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Getting pseudonymous commenters to diavlog ? with a "masking effect" ? and a draft of a Bloggingheads comments policy.

Here's Bob Wright demonstrating the effect Bloggingheads is proposing to conceal identities ? and make people look more interesting? ? when pseudonymous commenters are turned into video personalities:

In the second part of that clip, Bob introduces the subject of a comments policy for his site, where, as he says, there've been "flame wars" lately. The main thing I've noticed is how much hate is thrown at me anytime I appear ? often by people who load up the beginning of the thread with assertions that they will not watch the video because of me. Anyway, here's the draft of the comments policy they are proposing. I note Rule #2: "No rude comments aimed at diavloggers."

Like most superficially simple rules, this one is easier to state than to enforce fairly?one man?s verbal abuse is another man?s fair and accurate characterization. Here are some examples of what we?d label name-calling: moron, idiot, asshat, wingnut, moonbat, troll?and, absent very good evidence: racist. (To be clear: We don't proscribe the use of such words, only their use as epithets against other commenters, either directly or by implication.)

... In particular, avoid derogatory or demeaning remarks about physical appearance and speaking style. Don?t forget that many diavloggers read the comments section.

Don?t forget that many diavloggers read the comments section. LOL. Wasn't that the point of the rudeness?

Full post as published by Althouse on September 03, 2009 (boomark / email).