Requiring Facebook to post comments

11/28/2011 | Steven Hoffman

[shoff]

I would like to enlist the knowledge of my fellow freepers. My local rag the Journal News who doesn’t even allow excerpts to be posted has just changed their comments section to only allow Facebook postings. They give some lame excuse about some people are upset at the postings and it is not fair it is anonymous. Since you have to sign up with a valid e-mail address they are not really anonymous. Besides the attempt to stifle dissent through intimidation why would they do this? Is there something I am missing? Note this paper published the names and addresses of all the registered gun owners in the area. I would post there and correct the lies that the liberals would post. I probably will not post anymore since I have some privacy concerns. I have noticed some other papers have the same policy.

[abb]

I don’t agree with you. Gannett does NOTHING that doesn’t have a money angle involved.

[2ndamendmentpa]

I think the libel issues are real.

But real problem is twofold.

One - most local newspapers dont have a real “web guy” - more often its the network or IT guy that handles the website...most reluctantly. It takes more of a web guy to implement a commenting system that really works - or just implement/integrate any of the better known forum systems.

Two - local papers are horrible at selling online advertising and are already giving away their traffic to syndicated “per-click” advertising. So - they either dont care or dont know what their missing.

All of the MediaNews-Gannett local papers have switched from TOPIX to Facebook for commenting and it has virtually extinguished all commentary. Ironic, as MediaNews-Gannett owns TOPIX as well.

The reality is TOPIX is still there - and the roboblogger regularly posts a smattering of stories from the local paper. The only difference is the comment form isn’t attached to every story.

There is a subtle difference in psychology in every form/commenting system. TOPIX allows out and out anonymous posting - no registration required. Predictably this leads to lots of “drive by” postings (the kind of stuff that opens the doors to libel) - Facebook is the opposite side of the coin. No anonymity.

The best solution has always been the “require registration to post” system. (like FR) That alone cuts out a lot of the drive by stuff you get with “no reg” systems. You have to pick username or “handle” and it follows you with every comment. People who take the time to register tend to want be accountable for their online identities - especially if they’ve taken the time stake out positions or political turf. Registrations are easily moderated, disruptors are easy to block.

In short - limited accountability is enough to keep people in line...and preferred to no accountability(like TOPIX) or total accountability.(like FACEBOOK)

[abb]

http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/urgent-gci-switching-all-sites-to.html
Monday, October 31, 2011
GCI switching all sites to Facebook commenting

[WOBBLY BOB]

make up some fake profiles with Paul Krudman,Helen Thomas and the Nancyboy PFC Manning for your profile pic.

[smith288]

Naive? How about you not be so technically boring.

Comments API
Facebook doesnt need to pay anyone for traffic. That's the truth of the matter. This site wanted an easier system to administrate.

Black helicopters aside, it solves an array of technical issues webmasters have to deal with.

I agree some sites want to stifle dissent. Im just telling you how your argument about making money... totally untrue and doesn't make a lick of sense from FBs side.

[shoff]

Thanks your explanation makes sense. I guess the TOPIX does make drive bys easier even if you have to register. Some people kicked off come back under different names. No surprise they don’t see the benefit of the net even though they are on it. They can’t even keep the appearance of non biased reporting no reason they should understand a business model.

[almost done by half]

If you poke around you should still be able to get the email address of the editor etc.

[palmer]

There a dozen or two dirt simple forum systems out there. If you think that Facebook is not bribing Gannett and others to use theirs, then you are truly naive.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Ditto.

[03A3]

What’s a newspaper?

[smith288]

There a dozen or two dirt simple forum systems out there. If you think that Facebook is not bribing Gannett and others to use theirs, then you are truly naive.

LOL... Seriously, I have been in the game for a loooong time and Facebook is NOT hurting for views to the point of paying for it's use. I can literally plop that snippet of code on my website in 5 min.

Naivete has nothing to do with it...well, except maybe for you in terms of social media. Deal with it. Facebook is NOT paying anyone anything to put their stupid widgets on their page.

[palmer]

When Gannett instructs all of their affiliates to toss everything they have and go with facebook, are the Gannett people plopping code on a website in five minutes? No, they are sitting around drinking martinis. Took them five minutes to write and publish the decree. The shmucks who have to toss everything and start over spend a lot more than five minutes, rest assured.

[TennesseeGirl]

It’s not just Gannett-owned newspapers. Our local (Gannett-owned) t.v. station no longer take comments on their site. They refer all comments to their Facebook page.

[rochester_veteran]

The Rochester, NY Democrat and Chronicle, is doing the same thing, requiring Facebook authentication starting 12/1/2011:

D&C switching to Facebook commenting

The D&C is very liberal/leftist and their moderating reflects it and it's been open season on conservatives and Tea Partiers on their site. No way would I post using FB!

[kidd]

Facebook has morphed from a social network into a version of the internet that lacks anonymity.

I have a facebook account that has no personal information at all, no list of friends, not even my correct name. I use it to enter contests, but I don’t use it to socialize.

[smith288]

Here is the code.... Five minutes. (Again, im a web developer). This snippet is the very definition of social network/media.

<div id="fb-root"></div>
<script>(function(d, s, id) {
  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
  if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}
  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
  js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=[APP_CODE]";
  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>


<div class="fb-comments" data-href="example.com" data-num-posts="2" data-width="500"></div>

 

[palmer]

Right, and where are the existing users? The existing users’ preferences? The existing threads and comments? Tossed in the garbage? Yeah, you are the very definition of a “web developer”.

[catnipman]

You’re making a mountain out of a molehill. Just gen up a throwaway facebook account with fake information with a throwaway email address.

I have several throwaway email addresses and a throwaway facebook account just for the purposes of posting commentary.

[smith288]

Right, and where are the existing users? The existing users’ preferences? The existing threads and comments? Tossed in the garbage? Yeah, you are the very definition of a “web developer”.

Yes. In the garbage. Facebook has no import users/comments tool nor will they ever.

Take a few moments to read the Comment API I linked above if you want to know more about the implementation process. A thirst for knowledge is healthy. Try it out.