Comments on: Are conversations better when they are open or closed?

By: Mathew Ingram

Mathew Ingram — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:50:11 +0000

Thanks, Chad.

By: Q3 technologies

Q3 technologies — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:27:54 +0000

Not quite sure how this conversation turned into a debate. But josh, I still can’t understand how you feel like a second class citizen here. I’m sure I visit this site less than you but I have always come across healthy & Interactive discussions on here not to mention the great posts.
Its us the users who have to make a great audience for any site while the writers can only “complement” us.
P.S – the fact that none of your comments were disapproved must have made you feel a little more special.

By: Josh Miller

Josh Miller — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:49:29 +0000

“With all due respect, when one day you will have to worry about things like revenues and profits and paying salaries from money that doesn’t come as a check from your VC, I will see what kind of interactions/solutions/advertising you develop. Good luck in running your community.”

What does this have to do with the merits of comments sections, or online conversations? Where do salaries enter this discussion?

I said I’m sorry, “dungeons” was a poor choice of words and I should have been more clear that I was talking about comments, in general – not GigaOM specifically. But I’m disappointed that this comments thread is turning into this. Mathew wrote an awesome post with great points about online conversation (including potential shortcomings of Branch), and I was hoping to participate in a conversation about that.

I will leave your “living room” now. I see that I am not wanted.

By: Om Malik

Om Malik — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:09:07 +0000

Actually if you click on comments up top, it takes you right down to the comments skipping all those links you talk about and go straight to the comments. Of course, you didn’t spend time using the site. And just as you initially dismissed it as a “dungeon.” We have an engaged community and the reason is because we actually spend time engaging with them as writers. This is more like our living room.

With all due respect, when one day you will have to worry about things like revenues and profits and paying salaries from money that doesn’t come as a check from your VC, I will see what kind of interactions/solutions/advertising you develop. Good luck in running your community.

By: chaddjw

chaddjw — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:34:26 +0000

This was a very good read.

By: Josh Miller

Josh Miller — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:19:32 +0000

BTW– I meant comment sections in general, not *your* comments section. Reading over it now I realize it read as if I was attacking GigaOM specifically. Sorry about that.

By: ronald

ronald — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:05:23 +0000

GROUPTHINK
The brainstorming myth.

http://m.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/01/30/120130fa_fact_lehrer?currentPage=all

It’s not information overload, it’s filter failure. Same seems true for comments. Branch seems to be setup for Groupthink.

By: Josh Miller

Josh Miller — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:04:27 +0000

Om– you are right, “dungeon” is excessive, sorry (though I’m not sure devoting a paragraph to that was constructive).

That being said, I do feel like a second class citizen down here. Mathew was given the grand stage up top. Below that was a bold advertisement for GigaOM PRO. Below that were links to other stories. Below that were social media CTAs. Below that was a huge banner advertisement and more links. Then, finally, you let your community chime in down here. I have a lot of respect for you – A LOT – but if that’s not “second class” I’m not sure what is.

By: Josh Miller

Josh Miller — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:10 +0000

Om– you are right, “dungeon” is excessive, sorry (though to be fair, I’m not sure devoting a paragraph to that was necessary).

That being said, I do feel like a second class citizen down here. Mathew was given the grand stage up top, then you put a bold add for GigaOM PRO, then you put links to other stories, then you put social media CTAs, then you put a huge banner ad and more links. Then, finally, you let your community chime in down here. I have so, so much respect for you but, with all due respect, I do feel like a second class citizen down here. Hey, I don’t even know if you’ll approve or read this thing I took the time to write. Or if any of your other visitors will make their way down here…

By: Om Malik

Om Malik — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:35:27 +0000

From WikiPedia: Dungeon — A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period. An oubliette is a form of dungeon which was accessible only from a hatch in a high ceiling.

There are no second class citizens in a dungeon. Just prisoners. As far as I can see, one is more likely to be trapped in the BRanch dungeon than any other place since you need to be invited and then locked in through your comments. Thanks, but no thanks. As far as our comment section, pretty arrogant on your part to think that our readers and those who are commenting here are second class citizens. They are vital and very important part of our community. Hopefully when running your community, you are going to find that out soon enough.