This Story is Closed to Commenting

[Glacier]

Last summer, CBC ran a little story about how they were considering removing the option of comments on their news articles. Personally, I find the reader's comments more insightful than the article itself most of the time, so I was disappointed to here of their plans.

After seeing no changes in this regard over the proceeding six months, I thought that perhaps common sense had prevailed at the CBC, but alas, they have now closed stories to commenting on most of the articles I've read lately. For Shame.

[Star Light]

Why do you think they have done this Glacier?

[grumpydigger]

I think the CBC is closing comments on many controversial subjects because their moderators just becomes swamped . On many of the subjects the outrage of the Canadian people is incredible.

some of the very powerful groups , may have used their power to partially quieten the outraged of the Canadian citizens,it's up to you to guess who they may be....................

[StraitTalk]

God forbid people be able to voice their opinion in a public forum.

[fvkasm2x]

God forbid people be able to voice their opinion in a public forum.

Yes, but even though people should be allowed to do so... the internet just becomes filled with human ignorance. Censore work-arounds, racism, hurtful posts, sniping, etc... litter these forums. Global news reports on a daily basis where people can comment? It's 50x worse than what we see on these forums. People don't understand that just because you can say something on the internet, doesn't mean you always have to.

Why do you think they have done this Glacier?

See above

[Bagotricks]

Having read CBC news stories ( and comments ) for years now, it doesn't surprise me they are thinking about getting rid of them.

Post a story about ice in the arctic, and then you have suddenly 1/3 posters with handles like "ALBERTAFOREVER" and "RIGHTNTIGHT" going on and on about the socialist hordes and their conspiracy theories.

It has been well documented that prohibitionists and anti-enviromental groups make it a point to get their members to "flood call in radio shows and forums" to increase the perceived "public's view" of the situation. CBC is nothing but a "socilaist rag" to alot of those groups - so making a point to spam comments that suit their political agenda on the CBC webpage is the daily highlight for some sad folks.

The validity of the news articles can come into question if followed by 100 comments saying "Thats BS" - even though the article is backed by multiple sources and years of data and research.

Having a separate forum to discuss news items ( like castanet ) protects the integrity of the journalistic work that has gone into the article.

[Glacier]

Why do you think they have done this Glacier?

I believe it's the shear number of garbage posts. Admittedly, this is a problem; however, I've found that by sorting comments by "agreed", I can often find useful information the article doesn't provide - such as, a link for more in-depth analysis, great insight from an expert in the field, or simply a different perspective on the issue.

Perhaps, most people focus on the negative and hateful comments, but I tend to just tune them out in my quest for more information. In other words, the few useful comments add more to the story than the plethora of garbage comments - for me, anyway.

[-fluffy-]

I believe it's the shear number of garbage posts.

I think you have it there. CBC is too much of a target for no-minds who get off on spewing their crap on a national forum.

[Queen K]

Yes to the "some commenting is more insightful" than the news story itself, but only if the right insightful types are at the right time. Otherwise it's been a fright show of incredible ignorance and harmful trash.

I liked the comments that drew analogies and examples from related material to pull together good information. Alas, no more.

[GoStumpy]

They should make their own seperate forum for comments instead of at the bottom of the article..

Like the "Discuss this article in our forums!" link that I've seen so many times :)

[Glacier]

I prefer the comments at the bottom because it's always nice to easily re-read the article again.

Anyway, here is an excellent example of comments put to good use:

Free-range egg ban shuts bed and breakfast

When sorting the comments by "highest rated", the top comment by Puzzled adds something to the article by: first, pointing out an error in the article, and second, re-emphasizing the valid concerns.