I’m contemplating some changes for the comments here
No doubt regular readers have noticed a lot of recent troll activity here. It’s not the first time and not the first troll, so I’ve long thought about the issue. One possible solution is to tweak the comment system slightly to discourage trolls.
This is one of the few blogs of any decent size that still has unrestricted comments. In other words, most blogs either have registration or something like disqus. From the start, I’ve always valued comments and I’ve wanted to keep the process very easy here, and I’ve done so. But there’s a price to pay when it’s too easy.
So I think that some time in the next few days I’ll institute a new system. There are many from which to choose, so I’m not sure which one I’ll use yet because I’m not sure which will offer the best balance of protection versus ease of use.
I’m sorry to do this, but my intent is not to burden you with anything onerous. It will probably require an initial registration with an email address, and I’ll probably exclude hotmail accounts although I think I may be able to grandfather some hotmail accounts in for regular commenters here who have used that kind of account in the past. On your first registration, your first comment would be held in moderation till I approve it. But after that first time you wouldn’t have to go through registration again and you’ll just be able to comment as before and your comments will appear as before.
Any opinions or suggestions on this are welcome.
[ADDENDUM: I forgot to mention that I will not use disqus. I find it very annoying, and there are actually plenty of trolls on disqus.]
[ADDENDUM II:
Here’s a further explanation on how this would actually work. It changes very little, actually. You use the exact same information as before. Nothing is different except that I have to approve your very first comment. After that, you comment just as before.
It does not require that I send an email to your email address, for example. The email address merely has to be consistent with the same one you’ve always used here. Only I know what that address is (and I already know it), and of course you know it. No one else has access to it. It doesn’t have to be functional.
For new commenters, I might end up requiring a functioning email address. I will do that if I find there are a lot of trolls. But for old established commenters, it just needs to be the email address that person has always used plus the name that person has always used.]
Sounds great.
(This comes from someone who doesn’t mind PL’s disqus, and who came here first when Althouse, as best I can recall, totally eliminated comments for a time.)
”It will probably require an initial registration with an email address…”
That’s too bad, as I don’t have a working email address. Anyway, it’s been fun and educational. Take care everyone!
Fine with me.
mkent, gmail addresses are free, and you could use it just for this.
”gmail addresses are free, and you could use it just for this.”
gmail requires a working cellphone number, which I don’t have.
mkent:
I can probably grandfather you in. I’ll try to do that; I’m pretty sure it’s possible. When I institute the new system, just attempt to comment (filling it in more or less as before) and I think I can make it work. Definitely give it a try.
I don’t think I’m a troll? I’m further to the right and an isolationist, but I either make an argument or refute one of yours when I comment maybe once a month and have been reading for years (and was a huge fan of Gerard). Okay, one time I did say I think you could be more assertive and have more faith in Trump. ?
At any rate – if you care – Disqus is a non-starter for me, keeps me from posting at Instapundit since it is so clunky, the extra sign in, can’t remember my password and so on. A one time thing might be okay. I do have a Gmail I could use.
Please, do not use disqus. It is a pain on Instapundit.
I have no problem registering.
Idjits have to ruin everything.
I forgot to mention that I will not use disqus. I find it very annoying, and there are actually plenty of trolls on disqus.
”I can probably grandfather you in. I’ll try to do that; I’m pretty sure it’s possible. When I institute the new system, just attempt to comment (filling it in more or less as before) and I think I can make it work.”
That would be cool. Thanks!!
I don’t mind disqus, but glad you noted just as many trolls with it.
I was going to suggest disqus as it works fine for me and that’s the only one I have. One blog I read uses disqus but you can also post as a guest just by giving an email, similar to your setup. Now I see it lists Disqus, facebook, X, google, microsoft, apple as possible logins. I still see anon or guest comments, which have the name show up gray instead of green. See this post for example- scroll down past the car service ad image near top:
https://www.christopherfountain.com/blog/2026/6/20/spot-on-charlie
I’m surprised. I read the comments often and not noticed any real trolls, maybe some snide disagreement or sarcasm. Go on X or Instapundit, you’ll see obvious trolls.
