Leaving a Comment? That'll Be 99 Cents, and Your Name 377
netbuzz writes "Anxious to lift a ban on comments brought about by incessant trolling and anonymous slander, a Massachusetts newspaper has begun requiring two things of online readers who want to leave their thoughts on stories: a one-time fee of 99 cents and a willingness to use their real names. Says the publisher: 'This is a necessary step, in my opinion, if The Attleboro (MA) Sun Chronicle is going to continue to provide a forum for comments on our websites.'"
Irony (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Irony (Score:5, Funny)
but it is still free as in speech! :)
Re:Good Idea (Score:5, Funny)
Call it a hunch but I don't think your last name is squid or quid.
That's too bad... (Score:5, Funny)
and a willingness to use their real names.
Somewhere in this country, there's a Hugh Jass who feels silenced.
Re:Irony (Score:5, Funny)
ALL CAPS? (Score:5, Funny)
Middle initial (Score:4, Funny)
Somewhere in this country, there's a Hugh Jass who feels silenced.
That's what a middle initial is for, unless someone's name is already Hugh Gerald Rection.
Re:Good Idea (Score:4, Funny)
What person has to review the transaction?
if the 99 cents shows up, the account is legit.
Of course, nobody ever got a credit card for their dog [goofball.com], did they?
Re:Dept of Troll Prevention.... (Score:3, Funny)
Send me 99 cents and I'll fix that fer ya.
Re:Dept of Troll Prevention.... (Score:3, Funny)
(don't let this get modded up or else my point will be moot)
Re:Good Idea (Score:5, Funny)
Correct, it's "squid0". Now shut up and be glad it's not "Robert'); DROP TABLE Students;--".
Re:Dept of Troll Prevention.... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:so geolocate the commentors' ip address (Score:3, Funny)
Real names!? (Score:2, Funny)
Stewbacca is my real name.
Re:Dept of Troll Prevention.... (Score:5, Funny)
Sorry, could you repeat that at a higher moderation level?
Re:Irony (Score:5, Funny)
.99 cents
This reminds me of an incident some person had with Verizon concerning data rate costs...
Re:Good Idea (Score:5, Funny)
No, but if slashdot ever initiates such a rule I will legally change it.
Re:Kiss another paper goodbye. (Score:3, Funny)
The new-agey claptrap was a lot more fun than the anti-new-worlder paranoia.
Am I supposed to understand what you are talking about here?
Remember; you're the only one who can hear your thoughts, so you really do need to make a special effort when communicating with others. It'll take you far in life.
-FL
Visa Gift Card leftovers (Score:2, Funny)
I have $1.37 left over on a gift VISA card. I can change the name to anything I want. Turd Fergason coming to a comment section near your.
Harrrr! (Score:3, Funny)
"incessant trolling and anonymous slander"
First, newspapers suffered from "incessant trolling and anonymous slander" always. They dealt with it by limiting the number of pages given over to 'letters to the editor'. "incessant trolling and anonymous slander" BY the editors was considered expempt. of course.
Second, North Attleboro (and Mass by extension) is pretty much ALL "incessant trolling and anonymous slander". What the hell are they gonna put up on the blog now? Movie reviews and cat stories? Welcome to the Massachusetts experience. We don't call them 'Massholes' in Maine for no reason.
ps - You can't slander a Massachusetts politician. The truth is an absolute defense.
Re:Dept of Troll Prevention.... (Score:5, Funny)
Ironically, part of the monoculture is that you have to think Slashdot sucks.
Ah, well. At least we're consistent.
I feel a disturbance in the force (Score:4, Funny)
It's as if a million trolls suddenly cried out, and were silenced...
Re:Irony (Score:5, Funny)
Believe me, that was the least bogus part of my argument.
Re:Irony (Score:2, Funny)
Lowtax is that you?
Re:Irony (Score:3, Funny)
They could use the extra 89 cents to pay somebody to teach them the difference between "sense" and "cents".
I get the cents you're mocking me.