Following yesterday's events I have been pre-moderating all comments. I have had several emails from people suggesting that if I am doing that, I might as well re-allow anonymous comments. A few weeks ago I did a poll of readers which showed that by a 53-40 margin you wanted to see that facility restored. I decided that this was not a big enough margin to do it, as the current system seemed to be working well. However, I do think that if I am pre-moderating there is more of a case for it.
I should make clear that this is not an invitation to unleash the dogs of war. If at any time I feel it is getting too shouty or it becomes uncontrollable, I won't hesitate to restore the current system. And if I ever feel able to switch off comment moderation again, the old system will be restored, I imagine.
Just to be clear, any comment submitted anonymously may be deleted before publication without explanation.
And thanks to all of those of you who have sent me private messages over the last 24 hours. It means a lot.
UPDATE: Can I make a plea? Can you at least try to give yourselves a pseudonym when you post - don't just call yourself 'Anonymous' as it makes a thread really difficult to follow.
38 comments:
Great, now I can smear people again!
Seriously, though, if the choice is anonymous and pre-moderated or registered and post-moderated, I prefer this one.
Shame you can't make it pre-moderated for anonymous people only?
Than you Iain for not giving up or giving in to these rotten little bullies.
What sad little people they are.
Please don't write for the DT any more -after 40 years I've changed to The Times.
..and remember bullies - I might be an elderly countrywoman but I am not stupid, I have a vote, I have the ability to get through to others who don't follow politics!
Never mind the parasites Iain , Guido does his thing and you do your thing and both of you are unbeatable at it. The whole Draper farce has shown just what a difference you make .
you run it your way after all it's your bat, ball and stumps.
w.v. stain - very apt
Thanks for that Iain. I have often been dissuaded from posting by the prospect of registering and logging in - it tends to scare the muse off.
Incidentally, how about a feature in which you ask prominent political figures to name their favourite Steely Dan track?
Personally I like the pre-reg - it's not exactly arduous but heyho.
*goes back to counting hundreds and thousands*
I've never had a problem with logging in as me and not Mr Anonymous.
I just can not see what their problem is.
As to the oh so brave bullies...ignore the oafs. I'm sure it's difficult but they#re only the remnants of McPoison's backside.
Iain,
More smear emails will surface to bury those threatening what you do. Nil desperandum carburundum illegitami.
English Guy.
(w.v. castri - what we'd like to do to those remaining)
anonymous comments are back !
Yay !
Nothing to do with Guido's traffic heading for the stratosphere at all..
Oh no, sirree...
But thanks Iain !!!
@Andrew Kay
"Incidentally, how about a feature in which you ask prominent political figures to name their favourite Steely Dan track?"
Only a fool would say that.
OK point taken Iain.
I was always happy to sign in and comment under a username account etc, but could never make the system work and remember my passowrd etc. Probably my fault, but anyway thanks for opening up the anonymous commenting again and I will try to use some sort of name to distingiush me from other anons.
Hat tip to Guido! Poor Tom Watson!
Tom Watson is miserable, hat tip to Guido
I have been following you for some considerable time now.
You dragged me out of the depths of despair and back into the political sunshine !!
You have helped expose Labour for what they are. A sincere thank you
"showed that by a 53-40 margin"
That makes 93%. What happened to the other 7%?
Thank you, Iain, for allowing visitors back without the previous formalities. But as others have said: Your blog, your rules.
I'm kinda glad Iain, as I click-in and -out whilst I'm at work and simply never got the time to register any sort of account which would have allowed me to comment. And I found it a shame.
I'm flabbergasted by Mr Ireland recently hinting that DOS attacks or whatever else might become part of his 'strategy'. That sort of behaviour is totally beyond the pale. Rather like England and France bickering over the Channel Islands, and casually deciding to drop H-bombs on each others' capitals.
UKIP are having a Tea Party:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbK9lYEEi4Y
@ Matthew Dear @ 12:56
If you have an identity Blogger signs you in automatically, what is the problem?
Also, we aren't really allowed to mention his name. I'm surprised Iain let your comment through. ;)
@ TV's Iain Dale, did you see Christopher Galley's interview on Sky?
