to get that up and running this weekend.
Guest on February 12, 2010, at 03:26PM – #20
Having an opinion contrary to what society deems acceptable is almost impossible given that employers look at almost everything when you interview for a job. Your comments will paint a far rosier picture than reality.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on February 12, 2010, at 06:00PM – #21
Guest: Like I've emphasized above, pseudonyms aren't forbidden. If there's a reason you need to write something under a different name, feel free. Just use one name instead of a bunch of them.
Kevin Lynn on February 13, 2010, at 06:30AM – #22
Nicely done Eric!
Guest on February 14, 2010, at 12:12PM – #23
No comment!
Juanito/John Crandell/Purple Haze/Norbie 7/Urban Trojan/etc
Christophe Serafino on February 15, 2010, at 01:27AM – #24
I'll use my FB identity instead of 100 random ones.
General Jeff on February 15, 2010, at 02:33PM – #25
I understand the need to "clean up" the conversations as well as raise the level of the overall dialogue on this blog, but you gotta admit- some of those pseudonyms were quite clever and gave this blog character that I will sorely miss.
Those mostly witty, yet sometimes abstract screen names made this blog unique in it's own way.
It's too bad that a hint of "fictitiousness meets hidden agenda" got added to the overall ingredients of this wonderful mental meal, if you will, but now we all will have to settle for a blander, more upright blog (can you say totally not hip!).
Sure, blogdowntown had to do it, but we collectively gave then no choice. Now, we're stuck with a blog that is a watered-down version of it's former self that at best might be reduced to the equivalent of a PTA parent's blog, gossiping about their children and school staff.
Doesn't sound fun to me.
Now, I guest all the "flavored and spicy" comments will have to come from some guy named "Guest".
I bet that before this change, the folks over at blogdowntown were losing sleep over trying not to reveal the true identities of some of the "hidden agenda professionals" (or HAP's). Me personally, I would have had to "leak" something seeing how "off topic" some of those comments and allegations got.
Well, let's all hope that I'm wrong about the new blandness.
DawnC on February 24, 2010, at 09:02AM – #26
I'll use the fixed name (I've always used the same name posting here) but I'd rather not link to any of my other personal accounts. A lady living in the big city can't be too careful about protecting her personal information. My friends and neighbors can easily guess who I am by the name I've provided.
Guest on February 26, 2010, at 11:39AM – #27
One thing that is missing is having the comments numbered. it makes it easier to reference when you come back a few days later and you can see where you left off. I know there are time stamps, but its easier to remember you were on comment 8 instead of Feb 15th, 4:35 PM. Otherwise, looks great.
D
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on February 26, 2010, at 12:09PM – #28
D: Agreed. I'm working on getting that back. Our caching system accidentally made that a little complicated, but I'm hoping to have them up this weekend.
Robert Moran (@RobertMoranLA) on February 27, 2010, at 04:59PM – #29
I like to participate in the conversation even though I don't actually live in Downtown. Its my favorite part of Los Angeles.
Nancy Richardson (@nanorich) on February 27, 2010, at 05:06PM – #30
Eric,
In seeing how the new registration system is working, it seems as if the Anonymous(guest)posting are just as much of a problem, as people using multiple ids.
While some "guest" posters are legit, it would seem that a lot of the guests...in the active threads are indulging in the kind of provocative baiting which lead to the new system.
It would seem that for the most part, the best thing to do is ignore "guest" posters, especially on the active threads...with the hope that legit posters get around to registering.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on February 27, 2010, at 06:13PM – #31
Nancy: I think I agree. Maybe something like a system where guest comments are semi-hidden unless they get voted up. There's a fine line between blocking out valid opinions and keeping productive conversation, but I have been disappointed how few guests attempt to include any sort of a name.