Explanation for axed comments sounds like mumbo-jumbo
Regarding “Why you’re not seeing comments on our site anymore (Opinion),” (Nov. 30): Kelly Ann Scott, Houston Chronicle executive editor, explained: “We launched a faster operating platform for our articles that allows us to make improvements across our site, resulting in an improved, faster experience for our audience. As part of this work, we rolled back commenting features on our stories for the time being while we collect feedback.”
I’m among the many who enjoyed the comments section at the end of online articles. I found value in reading what others had to say and always enjoy opportunities to express my opinions. The Chronicle’s explanation for why the comments section is no longer there, in my opinion, amounts to corporate mumbo-jumbo justifying the quelling of free speech and confirming that the comments section was dropped because executives felt it was too much work to monitor content while, at the same time, being too dangerous to let those who fail to remain civil have free rein on a site connected to Hearst.
Greg Groh, Houston
Thanks for making a statement about the discontinuation of reader comments. Over the pandemic years, I have changed from mild lucha libre mode to a fact-based-attempt-to-persuade mode, and have succeeded in having civil conversations with folks I might have bluntly argued with a few years ago. I have been reading fewer articles as a result, though, and I hope to get back to reading more.
My first letter to the editor was published in Time Magazine in response to their April 8, 1966, cover issue “Is God Dead?” I have been writing them on and off ever since, and commenting when that feature appeared on the scene.
Claude Glover, Houston
Your pallid excuse for eliminating comments on articles is unconvincing. Since you get to edit the Viewpoints section, it is obvious that you are uncomfortable with criticism. One more reason why we will rethink our subscription when renewal time comes around.
Lee L. Kaplan, Houston
So if an article was getting 100 comments, 50 of which were trolls, you are going to silence the other 50 conversations?
Chris Reinhardt, Houston
Bring the comments back. Seeing other readers’ take on certain issues is informative and interesting.
Max Nielsen, Cypress
I love the decision to turn off the comments. Before 2013, when there were no “likes,” forwarding or comments, Facebook and the other social media sites were a nice place to see pictures of relatives, sports, and so on. The polarizing started with the comments. Great, great decision to turn these off. It also makes the paper look much more professional and miles away from Yahoo News’ cluttered, chaotic look and feel.
Thank you for a wonderful, wellwritten piece of thoughtful debate on the matter.
Aaron Benner, West University Place
And you wonder why the Houston Chronicle is losing subscribers? Please. I sure miss the old days when Houston had more than one newspaper to choose from.
Robert Waller, Houston
On the same day I get an email that my Chronicle subscription is going up, I read that the comments section for articles is gone and not likely to return. Modern media provides the ability to respond in many formats, but the Chronicle decides to go backward. Why should I pay for this anachronistic approach to news in the 21st century? Never mind that your articles are generally slow. Now you deny readers the ability to reply and discuss in the comments section. Not sure you are worth it anymore.
John Moran, Houston
Granted, there were some rude and uninformed comments that would get into the comments sections, but how about the author of editorial board articles posts their name (and email address)? How about the author of general news and business articles post either a place for comments, or email replies to articles?
Doug White, Sugar Land
Editor’s note: You can email the editorial board by sending an email to viewpoints@houstonchronicle.com, and the reporters’ emails are available on the article web pages.
I applaud the demise of the comments section. Your explanation was right on. Diana Dow, Seabrook
Frankly, I think removing the comments section was a cowardly move. Total denial.
The internet is a rude and uncivil place. Journalists, of all people, should by now be used to it. By sticking your head in the sand and pretending trolls and firebrands don’t exist, you are moving even further away from your readers.
I, for one, was often more entertained and engaged by the comments than the stories themselves.
Bert Duplessis, Houston