With the new system it is only recommendations that influence the front page not comments or volume of hits.

this has certainly been a long and protracted debate. May be it would be better if only members could recommend a post? Still leaving anon's (the readers) to able to leave a comment but the comment is rated zero. Also only members can recommend another comment. This should make NP and its members happy?

Makes sense to me Zichi!

On the point of anon recommendations I would like to point out that I did a test on one of my own old posts and was able to add 7 anon recommendations to it, I could of added as many as I wanted. This means that the system is clearly open to abuse and if anon recommendations are to be allowed what will stop anyone from doing the same as I was able to?

Here's the post I did my test on.

I back you on that amyjudd. I have personally always had a quick (I mean in minutes) response to my alerts.

My spat with the site was not on that subject however, but the fact that anon comments even exist at all. I did not, like others here, obtain their interdiction, which I would have preferred, but I consider that an honorable compromise will have been reached if and when the site implements all three of your suggestions. I quote them here;

"1) Having a 'report this comment' button on a comment
2) Change the recommendation points to make the regular member points worth more so that it means much less when an anon recommendation is given.

3) Let authors hide anon comments on their story"

Thanks.

Thanks everyone for your comments here about anon commenting and recommendations. Just to let you know that we are discussing what the best course of action is and then we'll make a posting here about what we can do.

Thanks.

Made this comment on another page discussing the same issue.

I am very bothered by anonymous comments.  It is always a problem when people don't want to identify themselves.  Here again,  members can help by having a function that allows them to point out anonymous comments and put them on hold until an editor has an opportunity to view it. Since these articles come and go so fast, sometimes this might also not be fast enough to remove it.  I don't think the authors should be able to delete them however.  Again I go with the fact that if someone doesn't agree with you, you should not be able to block that opinion.  However, these people are using this to distort the articles or express their own, sometimes wired point of view and even manipulate the article.  I don't feel that anyone should have the right to change the authors content in the first place.

We shouldn't police ourselves, but as members we should be able to participate in controlling content that is not in our or NowPublic's interest.  Every publication and website  have some form of editing that keeps the site in concert with the integrity and intent of the site.  Again even for the editors, a set guidelines has to be developed to make sure that editors can follow when making these decisions.  It is not what you like or don't like, but what is offensive.

I think the forum is a good way to discuss these things, but I think NowPublic can make far better use of their members and set up maybe "SKYPE" meetings among a small group of members on each policy decision, in each of the channels to develop some of these ideas. This way the guidelines and policies are user formed and a have world-wide perspective of the issue. Since this takes time and will require some work by members, it has to be lead by a staff member who works with the group, reviews and presents the work of the group to decision makers at NowPublic.

I came on site this morning to find the top story on the front page was a spam post with 50 anon recommendations!

This issue has been brought up many times without any resolution.  I hope that you get some response as many of us are fed-up.  It cheapens the work of others. But we have talked about this ad nauseum!

Would it be possible for a tagging system so that the author could tag the comment that is objectionable and requires an editors review?  This would give the author a little more control over comments, but not the final say as to whether it should be deleted or not. This would prevent the author from removing those comments that they just don't like from real ones that are really unrelated or offensive.  Writing a message every time takes a lot of time that most people don't have.  By instituting just a tagging system, it would make the editor aware of the comments that require review and the editor would have the last say.

Considering the amount of complaints and the frequency of these kind of comments that some easy system has to be developed that allows the author and editor to interact with the least amount of time and effort. The author would feel at least they have some control over their content.  Again the forum or private messages are not the answer because it just takes too much time.

What annoys me is when a writer or an article seeder uses aliases too comment agreements to his or her article or seed. I caught one the other day that belongs to a religious cult, I feel a bit guilty because I spiked the individuals plot and then drew the guy into a trap after venomous attacks on my character where made. 

i realized after I should of kept my cool and left the whole issue to a moderator. I do feel that when anon is used that members here should have the right to eradicate anon comments and give a reason to the administration why they did so.

What I must say there has been a big improvement on the software and nonpublic is heading in the right direction and as an ex software writer I know some requirements are limited to the software used. So what I suggested above may not be possible as to the fact of separating the conditions of the anon's separate from the members.  

I have therefore one more suggestion that I realize I need to do myself just do not take notice of the trolls as if you feed them they become more trollish.

On analyzing most of the articles and comments I read daily I feel the problem is a very small one and maybe like me in one incident,  some members may be building a mountain out of the mole hill. As long as we the members respect each other and our view how ever outlandish nowpublic will be a haven of peace and good debate.