Uncivil Post Comments Poison a Post's Perception -- Or, Why NWN Has a "Cocktail Party" Comment Policy

A scientific study on reader comments to online articles revealed a very interesting thing -- uncivil, nasty comments poison the perception of the article itself:

Half the people saw the article with (invented) polite, civil and constructive comments. The other half was given the same article but with uncivil comments – essentially a flame-war in the fake commenting thread... [which] polarized the opinion of readers, leading them to misunderstand the original article.

Emphasis mine. After about ten (!) years of blogging, I've suspected something like this phenomena was the case, which is why comments on New World Notes are moderated by a "cocktail party" standard. They're pretty simple: If what you're about to write is something that would be considered rude or boorish at a cocktail party, best to think about rephrasing.

Please share this post with people you like:

Tweet

Comments

[cube republic]

They're all moments and choices we have in life.

[Arcadia Codesmith]

I've never been to a cocktail party. Is throwing your drink in somebody's face off-limits? I've always wanted to do that. I can do the basilisk stare, but some people are utterly impervious to it and scathing sarcasm goes right over their perfectly-coiffed heads. The alcohol facial looks like a viable option.

[elizabeth (16)]

what if the article itself is considered worthy of the rude chucked at it? like is deserving of a cocktailing full credit. or a sausage roll. or something. like anything

(:

[Fleabite]

Yay cocktails! I'll bring the Molotovs :)