Buying In - Blog 4 (COM 616)
In looking for an article for this blog post, I was faced with the challenge of finding an article that I wanted to read, but with a comments section. I have been trying to discern what media I “buy into” since I already spend a majority of my time on the internet for work. I searched a few sites for some unbiased politically centered articles (as those always seem to have the most charged comments sections), however I was met with the surprise that most comment sections have been shut down or are carefully moderated.
Below are a few of the articles I viewed:
Deadly election day in Venezuela as protesters clash with troops
Cabinet tensions rise as West Wing goes through (another) shakeup
Trump strong-arms ObamaCare back to table; holdout Collins says ‘job is not done’
Chris Christie confronts fan at Milwaukee Brewers game
While in college, I used to be much more invested in keeping up with news and discussing it with friends and co-workers, before I started working in the space full time and needing a break from “breaking news,” but I hadn’t noticed the “demise of the comments section” until now.
As our text states, “public discourse ethics protects and promotes the public arena – a place where difference lives (Arnett, Fritz, & Bell. p. 106).” In the understanding that the internet is a public place, it would be assumed that these sites, which are built on public discourse and discernment, would encourage communities to be built throughout their sites. However, what used to be comments sections, are now replaced with advertisements and paid content.
The comments section has now been re-located to social media. In looking at some of the comments that were shared with these articles when they were reposted, I can understand why some of these companies would rather pass the baton of responsibility to the individual instead of those moderating the comments section. (I attempted to take screenshots but my computer wasn’t working with me.)
there’s nothing less terrifying than chris christie sarcastically saying “you’re a big shot” while holding what appears to be a nacho sundae
The real question is: how angrily must’ve Chris Christie devoured those nachos when he finally got back to his seat…
Pradheep Shanker MD @Neoavatara
Honestly, by far the best thing about the Trump era is that Chris Christie is going down in a massive ball of flames.
Nikki Haley may be the best of all the Trump cabinet officials, at least if she was the one who wrote or approved this statement.
Jeff Sessions is the best member of the Trump Cabinet. He’s the one most successfully implementing the President’s agenda.
Although these are just a few tweets, the blame pulls from the source and reverts to the individual. CNN and FoxNews don’t have to moderate the public, because they’ve referred the responsibility to the public. Some of the comments made about these articles have no relevance to the topic itself. Some of the feedback given on social media have no evidence to back up the claims the Jeff Sessions is the “best member of Trump’s cabinet” or that Chris Christie is going down in a “massive ball of flames.” There’s opinion based evidence but no substantial evidence backed up by fact explicitly stated within the tweets. These are unsubstantiated voices or pieces information being supported by an integrated platform, such as a comments section. There’s no need for informed moderators when everyones an expert and will push the story outside of the website itself.
References
Arnett, R.C., Harden-Fritz, J. M. & Bell, L. M. (2008). Communication ethics literacy: Dialogue and difference. Los Angeles: Sage.