A couple of months ago I wrote a post about reader responses and comments that follow stories in the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News. Along with being off color and antagonistic, many of the comments trail into ridiculous tangents and become personal bickering between participants, cluttering up what should be prime web 2.0 space. I wrote:

Why not allow readers to submit their comments, and then have someone review them and select which ones are posted? If the comment is insightful and engaging THEN approve it. I’d rather read 10-20 well thought out smart comments than 250 repetitive insults. Many online papers already follow this method, and while it certainly requires some extra time it will filter out the nonsense, insults, and garbage – and allow readers to absorb the BEST writing by our most well spoken citizens.

Like many other sites on the web, moderating the comments keeps them on topic and weeds out unconstructive posts and personal attacks. Vikki Migoya, an editor at the post was kind enough to engage in a discussion and we chatted a bit via email too.

Tonight, KUSA 9News is airing a piece titled “Why Does the Web Make People so Angry” and discusses viewer comments on the 9news.com website.

An article on the web, promoting the story, was posted today:

Here at 9NEWS we always appreciate your input to the comments section of our Web site – in fact, we thrive on it. Occasionally however, we’ll see viewer comments go a little too far.

Recently a family lost loved ones in a car accident. We reported on it and later heard from relatives, not upset with the coverage, but viewers comments suggesting victims deserved to die.

I don’t blame the relatives. If 9News reported on a personal tragedy involving myself I’d be ticked too seeing off color and hurtful comments.

But the focus of this story is misdirected. 9News is addressing the fact that comments are often vicious and spiteful. Duh. Of course they are! Welcome to Web 2.0 – This isn’t anything new. Trolls have been around since the dawn of the ‘net. The direction this story seems to be taking is “Why are people so mean… and how can they be nicer?”

But hold up – what about KUSA/9News? Where is THEIR accountability?

The 9News website houses the story, and 9news runs the message board. The operator of a site serving over three million people, who CHOOSES to open a conduit of interaction, bears responsibility for what passes through the funnel. (Assuming there is a funnel.) If 9News allows comments mocking a person’s death to be posted, and the answer is to shrug off THEIR control and ask “what about these mean posters,” to me it appears that 9News doesn’t really care about maintaining a decent decorum in the “community roundtable” of Web 2.0.

A news website serving the entire state of Colorado isn’t a town hall meeting. You can’t “ask someone to play nice or leave.” There will always be nutcases who post the most vile of responses just to get a rise out of people. But you CAN strike the gavel and silence their voice by simply DELETING their comment.

But wait – are you saying….? No. Moderation is NOT censorship. I don’t care if your comments agree or disagree with mine or the article, or even if you’re a bit loony or off the deep end in solutions or opinions – so long as the comments are on topic and don’t personally attack anyone. Many sites I participate in moderate comments and forums. Gawker, Flyertalk, Lonely Planet, Bike Forums, all maintain a positive social atmosphere, yet can engage in disagreements and spirited discussions thanks to the work of a moderator.

Moderating comments is a good thing. As of 7pm this story has over 400 comments trailing it. I didn’t read them all, but many are just silly witty quips contributing nothing to the story at hand. Or worse attacking other posters.

The answer to this dilemma is clear as day: Take responsibility for your own message boards and MODERATE your comments.

That said my prediction is that future comments will NOT be moderated. KUSA writes “We thrive on comments” and they mean in. When people leave a comment they return often to view responses, and write more comments. These frequent visits command higher rates for web advertisers, so unfortunately limiting comments also means limiting return visitors. Not in the best interest of KUSA – or the daily newspapers.

I certainly hope they’ll consider my suggestion. I sent a copy of this post to Quentin Tice (Quentin.Tice@9news.com)