HotAir.com takes the first step to closing its comment section

Update: Blogger roundup: Editorial Times, Legal Insurrection

Post links in the comment section and I will add them here.

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Original Post:

This, I think, is going to prove to be a very bad move for this blog:

For almost ten years, Hot Air has utilized a proprietary, members-only comment system. In 2006, this kind of system made much sense, but Internet standards and technology have moved beyond this kind of system. Beginning tomorrow, Hot Air will move from its present proprietary closed-comment system to Facebook comments. At that time, native commenting functions will cease, and all comments will come through the Facebook interface. — Via: Hot Air to move to Facebook comment system « Hot Air

Let’s just be real folks; HotAir.com is huge and I mean really huge. I have been to sites that use a strictly Facebook commenting system and I do not believe that I would be exaggerating one bit, if I said that those places are nothing more than pure troll dens. This is usually the first step; first they will use the Facebook commenting system and then, things will get too bad and then they will close the comments sections for good.

I feel that once a site kills the comments section, it becomes nothing more than just another website. I for one, will never go to an external comment system, ever. I tried Disqus and it frankly sucked major donkey doo doo. They should call it disgust, because that’s how you will feel after trying to set it up — Disgusted!

As for HotAir.com, I think they are simply trying to be more inclusive and not have to work their tails off, in the upcoming election. While that might be a good idea for them, it might prove to be quite destructive for the site. Because the trolls will run the regulars off and the site will get a reputation among its core audience. Another thing that I feel will run people off is that Facebook’s founder is a known flaming liberal and there are many conservatives who will not use Facebook because of this fact. So, they will lose those people.

For the record here, I will never, ever, go to a closed commenting system, nor Disqus or Facebook; or any other commenting platform. The only system I will ever use is WordPress Native system which allows you to comment using your Facebook or other identities you choose to use.

I wish HotAir.com the best, because, Lord knows, they are going to need it.

11 thoughts on “HotAir.com takes the first step to closing its comment section”

  1. I loved Hot Air. It was the first place I went in the morning for my news and opinions. When they announced they were switching to a Facebook commenting system, I deleted them from my bookmarks and I haven’t been back. I don’t do Facebook and I won’t start for them. I don’t know how many readers they may lose due to this (in my opinion) foolish decision, but they did lose me.

    1. I hear you my friend, I totally understand. I have commented over there since the switch, but not very often.

      I’ve noticed the crowd is changed a bit over there too, they seem to be a bit more… I don’t know quite what the word is. but its not the same crowd.

      I was also rather surprised and shocked that Ed Morrisey acted the way he did, towards those who were against the facebook switch over.

      I thought that was very nasty of him, to just blow people off like that.

      That is a sign that you’re either out of touch with your readership or you’re doing it for the money and really don’t care about the site at all or that maybe you just have gotten a bit too big for your britches, if you will.

      this blog here is lucky if it gets a comment every now and again and they were literally drowning in them and everybody knows, that knows anything about blogging, Comments make a blog and it increases your ranking with search engines and I’m grateful when anybody ever comments here.

      of course I do get my fair share of trolls and I end up deleting those comments. but to get a regular engaging audience like that, that’s a bloggers dream and for them to just blow off a good part of their readership makes me think something’s going on behind the scenes that people don’t know about.

      like Salem is about to drop the axe and basically consolidate hot air into townhall or something like that.

      of course that’s all speculation on my part, but it just amazes me that they acted like that towards their core audience.

      Either way, my blog is open to anybody who wants to come over and talk and comment on what I write about, you may not agree with everything that I write about. but I do try to be fair.

      I am a pro trump blogger. but, I ain’t nasty about it and I let people say their opinions, as long as its not personally insulting to me or an ad hominem attack on me. I more than welcome comments here and I would love to have hotair’s readership.

      I mean, I also would love to have hotair’s revenue. I don’t know how much it is. but, I can tell you this much I know darn well that it’s a lot more than with this blog makes here.

      of course with me it’s not about the money; it’s more about fighting against the Left. but a little bit of revenue like hot air makes would be awesome. 🙂

      Edited to add: I’ve had to edit this comment 3 times tonight… speech to text is not my friend, not tonight anyway. 🙄

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  4. I’m not a detroiter, I live in Manchester, just east (20mi) of Jackson. Glad to see another alternative out there, I’ll be back often I’m sure!

    -Andy_B

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