Ideally, no comments would ever be deleted, but merely routed to their proper place. Excellent comments made at the bottom because the user came in late, would be routed to the top so that people could actually read them.

Perhaps the whole comments structure needs to be re-thought.

I envision a software algorithm that links comments to various parts of a post, and then links the comments together as they relate to each other.

It would also push the less relevant or inane comments away.

But I suppose we all do the best we can with the tools that we have to work with.

I should probably write an official comment deletion policy at some point, but generally I delete spam and off-topic messages. So far I don’t remember having to deal with any threatening or harassing comments, or hate speech but I’d probably delete that sort of thing too.

So anyway, I support comment moderation (or the decision not to have a comments system) but it was irresponsible for them to run your private correspondance without asking and not to give you the chance to reply.

If I remember correctly, they didn’t even have one for way to long a time.

Another fun thing that happened; Xeni posted something, and I emailed her about something related. She then posted it on boingboing without my express permission.

I was unaware that a private email would automatically be posted, since I intended it purely as an FYI. Additionally, there were some slight factual inaccuracies, since I’d written the email off the top of my head.

This then led to a lengthy debate in the “comments” section, which I could not respond to because it consisted only of BB friends riffing on what I wrote. This was especially irritating given that a serious issue was made light of, and I had no opportunity to respond.

Now you have to “register” if you want your comments posted. If you don’t “register,” they’ll almost certainly never be posted.

Anyway, as far as I’m concerned, comments should never be deleted, but I think they should be sorted based on utility and relevance. Comments that are spam should be minimized and sent to the bottom of the page as spam. Comments that are troll-wars should be sent to their own section. Comments that are inane should be down-graded. Only comments that have something substantive to offer should make it to the top of the list.

It also seems that whoever comments first enjoys inordinate control over the conversation. In BB’s follow-up to their own post, several of them commented at the beginning to spin the conversation even further.

Finally, if I had to guess, I would say that Violet Blue did something to personally offend one or more of the BBers, probably Xeni, who was always sort of Violet’s champion anyway. So now Xeni yanks her patronage in retaliation; plain and simple. It also probably was nothing that “serious.” If it were “serious” then there would be a journalistic obligation to write about it, wouldn’t there? It was probably something petty and stupid, but something that ended a friendship.

Also, I love how they pretend to be a “personal” blog, when they routinely post news, make news, and offer up things for sale; and then they’re one of the top blogs; because they are all savvy media professionals who have worked in the industry for years. Who are they kidding?

The discussion is also going on the Hayen’s blog and MeFi. Still nothing on BB though.

http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/010393.html#010393:

http://www.metafilter.com/72928/Boing-Boing-Finds-21st-Century-Trotsky

Coming from a site that posts articles promoting transparency and rallies against censorship in government and other public institutions, the hypocrisy is disturbing, Even more disturbing is BB’s lack of discussion about any of this. Any comments about this issue is being deleted on BB. And the folks defending BB at Theresa Hayden’s blog are playing “spinning the strawman”, without answering the questions that the blogosphere wants to know.

Why were her posts deleted? Was it a technical glitch (doubtful)? Was it personal? Is this a legal issue that can’t be talked about? And the most disturbing thing of all is the length of time between this actully happening, and the silence from BB about the true reason for this deletion.
(/BoingBoing)

They mostly post links to harmless diversions, although they occasionally toss out a juicy tidbit or two.

And then there’s the Comments section, which is just a joke. They didn’t even have one for awhile.