# Why are most news sources closing their comment sections? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358 "2016-01-06T21:10:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/41 "2016-01-07T17:26:29Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > On the Atlantic site comments can often show much more insight into the issue than in the article. But then they have mods for the jerks and sometimes the writers themselves will respond to comments. Not just Atlantic – every news site. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/42 "2016-01-07T17:28:52Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > people are actually claiming liberals don’t want to hear the truth in comment sections so that’s why they are shutting them down? In my opinion, many Liberals know the truth, but they do not want it to be known by those who are not suppose to know it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/43 "2016-01-07T17:31:57Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > In my opinion, many Liberals know the truth, but they do not want it to be known by those who are not suppose to know it. Are those people big readers of the comments section of _The Atlantic_? “We’ve finally managed to gain tyranny over the common man. But God save us all if he ever starts reading the comment sections of _The Atlantic_…” ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/44 "2016-01-07T17:58:34Z")
> [@Oddball\_92](#): > > Political correctness is everything now. Way more important than facts. Yeah. Like the War on Christmas. Or what to call terrorists. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/45 "2016-01-07T18:47:04Z")
It’s not a news site _per se_ - it’s a site for religious news and commentary - but Patheos draws commenters of all ideological stripes. I’ve had some discussions with evangelicals and religious conservatives on that site that have grown vigorous and at times heated, but have stayed within the bounds of civility. So it _can_ be done. Of course, it may an issue of self-selection; sites like Patheos, the _New York Times_, and the _Atlantic_ I would assume draws people who can defend their arguments with better rhetoric than “ur a fag!” ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/46 "2016-01-07T18:48:55Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > News comment sections. > > Nowhere in the galaxy will you find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. > > We must be on guard. Be on your guard. There are older–and fouler–creatures in the deep places of the earth. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/47 "2016-01-07T20:37:16Z")
If you voted “political correctness” you’re wrong. It’s not a matter of opinion. The abusive nature of comments sections frequently reaches the point of the publisher having to make decisions related to actual liability. It can and does get that bad. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/48 "2016-01-07T20:58:44Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > In my opinion, many Liberals know the truth, but they do not want it to be known by those who are not suppose to know it. :guffaw: ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/49 "2016-01-07T21:02:35Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Or what to call terrorists. Exactly. If there was ever a better illustration of political correctness than the right-wing insistence that Obama, Hillary, etc. need to use Certain Words to describe terrorists from organizations like ISIS and al-Qaeda, or else they’re soft on terrorism or something, I’m not sure what it could be. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/50 "2016-01-07T22:11:19Z")
Hell, even in conservative sites the comments section tend to after a half page derail into personal flamewars and posts having jack to do with the article at hand, absent active moderation. Jesus wept when he saw the comments pages. Political correctness? No. Preventing an eventual lawsuit, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/51 "2016-01-07T22:20:46Z")
I dont know if you would say this is liberal bias but their is a common complaint out that when say a bunch of black teens mob some store or something the press just calls them “teens” or “youths” and even try and cover up the fact they were all black. So a headline would say " a mob of youths ransacked a store" instead of saying “a mob of black youths ransacked a store”. Of course the comments section goes nuts with all the racists. Now would the problem go away if the press would admit some mob was all black? Sometimes I’ve even seen it when they cover up the faces of the mob. So should the press show things as they really are which isnt always the perfect example of diversity or should they try and hide certain unpleasant aspects? Tough call. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/52 "2016-01-07T23:52:42Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I dont know if you would say this is liberal bias but their is a common complaint out that when say a bunch of black teens mob some store or something the press just calls them “teens” or “youths” and even try and cover up the fact they were all black. So a headline would say " a mob of youths ransacked a store" instead of saying “a mob of black youths ransacked a store”. > > Of course the comments section goes nuts with all the racists. > > Now would the problem go away if the press would admit some mob was all black? > > Sometimes I’ve even seen it when they cover up the faces of the mob. > > So should the press show things as they really are which isnt always the perfect example of diversity or should they try and hide certain unpleasant aspects? > > Tough call. Do they ever describe a mob as “white teens?” ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/53 "2016-01-08T00:03:37Z")
White teens are “revelers”. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/54 "2016-01-08T00:10:10Z")
> [@Wolf333](#): > > White teens are “revelers”. Or armed activists. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/55 "2016-01-08T02:58:21Z")
Horatio Hellpop: > [@](#): > > Seriously, what kind of advertising can you get for a site where the phrase “secret Kenyan Muslim” appears often in the comments section? Your Kenyan Muslim girlfriend is waiting for you right now – click here! ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/56 "2016-01-08T03:26:39Z")
There are an enormous amount number of comment sections that overflow with hatred, idiocy, racism, bigotry, nastiness, vulgarity, pettiness, narcissism, spam, and other garbage. This is the norm. It’s true whether the website has a liberal or conservative leaning or any other. It’s true whether the commenters are liberal, conservative, or Star Wars fans. All are equally bad. There are a very few comment sections are polite, civil, mature, and intelligent. A very few. Generally specialty blogs devoted to a narrow topic with a relatively small audience. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/57 "2016-01-08T07:17:42Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Horatio Hellpop: > > Your Kenyan Muslim girlfriend is waiting for you right now – click here! You forgot to add the URL. :{ ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/58 "2016-01-08T15:52:41Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > There are an enormous amount number of comment sections that overflow with hatred, idiocy, racism, bigotry, nastiness, vulgarity, pettiness, narcissism, spam, and other garbage. This is the norm. It’s true whether the website has a liberal or conservative leaning or any other. It’s true whether the commenters are liberal, conservative, or Star Wars fans. All are equally bad. I think the only real question here is why there are so many unmoderated comment functions on news sites in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/59 "2016-01-08T16:12:08Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I think the only real question here is why there are so many unmoderated comment functions on news sites in the first place. Moderating the comments is not a profit generating activity. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358/60 "2016-01-08T16:37:25Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Moderating the comments is not a profit generating activity. Obviously not directly but it may up page views to have a comments section which may up ad revenue. So you have to decide if a good (ie moderated) comments section is better than none or trollfest one. Because it is a hassle, I was listening to a radio program about the growth of outsource moderator companies. So instead of having staff do it they hire some guys who moderate multiple websites’ comment sections. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-most-news-sources-closing-their-comment-sections/742358.md?page=4)