Which miles and points blogs censor comments?
 

Have you ever been censored in a blog's comment section?

Which blog?

What did you write that got censored?

I have written a few pointed comments on various comment sections but have never had them axed by the blog.

I've never been censored, but once in a while my comment on an old post never appears. I presume that is due to a lack of attention to approving queued comments on old posts.

In my experience well-mannered comments are approved on all websites. Comments are their bread and butter. More comments = higher ad prices.

In addition to reviewing blogs that censor vs. don't censor, you might also consider which ones screen posts before publishing them. Requiring the administrator to approve a post is almost the same as censoring -- it's just whether you end up getting a yes or a no.

All comments on my blog are automatically approved. So far I have only had one case where a person was using vulgar language and I had to remove it. Every now and then a spambot gets through. There are very affordable services like Akismet that can prevent most spam.

I have only ever removed 1 post, and that was only because it was a blatant ad for the person in question that added nothing extra to the discussion. If the comment had started off constructively it would have stayed!

All of my comments go up automatically. To be fair, there is a third way - which is actually a selectable option in WordPress - which is that the first post by a new commentator is moderated but all future comments are approved by default.

People tend not to understand how massive spam is. I have had 1,100 spam comments at Head for Points in the last 24 hours, of which Akismet (the spam software) let through a grand total of 1, with 0 false positives.

I believe that is how we handle it at F2B

You make a good point, auto-approval of comments allows for the most free-flowing commentary. I'm not sure I'd remember who auto-approves and who doesn't, but I certainly remember blogs on which non-inflammatory comments have been censored.

Last month I was censored on Deltapoints for an innocent comment mentioning what I liked about the Delta Amex. I seem to recall being censored by another blog, but I can't remember the exact situation so I will not name the other blog.

That said, regardless of how comments are approved, I have a lot of respect for blogs that allow disagreeing commentary even when they sometimes border on being nasty. A few non-censoring blogs that come to mind are viewfromthewing, onemileatatime, and millionmilesecrets (though it's been a while since I've visited MMS for no particular reason).

Pretty clear that View from the Wing doesn't censor, here's a comment I read on that blog today:

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...az-5th-avenue/

And by the way, looks like Flyertalk is censoring words in the quote above, they weren't censored by Gary.

Definitely comment of the week!

I do not censor. I've only removed one comment in the past because it was a personal attack directed towards another blogger.

Ouch.

But good for Gary for not censoring!

In the uncensored marketplace of ideas the cream will rise to the top.

Delta Points proudly censors comments!
 

I proudly censor comments on MY blog! - http://boardingarea.com/blogs/deltapoints/aboutme/

Readers are welcome to disagree with me and comment so on the blog but may not post foul language (The blog is PG-13!) , or launch personal attacks on me or other readers (I respect my readers)!

This policy is clearly stated on the blog for all to see on the blog. Sorry, you many not come and smoke in "my house" and expect me to put up with it!

BTW, Flyer Talk censors comments too (i.e. you can not say anything you want on FT either)!

Milevalue

If you could update the first post with a list since we don't have a wiki that would be great.

i've had a post deleted on FTG. maybe he deemed my comments useless? I don't really remember what i wrote, but it wasn't offensive or anything. maybe it was just too boring and didn't contribute to the convo so I won't hold it against him unless others have experienced the same thing

Wow, that comment from View from the Wing is horrid. My skin would not be thick enough to take a steady diet of that vitriol.

I'd hate to accidentally cut that guy off on the freeway and cause some road rage. I don't think it would be pretty.

If you have tens of thousands of readers and a certain SEO simple statistics mean that you will have spammers and individuals who will write what they think & feel.

If a blog entry only gets standing ovantions in the comment section, I usually just skip reading the comments and move on. Much more to read on the interweb. I only have a 30 minute commute and that is the time I dedicate to reading the travel blogs that are out there ;)

I can understand why some blogs censor. No one likes to be criticized, and it's even worse when you don't know the person or have an opportunity to discuss the matter like polite adults (the Internet brings out the worst in people). I'm reminded of this comic on xkcd:

http://xkcd.com/386/

I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it, but it has gotten easier. Now some of the meanest comments are actually more amusing than hurtful. I think, "That guy has such poor social skills that this is the best he can muster. How pitiful."

Here's why I don't censor: We all make mistakes. I'm usually happy to update a post with more/better information. If someone calls me names or resorts to insults, that's unfortunate, but better that people see I can take some criticism and work to do better than create a false image of perfection. Building yourself up on a pedestal just attracts more attempts to knock you down.

I appreciate your position, but I don't think anyone would fault a blogger for censoring vulgarity or inappropriate content so to make it a decent atmosphere. What I do not appreciate are the blogs (like deltapoints) who censor comments that disagree with him. I think that is poor taste as it suggests that you are not secure enough with your content to allow people to suggest opposing views or analysis. However, his blog, he can do what he wants. I give a blog like that lower credibility though because of it.

