Sunday, May 17, 2009

Axelotl ... Oops, ... I mean Spuzzum

I know I have asked this question before so please bear with me -- but enquiring minds want to know -- why do some people have word verification and comment moderation on their blogs? Some people have both. I have had a blog for three years, and I have never had to use either word verification or comment moderation. I think if people want to post a comment, it should be made as easy as possible for them to do it. I have noticed lately that word verification is asking us to type the gobbledegook word twice. I am very careful to type the letters -- just as they are shown -- and oops, my comment cannot be posted, and I have to go through the whole ... process ... again ... So, I take the time to do this, only to find the little sign that says:

Arrrgggghhhh......

I want to visit all you folks, really I do. There are some amazing blogs out there, and interesting people from all over the world. Many of you folks have just the type of blogs I like, where you talk about current events, politics, religion, science, movies, art, music, literature, poetry, philosophy ... and so much more. It fascinates me. When you post something that I think is fabulous, I want you to be able to read my witty thoughtful almost intelligent comment. Why are you making it so gosh-darned difficult for me? I honestly wonder how many people just give up in frustration and never go back to some blogs again, not because they don't want to read them, but because instead of having the "welcome mat" out, they have the "do not disturb" sign on the door. And then of course there is the issue of, "Will they post my comment, or will they think it banal, stupid, uninteresting...". I think we all have a certain amount of insecurity about that. And to be honest, sometimes I forget which blogs have moderated my comment, and so I don't go back to see if it has been posted, or if the blogger has replied to it. So you may say something wonderful in response to my comment, and I will never see it.

We're all nice folks here in the Blogging world, and there is rarely a need to moderate comments or ask for word verification. If you get a comment from someone who is "trolling", just delete it; or if you get spam, just delete it. *Poof* Gone. Forever.

I hereby relinquish my soap box. Can I go back to visit you now, and will you put out the welcome mat?

28 comments:

Anna Kauz said...

Yeah, I don't modify them but I do have the word verification, I think its what was pre-selected whenever I set my account up. Never really thought of doing it another way, and come to think of it, you might be the only blog I've commented on w/out it!! The one thing that bothers me is ones that won't allow you to follow, I find blogs, but I'm never going to remember, unless they show up in my list later, grr!

Jo said...

Anna, I know! There are so many blogs out there -- it's very difficult to keep track of them all, isn't it? Perhaps you could set up a blog list.

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

I agree with you. It is irritating. But sometimes I have to do it as well. A little while ago I had to enable word verification on my one blog as I as getting comments every day from a source posting all kinds of links. I will go and disable it again and hopefully they won't come back.

Stephen Leach said...

Ooooh I think I've just deleted my WV. Must go check. And I did a message over the comment box.

VioletSky said...

Oh yes, I am greatly annoyed by those sneaky ones where the WV always has to be redone and then you find out it is also moderated. I am starting to not leave comments on those blogs because it is too frustrating. Especially on the photo challenge type ones - I sometimes go through all the ones on the link list not in order, then can't remember if I commented or not, or maybe have done so twice and I feel so stupid. I can see the point of the WV but not the moderation. And certainly not both.

the walking man said...

I don't know if it's easier or harder to delete spammers and flamers with word verification and owner authorization or not, like you Jo, I never enabled it. I think a lot of folks though did enable it and just *shrug* left it there.

ivan said...

Sometimes it happens by accident, a blogger may be just finishing his/her blog as you are coming in with your comment and a comment moderation box will come up.
It happened by accident as I tried to enter JR's blog last week. I complained, and he has apolgized profusely, saying comment moderation will never again be used in his blog. Well, that was cool of him. Hope all ohers will not frustrate us with their precious sensitivity...It lead to zero comments, with only the select diehards staying.

Printemps said...

You are welcome!

Hilary said...

I enable moderation for any of my posts which are older than two weeks. I started to do that because of the proliferation of porn spam which was appearing not only on the current post, but about 2 dozen past posts - all within minutes. I'd rather delete them all from the moderation page than go to each blog page individually to do so. I find that folks rarely comment on older posts, and when they do, their moderated comment will appear shortly because I do get email notification.

Also, I've seen folks change their blog names, delete them altogether or go into hiding with "by invitation only" mode with their blogs when harassed by friends, family or foe in their comments. If it's easier for them to moderate and stay put, I don't mind the inconvenience. If their blog is interesting enough to read in the first place, it's interesting enough for a couple of minor hoops. :)

Kathy's Klothesline said...

