Just like Paula Cole was wondering “Where are all the Cowboys gone?”, I find myself asking the same about the comment frequency on VirtualR.
Due to quite popular request, I decided to turn off anonymous comments last month, hoping that it would not hurt the healthy comment frequency around here. That’s exactly what happened though, the daily comment average has dropped from over 30 to below 10 and even though over 650 users have already signed up (thanks!), the switch seems to keep quite a lot of you from contributing.
I will keep an eye on this situation and I might end up switching back to the old system. I rather spend more time moderating comments than to have much less of them. :)
MaD_King
October 11th, 2008 at 18:43
I think that’s the reason of comment down.
The users are a little fed up to create account just to post comments. But it’s also the solution to have more pertinent comments ;).
stabiz
October 11th, 2008 at 18:58
Its a bit of a slow time regarding mods also, hehe.
Montoya
October 11th, 2008 at 19:00
Good point stabiz, the last few days have been a bit slow indeed.
Like I said, I will keep an eye on the situation for a few more weeks and decdide then :)
F1Racer
October 11th, 2008 at 19:35
How can you be ‘fed up’ to create an account ? It takes seconds, its free and you only do it once.
As for the comments, I`d take quality over quantity any day. Who cares how many there are as long as they’re sensible and not the rowdy riot like before.
This situation just shows that people just like to come here to argue and insult. Now they can’t do it anonymously they have nothing of value to contribute.
But yeah also as stabiz said, its slow in terms of mods recently.
gtrNL
October 11th, 2008 at 19:59
I don’t mind the login, but I just don’t post that often anymore. There are also less mods coming out.
Serg Funke
October 11th, 2008 at 20:01
i think its because the news last time was so boring . fsone helmet etc
Brad
October 11th, 2008 at 20:54
Ya I feel your pain as a webmaster as well, and at my place it’s even worse because I ask people to verify their emails. Have no other choice because spammers are killing my board, over 100 denied robots a day. But from stats I can see people want to comment but give up when they see the need to register. It was destined to happen, people are too lazy to register…. the world is getting to be such a one-click system.
amgsport
October 11th, 2008 at 21:01
Slow news period for sure – but I’d still go for quality over quantity. You’ve had both even with the login – maybe its slow now, but there’s been many good comments on news pieces over the last month. Keep up the great work.
F1Racer
October 11th, 2008 at 21:40
Yep, also if people can’t be bothered to sign up to one of the best sim-racing news sites on the web then who needs ‘em if they can’t make the effort.
Brad
October 11th, 2008 at 21:44
@F1Racer – Repeat visitors, steady crowd etc
… ranking sakes :razz:
Montoya
October 11th, 2008 at 22:09
Well, the comments serve a higher prupose than just the sake of the webmaster’s ego
I know many modders come here to check out reactions on their work just like in the forums. That’s why every constructive comment is a good thing….
N0body Of The Goat
October 11th, 2008 at 22:42
Breaking News: It appears the long awaited release of the Hungarian skin pack for the Supercopa Leon mod ([b]tragically without a single online server[/b]) was released the other day ;)
GeraArg
October 11th, 2008 at 23:16
The ninjas are afraid to use a nick!!!! (?)
If you like it was before, I hope you will control a little ninja’s, as they can discuss without a fight. :smile:
F1Racer
October 12th, 2008 at 00:00
Brad, I have no idea what you mean with your reply.
Montoya: Thats a fair point yes. But if anonymous comments make a comeback you should be prepared to moderate them more than before otherwise it will end up just like last time, that is for certain.
People suddenly become so brave behind total anonymity.
Threads turn to arguments, insults, go off-topic etc. Not something I`d like to read for replies to any work I did.
It also drags down the entire site if it becomes a common occurrence.
I think if people can’t be bothered to sign up to comment, that in itself sends a message to the modders about how much people care or how much its just a ‘gimme gimme gimme’ attitude.
Brad
October 12th, 2008 at 00:11
@ F1Racer –
From an admin’s perspective, we are looking to see how many people we can lock in as a repeat poster. There are folks who register an account to post one point and then never come back, but then there are others who come back time and time again. So I guess it’s worth the effort if we try whatever tactic is takes to keep them coming back. But the flipside is, how do we get them to register, cause that’s one extra step in the process.
Bram
October 12th, 2008 at 01:02
Agreed on the statement quality over quantity. I hate to see some of the morons return that posted here before.
marek100
October 12th, 2008 at 01:04
Hello ,
Please do not switch back to the old system. Yes its less comments right now but all changes takes time so hope so later on will be more and more
Thanks,
Marek100
Scorpie
October 12th, 2008 at 08:18
Quote:
As for the comments, I`d take quality over quantity any day. Who cares how many there are as long as they’re sensible and not the rowdy riot like before.
Quote:
Agreed on the statement quality over quantity. I hate to see some of the morons return that posted here before.
Signed!
the.cosmic.pope
October 12th, 2008 at 10:29
I have no commented for awhile simply because there is nothing interesting at the moment (for me anyway). When the modding goes through the eventful phase again (as it will), comments will rise.
Nothing to worry about.
RKipker
October 12th, 2008 at 12:48
It’s the ECONOMY…. :cry:
Actually, sometimes you have great news articlaes and at times you have very redundant articles… like 6 months of previews of upcoming mod…
It does not bother me to log in… but others I’m sure prefre to post without hassel.
Montoya
October 12th, 2008 at 16:46
Thanks guys, I think I failed to see that the past weeks were rather slow in terms of news, causing the lack of comments :)
Gaiajohan
October 13th, 2008 at 16:34
Well one reason is, there is a very irritating commercial on this site from Adecco. It makes sounds everytime I visit a page. It’s just very annoying.. I don’t mind commercials etc, but if they suddenly begin to talk and scream.. It’s something else for me, and the voice ofn that woman is just frustrating irritant.
overclocker
January 1st, 2009 at 10:16
Thanks guys for your hard work in keeping us all informed over the past twelve months or so, have a great 2009
overclocker
January 1st, 2009 at 10:29