100% Wrong. You are welcome to disagree with me all you want and I will post it as is and often do. I dump those that personal attack me, the blog or other readers. Oh, and my blog is PG-13 so if you disagree with colorful wording then yes I will dump that too.

sometimes they just get lost in the shuffle and sometimes, yes, we do censor inappropriate comments.

I remember posting a comment about how a referral link wasn't the best offer, and how a publically available offer was better for the readers. It was rejected.

How one can be proud of that is beyond me, but ymmv I suppose

Does the company you work for encourage employees to point out competitors with better and/or cheaper products?

That is quite different from blogs. A) readers are not employees B) blogs are trying to help readers with the best information. If they are not providing the best offers, the reader does not know whether it is because he is doing it to make himself money or because he does not know about the better offer. The good blogger (and one that will retain loyalty long-term) is the one that allows such a comment and even mentions the better offer, even if he/she still offers up their own referral offer as well.

Not necessarily. You can't assume anything until the bloggers who censor and those who don't reveal numbers and obviously they aren't going to.

I once commented that perhaps your daughter would be better off not buying a new car. (It was part of the content of the post a few years ago.) Got censored. Never understood why, as I tell anyone that will listen how bad of an investment a new car is!

Agree, new cars are bad investment. Sorry that happened to your comment. I know in the time we have had comments, I have actually hit the wrong button a few times and deleted a comment instead of actually publishing it. not many but it happens with almost 3000 posts to date. And yes, we do delete comments on purpose when they are inappropriate. I think it is the responsibility of the blog to keep the conversation civil and helpful to all readers not just the guy that is pissed off at me and needs to vent.

That's an interesting perspective.

If a points and miles blog cares more about its own revenue than about providing the best possible points and miles information, I'd say it is not a blog I would want to read.

I've never worked for such a company, but I patronize businesses that do.

It isn't about telling your customers to patronize your competitors. It's about being helpful so that they think of you first. Sometimes they'll find what they want and buy it from you. Other times you'll point them elsewhere. But they'll always think of you first because they know you know where to look.

A few blogs point you to other application links for credit cards. Maybe they won't make any affiliate income on that one, but you'll check their site anyway and maybe also click on an offer that does.

As illustrated in a movie!

Actually I'd be fine with censoring that type of stuff - not out of thin skin but because many readers are seeking websites with reasoned discussion and are turned off by useless material like that.

When I see personal insults or profanity in comments, to me that says more about the person who makes the comment than whoever they are commenting to. I don't get many comments (hopefully my spam blocker isn't blocking humans) but I won't censor anyone and if I don't like what they are saying I will simply thank them for taking the time to comment and move on.

Ladies & Gentlemen,
quick reminder that the FT TOS also apply to this section, so please refrain from personal attacks.

In case you were wondering about the definition, here is an excerpt from the Rules:
For those familiar with my moderating style, you may have noticed I will delete posts containing personal attacks in their entirety, so any worthwhile comment you may have made in the remainder of the post is lost forever.

One offensive post deleted. Now back to regular programming.

Regards Oliver2002
Mod EM&PR forum

My blog has very explicate terms of use. and I will censor any offensive material or advertisements. First post is held for moderation until approved and any there after is automatically approved. I can, will, and have deleted offensive messages.

I think that it may be helpful to ask which blogs censor non-offensive posts, and by that I mean something that doesn't have foul language, threats, overly rude, or mean spirited.

Though I really appreciate Delta Points as a person and for his wealth of knowledge, I have had comments that disagree with him censored. I am not the only one who has said that. I can't tell you how often it happens, since I rarely post on his blog anymore. Fortunately it is a free world and those who don't like one's blog or one's style have lots of other options.

I would welcome more aggressively challenging comments on my blog. I don't think there is a need for excessive vulgarity, but if there is an issue with the content I think it is an exciting challenge to address it, and either learn something or teach something in the process.

I second brooklynmatt's views completely. When someone has a better method to do something than mine or something to add, I am happy to hear it and then all my readers and myself as well can benefit. If someone only thinks he has a better method, I am happy to hear it as well as that gives me a chance to clarify and solidify my methods and perhaps look at things from a different angle. In life and internet, I will debate with people if I respect their views and opinions.

Furthermore, I would censor comments that are vulgar or profane. Or that are irrelevant to anything on the blog.

All of them, if you post something that's a little juicy about...

1. How much they're making from their blog
2. Details about their personal life, where they live, sexual preference, etc.

I can't say I blame them, either.

I actually found myself censoring this week. Another blogger came by my post and put his affiliate link into it. I felt that was out of line, especially as he did it ignoring my content that already dealt with the subject.

I then made a post about it today!

Milevalue, like deltapoints, will censor comments which point to a credit card offer with a better non affiliate offer. The worst kind of censoring IMO

I wonder why Points Guy pulled him off the blog roll.