I was fascinated by him saying he was never in a position to see Secret or Top Secret documents, he points out that his line manager will have known this. Why was he repeatedly accused of leaking said documents by higher echelons in the Civil Service, The CPS, The Police and our friend Jacqui?
He did state that he's looking for a new job. If the 'powers that be' really suspect him of being able to carry out the level of skullduggery they accused him of the Security Services should give him a job!
"That makes 93%. What happened to the other 7%?"
Wasn't there a third option along the lines of "don't care"?
7% didn't know or couldn't give a toss!
@ D-Notice
You're assuming that 53-40 are percentages. What if that's the ratio, full stop? (which in terms of percentages would be 57% - 43%, of course).
Glad that you have opened it up again.
Ah, finally I can comment again on a site where the comment will not be shifted off, by the software, the edge of the left margin...
Also, fixed names just aid the state snoooping society that New Labour have unleashed upon us - See the latest ASI Blog for a succinct summary.
this is not an invitation to unleash the dogs of war"Cry 'Havoc', and let slip the dogs of war, that this foul deed shall smell above the earth with carrion men, groaning for burial"
In the week of McPoison's demise at the hands of Guido, a fitting reference.
Shouty, shouty, shouty.
Iain Dale is secretly straight. And besides, he is funded by Mrs Thatcher and Kim Jong-il. He also drives a Nissan Micra and has repeatedly shagged Derek Draper in order to enhance his reputation. All his stats are faked and he has an extensive collection of minor Baltic classical composers including Urmas Sisask. He is currently reading War and Peace.
You know, you could get used to this anonymity thing.
Are you worried that Guido's traffic is vastly outstripping yours? I think you are in danger of being eclipsed entirely and slipping back into the back along with Dizzy, Blaney and all the other low-traffic low-comment sites. Also, how well equipped are you to survive the Tories getting into power? I can see that Guido's anti-politician stuff can just carry on but what about you? I would hazard a bet that within the next 3 years this site will cease to exist.
I think the "Nissan Micra" jibe was a slur too far. I retract, but I am going for "Dale gets directorship of Norwich City after Ugandan discussions with Delia" next time you allow anonymongs.
Bugger, I thought I was being "anonymous"
Happy to give a name to you (Rod), but don't willingly give G**spygle any info.
Keep up the good work.
Iain,
I agree about the 53%-40% thing - the margin needs to be at least 2:1 in any such vote.
This doesn't apply to Parliamentary Elections or Moral Majorities though!!!
Doin' a grand job - keep it up!!
Best Regards,
ST
Anonymous 3:15 - That was funny!
Verity, can it be true? Is it really you?!
Iain Dale said, 'Verity, can it be true? Is it really you?!'
Have noticed 'Verity' comments a couple of times in the past few days, but didn't dare to believe that it was Herself emerging from her Mexican solitude. However, only the real Verity would have written her 5.09 comment, and my heart is lightened.
Welcome back, Verity, we have missed you and your acerbity is much needed.
Si, Señor Dale. Es mi!
I took advantage of the registration requirement being lifted to say hello and offer bravos for the continuing quality of the blog.
Anonymous 3:15 - Although, as noted, your post was very entertaining, re this statement: All his stats are faked and he has an extensive collection of minor Baltic classical composers including Urmas Sisask, surely the truth is even funnier? He has 150 Cliff Richard CDs.
Iain, you must have realised the consequences of opening up the blog again. All the refuseniks of yesteryear will start coming out of the woodwork again. It'll be just like the good old days. Ah, such sweet nostalgia.
Why don't you just block the IP addresses of those bloggers who cause offense?
Sometimes people might have very good reasons for not wanting to use their Google identity. Sure, it's cheap to get another one, but it's annoying to try to remember it every time you want to comment on a political blog specifically.
And systems don't work perfectly. My Google ID doesn't connect to my Wordpress account but to a blogger one I haven't used in over a year. OpenID fails often enough that I generally avoid it. Name/URL doesn't show off my pretty Gravatar, but at least it works 100% of the time.
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