Do I have it? I just followed my daughter's instructions to set this up and when I encounter a problem.... I call her to fix it. I am truly inept at the whole technology aspect. I love reading and commenting, but like you I have encountered some that go way beyond word verification and I find that I don't leave comments on those. I recently had a spammer and had to call my kids to figure out what to do. I sometimes find the wv's to be quite amusing!

Anonymous said...

I find it annoying also. Of course, my blog flies under the radar most of the time because it's not an edgy, interesting one that touches on a lot of different topics. Like yours! I rarely get nasty comments or spam comments and like you said...they are easy to delete.

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

What? I thought it was a "learn a new word" service!

Anonymous said...

I have a word verification b/c I got some inappropriate comments. It has only happened twice and I can and did delete them, I just don't want someone else who is commenting to click on the profile and find something disgusting or that could infect their computer with a virus (like I did and almost did).
Maybe I can try again without, as I know it bugs me when other blogs have it. Oops!

Katy said...

To be honest, I don't know what you have to do to comment on my blog. When I first set up my bolg, I couldn't imagine anyone ever wanting to read it. Since comments on my blog have been few and far between I haven't given it much thought.

But I do agree with you that it is annoying to have to wait for your comment to be approved. I have also had the unfortunate experiance of having a comment of mine edited before it was approved for posting. That bothered me more than anything.

The Bug said...

OK I removed word verification - it was the default setting & I just left it that way. I seriously doubt I will have any spamming on there. It might actually make my blog more interesting!

HAPPY IN NEVADA said...

I agree with you. I don't keep any of that irritating stuff on my blogs, and I clear the spam - no big deal to me.

I quit following a few blogs that had all this 'protection stuff' on them; I don't have the time to waste on reading and then if I want to comment, being bombarded with 'do this and do that' - wait to see if the moderator wants to show what you said to start with.

I figure if you're going to blog, 'be prepared', and don't make it difficult for the good folk who want to visit you and add their thoughts.

Diane

DUTA said...

Well, I've just disabled word verification. It wasn't me who enabled it in the first place, it was just there. default setting.

Anonymous said...

YES! Some bloggers make you jump through almost impossible hoops just to leave a comment. I suspect many of them don't know how to turn off all that verification/ moderation stuff. My welcome mat is always unfurled.

Anonymous said...

For those having trouble with SPAM, or problems with their comment settings. I advise switching to Wordpress. They catch all your SPAM for you. It's as simple as one click and your whole blog is tranfered.

Scoobyloves2004 said...

I really hate that stupid catcha thing most people have on their blogs. I know its to weed out spammers, but its just so annoying. You know you are always welcome to leave a cxomment, free of charge anytime Jo, no strings attached!

Cedar said...

Some people just know a lot of asses and they are asset management. I bet that is funny on some level, but I'm not getting it right now.

Owen said...

My place is wide open to all comers, only the older posts get the moderation treatment, but that is only to help me not miss any illuminating and radiant comments from anyone who may be playing catch up. And the coffee is hot, so come on by anytime ! I've only been porn-spammed once since starting the blog, by a certain Jennifer, and it led to a satisfying hour- long relationship... (I'm just kidding !)LOL ! Totally agree, bloggers should make it easy for each other to leave comments. Although sometimes the word verifications are hilariously apt.

meggie said...

A hearty Hear Hear!! I get so discouraged, I declair I will never return/bother again!!

Mary Ellen said...

I know I'm late to this thread, but hope it will be read regardless. There's only one thing I could say about word verification....UGH!

To me, it's as if I were to be in a conversation with a person at a party and after responding to what they say, receiving a blank stare in return. Ok...I admit,that does happen to me in real life, but you know what I'm saying. ;-)

Like you, I've never done the word verification thing, but I do have the opportunity with WordPress to put an annoying troll or advertiser in spam so they can't bug me again. I wish Blogger had that feature.

Essie said...

Thanks for mentioning this Jo, I didn't know I could take that off!

Anonymous said...

Now that you mention it, I do have both. I oughta fix that. :D

jackc50 said...

i agree the word verification thing strikes me as a little odd, whats the point? i would never have comments moderated, write what you want and so will i....take good care and i''ll see ya around, jc

Paula Slade said...

Okay Jo, you convinced me! I have loosened up the parameters - feel free to post without restrictions. (Gosh, I hope I put the correct settings in the blog... :-) ) If you still have a problem, please let me know.