Saturday, July 18, 2015

Times- Standard Deleting Comments??


The Times- Standard ran a story today covering anti- tobacco legislation that got snuffed in the state legislature. It was actually a guest story from one of the Media News Group's Bay Area papers. The gist being it's all a conspiracy by "Big Tobacco".

I felt it my duty to post the link to the You Tube video explaining the reasons for California's war on e- cigarettes, explaining it's just a money grab to make up for the money lost as people quit, or reduce, their smoking by switching to e- cigs. That comment seems to have disappeared. Hmmm???

Of course, it could have been flagged by some other viewer with a tobacco obsession. Or it could be that the link embedded the video in the comment and that's not allowed? I tried to remove it but couldn't figure out how. Or, someone at the Times- Standard didn't like the comment. That's what first comes to mind, but I wonder if they have enough people working there to keep track of their little used comments section?

Addendum: I'm getting the impression the T-S comments don't allow links. I tried it again and it disappeared just as the first one did.

16 Comments:

At 11:00 AM, Blogger Julie Timmons said...

I've never attempted to comment on a T-S story probably because I read the paper version . I'd be surprised if they have a staff to chase comments. Very surprised.

 
At 11:03 AM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

Yeah. I don't think they have people to monitor comments, either. I tried posting that link again and it disappeared. They must not accept links.

Hardly anyone uses their comments, anyway. No need to have someone watching the comments with so few people using them.

 
At 11:48 AM, Blogger MOLA:42 said...

Even when the TS's comment section had any relevance it was still the Wild West. One could start a real verbal riot before anyone on the staff would notice or do anything.

I think back to those times and I kind of feel sorry for the TS... They had the chance to be what the LoCO is now and they threw it away.

I guess it was like horse and buggy drivers cursing the new-fangled automobiles when they first hit the road.

 
At 12:26 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

Back when the T-S used Topix comments it was pretty lively, if that's what you're referring to. Then they switched to Facebook. I think people started losing interest a bit when they used FB.

Comments are far and few between there now. Every now and then you might see a flurry of them on one story or another. Usually there aren't any.

The biggest failure I've seen with comments was with the Sacramento Bee. They had quite the lively comments section with some stories getting hundreds of them. But some didn't like them and started complaining about "horrible" remarks being made. And, yes, it was mostly from those on the Left that I heard the complaints. They wanted something done, even to the point of stopping allowing comments altogether.

The Bee went through a months long "fix", finally only allowing a chosen few to comment. Now I think they let everyone, assuming you're registered with them. Comments are a trickle of what they were with many stories not generating any.

Even when you can comment the Bee system is screwed up. I'll subscribe to notifications after I make a comment. I'll get notice of someone replying to my comment, or the thread, go there, but no comments. I can't read what others have written after I made my comment. I wrote the Bee about the problem. They never replied and, obviously, haven't fixed the problem.

 
At 1:42 PM, Blogger Julie Timmons said...

The Sacbee's website is a disaster. I'm about to terminate my digital subscription.

 
At 1:49 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who is behind the smoking bans & vaping bans. http://www.live5news.com/story/8722195/who-really-profits-from-smoking-bans
Leno, ALA, ACS, etc, should all be declaring their funds from Pharma. Ever googled Leno's background?

 
At 2:05 PM, Anonymous Tom L said...

I guarantee you the T-S censors the comments. That is one of the top 3 reasons why I would never EVER pay for their newspaper in print nor would I pay for it online. They are not true journalists in my book. When I read the news, I want it all, good and bad without being censored, otherwise I consider it edited propaganda with no value. I have had many comments over the years deleted simply bacuse I disagree with their point of view. Typical of a news agency run by liberals who want to censor everything that makes up the real world.

T-S, that is why I would never buy your paper or online news. I will call it what is it. It's crap.

 
At 2:30 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Times-Standard appears to allow comment by login to Disqus, Facebook, Twitter or Google.

 
At 2:37 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

Yeah. I believe most nowadays, including Disqus, allow you to log in thru various means. I believe you have to log in, but can choose to have your comment listed as anonymous.

They do use Disqus comment format, though, thankfully. I hated the Facebook comment format.

 
At 2:52 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Redding.com Comment Policy
As a subscriber you are granted the privilege of commenting on Redding.com. You also agree to abide by the rules. Commenters must stay on topic, not attack other commenters, not post libelous statements or use profanity. Spam posts won't be tolerated. If you break the rules, your comment will be deleted and your account may be banned from commenting. Questions? Call Managing Editor Carole Ferguson at 530-225-8232 or email her at cferguson@redding.com.

 
At 3:25 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

I used to frequent reddingdotcom but stopped when they made it a pay site. I only went there to read and sometimes comment on letters. Not worth paying just to read a few letters. You cant even read the letters there for free now.I don't know about now but they had quite a lefty contingent commenting on letters back then.

 
At 5:16 PM, Blogger Rose said...

Newspapers are - or should be - held to a different standard. They are a permanent record of our time, and as such, their commentaries should be verified as actually existing, real people.

Blogs - and LoCo, are different. Whether it's the Wild West or a giant pillow fight in a virtual hotel room, where you open the door and everyone stops slugging for a couple minutes, then go right back to bashing each other, or the "Country Club" - the comments threads are as much a part of the experience as the posts.

TS comments are down because people don't like to use their names. And I will never understand why, in a free country with the gift of freedom of speech, people hide in the corner afraid to use it.

 
At 6:53 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The public, the opposition, are forbidden to attend Leno's new bill session. All other bills have rightfully failed, so this time he changes it up and calls a "special session" into play.
Raising taxes on the poor, the minorities, anyone, is bad enough, but calling vapor a tobacco product is blasphemous.
There are more important aspects to this story than deleted comments, it's a shame you're more worried about missing posts than missing liberties & honesty.

 
At 12:02 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can't post links at the times, so will post here for interested parties.
Leno's bill will be detrimental to the adults in record numbers, in various ages. Millions of adults who either couldn't or wouldn't quit smoking, for whatever their individual reason warranted. Liz is a great example of the over 60 crowd that taxing vapor products & eliquids will harm. Limited budget, ex-smoking seniors will be incredibly harmed. Liz- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ein27n_K3n0

ImProof movement page. Be sure to watch Karen Lee video. http://www.improofmovement.com

There are more, believe me, but I hope these two will open eyes to the real world.

 
At 12:22 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This will keep you busy for a day. https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/threads/improof.499618/

 
At 7:45 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Even if the T/S is deleting comments, they are no worse than other outlets.

Tuluwat Examiner blocks ALL comments that disagree with their limited point of view; myself, and several friends, have all been permanently prevented from posting comments because our views were not in agreement with the opinions of TE "operators"/ ALL comments are monitored and reviewed by TE prior to public posting, so they "conveniently" keep/post only the comments that support TE views. Censorship mastery is all you find at Tuluwat Examiner.

LoCO is better, but tends to ban commentators for "life" more than ever.

 

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