Sonny:
I’ve removed most of the troll’s comments. That’s probably why you didn’t see them. Sock puppets, too.
I am happy to comply because it is worth it.
thank you Neo
You’ve been under attack ( too many.requests), I think it’s a good thing, if I don’t make it, tough on me, good luck
Whatever you need to do, do it. Fine with me. Yours is one of the few blogs that I frequent.
Me, too. Whatever works for you. I’ve been reading/following almost forever (since you started, lol) and will continue to.
Well done boss. I can’t imagine the effort you give us to operate a first class site like this so whatever is necessary to keep the house tidy…count me in.
Whatever you do is fine by me.
Sorry to hear that you have such a hard time with trolls and such Neo.
Your blog is a great source of discussion which is so sadly missing from the public in general. Your posts are of great value and interest; and, I find the comments (even those I do not fully agree with) to be interesting. There are quite a few who have passed away or stopped commenting and I miss their thoughts.
Hopefully, you can continue this blog and commentors can continue as well.
If it ever becomes too much of burden Neo, I will be disappointed if you stop; but, I will certainly understand – thank you for all that you do!
I don’t write many comments, but will note here that I welcome any back-room changes that discourage trolling.
As an aside, I can well remember the first blogs, and I still think that it was a good software innovation. Why have so many people abandoned the form? Twitter/X is clearly inferior. I like substack, but that form appeared after the collapse of the blogosphere. I’m sure that this trend has been discussed elsewhere, but I’m feeling too lazy and sleepy to look it up. Good night to all.
I approve all efforts to improve the neighborhood. Trolls are a source of irritation, so eliminating them is a step in the right direction. (“Right” as in “correct,” but the other meaning works for me as well.) I have never understood the urge to annoy/upset/anger that is the motivation for trolls to post comments. Human nature, I suppose. It’s the reason I tend to keep a respectful distance from other people, except for those I find helpful.
Don’t have any format comment log ins, registering is fine.
Read this blog a long time so will do what is needed.
Neo;
If you could grandfather me in I would greatly appreciate it; I have a Hotmail account.
If you can’t , I will understand.
I’m not a very frequent commenter here, but your efforts are much appreciated and I hope you can abide my Gmail address. 🙂
Ditto being grandfathered in.
Thank God you know to avoid Disqus!
Sounds like a great plan. I’ve done the some thing on my blog (which gets vastly less traffic and very few comments).
Moderate the first comment. Then people can comment freely after that.
Leland
I don’t mind disqus, but glad you noted just as many trolls with it.
I commented using disqus for several years. I found it EXTREMELY annoying. When I made a comment w links—I do not like making unsupported statements—Disqus would usually inform me that publishing the comment was being withheld until it was reviewed. I never saw a comment being held for review that was later published.
Steve: “I have never understood the urge to annoy/upset/anger that is the motivation for trolls to post comments.”
I believe that a large proportion of trolls, especially on conservative websites, are not random cranks but are paid and/or dispatched political operatives. Hillary had an operation called “Correct the Record” which was basically a bunch of people defending her on internet websites. Soros, or Singham, could finance a boatload of these for a small fraction of the cost of a single DA race.
Since conservatives, unlike leftists, believe in free speech they often tolerate trolls long past the point where it is obvious – see the other column on “suicidal empathy” (neo, zaphod ahem cough cough, at least this time you dispatched him pronto). My understanding is that left wing websites do not tolerate even sincere conservative commenters for more than a post or two.
No problem.
Well, I’ll have to stop commenting.
==
I was going to say, Please not disqus. Then I saw at the end that you don’t plan to use it. Good.
I have enjoyed reading your stuff for over 20 years and I comment a few times each year. It would be nice if you could grandfather me in because some sites require more steps for comments than I am willing to do. Your site has been so simple and easy and I hope it can remain somewhat that way.. I also find trolls rather tiresome and annoying. Thank you for all of your years of entertaining and informing us, yours is stiff the first site I look at each morning.
The trolls are probably more of an irritant for you than for me, but I have no problem with you getting rid of as many as possible. I will continue to tune in every morning and comment from time to time. Good luck with the change. I hope it is successful.
