A Re-Post of a Note on Comment Moderation

If are to include a link to a YouTube video in your comment, please be aware that it might take me an extended time period for me to get around to publishing said comment (if ever at all). I need to check the content of the video, and sometimes (like when teaching is underway, etc.), time is at a premium. Videos from an established media outfit (Reuters, Bloomberg, NY Times, WSJ, CNN, etc.) are not subject to this proviso.

[new commentary]

Mr. Steven Kopits asks why I moderate comments as I do (for comments on my blogposts; my decisions do not bind how James Hamilton moderates comments on his blogposts).

I am a bit perplexed by this policy. To the best of my knowledge, YouTube videos can be linked anywhere. Now, YouTube has fairly strict, if arbitrary, policies regarding violence, sex, etc., a headache to those Tubers investing huge efforts in bringing us near real time information from the war in Ukraine. But that is no impediment to Econbrowser. What’s the issue?

The reason is I am not ready to delegate screening to YouTube. I was but am no longer willing to delegate screening to Twitter (nor have I been willing to delegate to Facebook in the past, although thankfully people don’t typically link there). While there is a wealth of information available on YouTube, it’s my feeling that much can be obtained on a mainstream media outlet like Reuters or CNN.

In addition, some commenters ask why it takes some time to approve other comments, perhaps even longer than others. Sometimes, I find the comment possibly offensive. Sometimes I want to verify the assertion made by the commenter. Sometimes, the comment is actually “spam” which starts off with a remark that at first glance appears to refer to a substantive issue, but then leads into an attempt to sell something. (I do allow people to self-promote, e.g. “I have a new grand unified theory of life, the universe, and everything else, that no one else has ever thought of, and is deserving of a Nobel Prize…)

I am of the hope that readers will understand that neither I nor James Hamilton receive compensation for contributing to this weblog (tell me if you see one of those irritating popup ads on this site). As a consequence, each minute spent responding to these complaints about moderation policy is a minute spent taken away from other tasks (or sleep).

So, please, for my sake, stop linking to YouTube videos (even if I might eventually get to approving said comment). And for now, you might want to forego linking to tweets.

 

15 thoughts on “A Re-Post of a Note on Comment Moderation

  1. pgl

    I see no problem with what are saying here. Of course some of our readers refuse to link to FRED, BLS. etc. even though this is highly recommended. Then again we have Bruce Hall providing links to stories he clearly has not read.

  2. pgl

    I hope this source is an acceptable one:

    ‘Secret’ Brett Kavanaugh Documentary On Sexual Assault Allegation Premiering At Sundance, Director Claims FBI ‘Fell Woefully Short’

    https://www.mediaite.com/politics/secret-brett-kavanaugh-documentary-on-sexual-assault-allegation-premiering-at-sundance-director-claims-fbi-fell-woefully-short/

    A documentary on allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was added to the lineup for the Sundance Film Festival this week, and the “secret” project comes from the director of movies like The Bourne Identity and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings, though he denied any wrongdoing multiple times. Director Doug Liman, who is behind the upcoming documentary, claimed in a statement about his movie that the FBI “fell woefully short” during a probe into Kavanaugh. “It shouldn’t be this hard to have an open and honest conversation about whether or not a Justice on the Supreme Court assaulted numerous women as a young man,” he said, according to IndieWire. “Thanks to this fantastic investigative team and the brave souls who trusted us with their stories, Justice picks up where the FBI investigation into Brett Kavanaugh fell woefully short.

    A must see documentary but please folks – do not post links to the actual documentary here given the graphic allegations. Ewww.

    1. pgl

      The medical profession is ripe with market power. Hospitals as you note. Health insurance companies who are merging like crazy with rising “medical loss ratios” aka gross margins in excess of 20%. The doctors cartel. Monopoly rents for biopharmas and medical device companies. Everyone is in on this racket except the underpaid nurses.

  3. Econned

    “I am of the hope that readers will understand that neither I nor James Hamilton receive compensation for contributing to this weblog (tell me if you see one of those irritating popup ads on this site). As a consequence, each minute spent responding to these complaints about moderation policy is a minute spent taken away from other tasks (or sleep).”

    1. pgl

      Was their a purpose behind you cutting and pasting our host’s comment word for word? If you are of the mind to come back with your usual insulting trash – save your time. No one here gives a rats a$$ about what you think or say.

      Now if you might for the first time in your little worthless life make a contribution to actual economic discourse, go right ahead even if that would shock everyone here.

      1. pgl

        That would have been nice but once again you fail to deliver. Hey Econned – do you need help figuring out how to do basic things like copying and pasting links?

  4. Baffling

    It is important to remind some folks that they do not have a constitutionally protected right to post on this blog. The blog owner has the exclusive legal right to determine the value and permissibility of any comment. So quit complaining and post something that is truthful and valuable.

  5. Moses Herzog

    I wish to say something. Whatever bad person I am (and I am certain I am not good person in some aspects) this reader never desires to add to the blog host’s daily stresses. I hope I add some “color” (if nothing else) on his and Professor Hamilton’s blog. Like most things in my life I am hopeful I add more pluses than minuses. Even though I come up short often.

  6. James

    Dear Menzie – understood! And thanks for allowing us to comment at all – a couple of the other blogs I follow do not allow commenting anymore. I recently left Twitter because it has no editorial standard at all and same for Facebook. YouTube has some good content but I consider most of it of dubious value. I recently linked to a Twitter post as an example of economic policy reporting by a major news outlet. But – let’s keep our references to content of some value.
    On this blog – I do find the same consistent “troll” comments a little fatiguing. How many times do you have to be reminded you are incorrect? Thanks Menzie for providing this blog.

    1. pgl

      How many times do you have to be reminded you are incorrect?

      That is an excellent question. For a couple of people the number seems to be in the millions.

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