Comments are a publisher's best friend as it increases popularity, reputation and usually ranks the article higher on the site's "hot" list. But what do you do when a commenter is unpolished, crude or trying his best to sabotage your reputation and credibility?
A good writer will complete many hours of research on a subject, possibly includes interview information and checks sources well in order to produce a fair and accurate article. After bearing sweat and tears and the publishing gammut, on 50+ articles, that last thing a writer needs is a blowhard know-it-all undermining your articles. If intrusive comments are only made to one article, the feeling will spread to other articles read by a reader. Your reputation will be stunned.
A site like HubPages gives you an option to moderate comments BEFORE they are posted on your Hub. PrintNPost will notify you via email about a new post on your article but will still publish it before your chance to read it. Triond will post the comment for all to see and then it is up to the writer to notice the comment and delete it.
In the spirit of free speech, I do not make it a habit to delete comments especially when they are intended to be constructive critisism. In one case, the "know-it-all" seems credible but does not share my opinion. That's okay if the comments are well structured, thoughful and professional. The particular writer I am talking about slammed my article, the contents, called me a liar and demanded personal information. It doesn't look like this commenter is a publisher and doesn't realize I am able to delete him. Which I did. Let's see his next move.
Utilize your comment moderators and do not feel bad using them to delete opinions or comments. Your reputation is at stake for everything written on your article, Hub or Lens, whether or not you said it.
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