Neo – Can you please grandfather me in? I don’t want to register. Your site is my favorite due to your posts and the comments.
I think it would be a big loss if Art Deco stopped commenting here.
Yesterday I couldn’t read the comments to this post; your blog said I was suspicious and was using a VPN (I wasn’t using a VPN). I *could* read the comments on other posts here.
I’m curious if there is a correlation between the swarm of trolls and your new computer. Personally, I would never buy a Lenovo computer, because the company is owned or controlled by our enemy China.
Selfy:
I’ll be changing some of the blocking after I change the comments process, and after that you shouldn’t have a problem with VPNs. It probably will happen tomorrow, if I have the time to set it up. Please also see my comment to Art Deco here.
People only have to register once and after that you can comment as before. For regular, established commenters such as yourself, just use the exact same information you’ve already been using here when you post comments already – only I can see that information, so only you would know it. Then all should be fine.
The trolls have nothing to do with my computer. I’ve had trolls here for 20 years. They come and go.
OldTexan:
Please see my comment above this one. Please also see my comment to Art Deco here.
It’s just a question of commenting the first time under the new process, filling in your usual information, then waiting for me to approve that first comment. After that, it should work the way it’s always been working with no more hoops to jump through.
Art Deco; Gringo:
Please see my two comments above this one.
You use the exact same information as before. Nothing changes except that I have to approve your very first comment. After that, you comment just as before.
It does not require that I send an email to your email address, for example. The email address merely has to be consistent and the same one you’ve always used here. Only I know what that address is, and of course you know it. No one else has access to it. It doesn’t have to be functional.
For new commenters, I might require a functioning email address. I will do that if I find there are a lot of trolls. But for old established commenters, it just needs to be the email address that person has always used plus the name that person has always used.
Fair enough.
Fair enough. If you can grandfather me in, that’s great. If not, I’ll set up something and register.
I hate that this is necessary, but I completely understand. I’ve seen too many interesting, useful discussion sites gradually get consumed by trollery (or spam, but that doesn’t seem to be an issue with this).
The problem with trolls is that they’re kind of like junk bonds, they tend to gradually drive out the good commentators, slowly at first then quickly. I’ve seen it happen too often.
If it makes your work easier I’m for it!
gmail? Don’t they track you and didn’t they go all PC? I deleted my account years ago. I am one of the very few still using Juno. (And I hate cell phones, too.) But then, I don’t comment much here anyway.
Suggestions:
A “reply” icon so the reply to a poster is immediatley underneath their comment
A “like” icon for any post
A “dislike” icon for any post
Can’t think of much else
Trolls seem to be everywhere on the Internet. Infestations from trolls and Bots from Pakistan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia etc are a real problem.
Hardly ever comment…but want to get my info in your logs! Just in case…!!
Eeyore:
As I said, it’s fine to use whatever email address you usually use – even a fake one, as long as you’ve habitually used it here.
Please grandfather me in if possible! I will keep reading regardless. Thanks, Neo.
“Suggestions:
A “reply” icon so the reply to a poster is immediatley underneath their comment
A “like” icon for any post
A “dislike” icon for any post”
Nope. Look at Insta or Gateway. on and on and on with replies, and people seem to say stuff with main intention of getting upvotes .
Sometimes I feel an upvote or downvote is deserved. But look at Neo and Althouse to see that without those features things tend to stay more civilized.
Long ago I decided against embedded replies. It’s better to just address the person by name. Embedded replies have what I consider a big drawback, which is that new comments are not obvious and they become harder to find. I prefer a simple linear list with new comments at the bottom.
Thanks for sorting this out Neo.
Mkent, protonmail is free for basic and is encrypted as well.
Neo, I agree on the embedded replies, especially as they descend into more than 3 layers. And on some web sites they are not indented enough to know or show a clear higher up alignment.
I won’t mind being grandfathered in, either, but not essential if that becomes a major workload for you to find the more common 200 commenters out of 2800 (or whatever numbers are applicable).
I suspect that by the time we have been commenting for a while, we let enough personal info slip out that a dedicated searcher could eventually track most of us down to our real lives. AI would also help with matching writing patterns and word usage across multiple sites and comments.