A reminder to all readers that users who post comments on stories agree to abide by posting guidelines that can be read on this page:
http://hamptonroads.com/posting-guidelines
Note that we have added one new rule:
• No disparaging comments about a victim or victim's family in a tragedy.
Why? Because too many users have responded to stories about traffic accidents by criticizing the actions or lifestyle of the person killed, or even their family members. PilotOnline.com and HamptonRoads.com will not tolerate such comments. They will be deleted, and the user will be subject to being permanently moderated or even blocked without notice.
Also, we have amended two rules:
• NO POSTS IN ALL CAPS. No posts in bold or highlighted with other HTML coding.
Why? Because writing in all-capital letters is considered rude and "shouting" online, sometimes employed by users to draw attention to their comment over others' postings. We believe writing in bold serves the same purpose, trying to scream above other users. Again, comments written in this manner are subject to deletion.
• No entries longer than 750 characters or continued in another posting. Content over that limit will be edited for length.
Why? Again, users too often try to dominate a comments string by posting multiple messages, continued from one to another. Again, we believe this is unfair. We will leave the first comment, but "continued" postings are subject to deletion. We acknowledge that it can be hard to tell when you have run over the 750-character limit. Our best guide at the moment: When you write a comment, contain it fully within the default text box provided. Comments at that length should fit fine.
If you see a comment that violates one of these or any other rule, please help us by flagging the comment. Note: To do this, you must be registered and logged into the site. Then just hit the "Flag this" link below the comment, and online producers will review the comment and remove it if it is in violation.
Any comments or questions on these rules, post them below or use this feedback form.
Thanks!
- The PilotOnline.com / HamptonRoads.com producers
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Message Length
As noted in previous comments, I hesitate to gripe about a free service. That being said, however, I really do wish that you would heed the advice posted below by "adamc".
I posted a comment, and attempted to stay within the 750-character limit, by checking the 'preview' screen repeatedly. To my dismay, when I finally finished my oh-so-carefully-crafted comment, I found that only the first third of it had been accepted. Had the 'preview' screen indicated that I was over the limit, I would have been warned, and would have written differently.
Again I acknowledge that this is a free service, and that you have the right to operate it under whatever rules you desire . . . but please, Sir Bwana Webmeister Sahib, could you possibly, from the goodness of your heart, perhaps arrange it so that the 'review' screen will dislay ONLY the first 750 characters? This would give would-be posters fair warning when they exceed the limits.
Thanks.
Been there, done that...
I write my comments in Microsoft Word, and click File/Properties/Statistics to make sure I don’t exceed 750 characters. I agree that it would be nice to include a counter. However, it’s hard for me to complain about a free service, since I run one myself on the Web that requires constant daily attention. I’ve also moderated Newsgroups, and have always been amazed at how people will complain about a free service.
Suggestions for improvement help greatly. Whines and complaints do not. Now, when people write complaining or demanding letters, I never respond. I save a copy of the letter, and then delete it. If they don’t like it, they are free to start their own free service. If I let it burn me out and quit, everyone receiving the free service suffers.
I hope the Pilot doesn’t get burned out moderating the bLetters section.
I dont understand
So if the "victim" of a fatal car crash is drunk, high on meth, talking on the cell phone, and running from the police with his/her seatbelt unbuckled, we cannot make negative comments about him/her?
Not sure what the issue is?
I understand the prohibitions on serial posts or long posts, but I am just truly curious what is meant by the comment that people are complaining about others "monopolizing" the blog? Monopoly means what happens when there is only a limited supply of something and one, or a few, people take it all. There is no limit on number of posts this blog can generate or archive, is there? And, if so, what would one person's fair share of them be? Cheers, MGM, not trying to be sarcastic, but honestly baffled, because I do write a few posts a day but I never thought that would stop anyone else from being able to write posts
What is the point
On posting our comment concerns here when we don't get a reply as to what we did wrong?
access denied
I would like to know why my access is denied to the July 5 article "For Whom the Roads Tolled? Everyone". There isn't a thing I've done wrong in my comments.
Regarding message length
You could take any number of simple steps to help your users with that problem.
1. Limit the message length via html or javascript.
2. A javascript character counter. A 30 second google search for "javascript character count" would give you a javascript code snipped to insert into your page that tells users how many characters they have remaining.
3. Fix message preview. Why even have that button if it does nothing? How about have it actually preview the comment, and truncate it down to 750 characters in the preview?
4. An alert for messages that exceed 750 characters.
etc...
Several of those would be very easy to implement. Having messages mysteriously truncated mid-stream is inconvenient and easily remedied.