Thoughts Over 140 Characters

Really enjoyed this post by Matt Gemmell, and I ultimately agree with his conclusion. Enabling or not comments should be a personal decision by the author of the blog. After all, a blog is one’s own personal space to express their thoughts and opinions, and one should have every right decide whether to allow comments or not.

So, to those who see no-comments as a violation of democracy, I see no such democracy here. You imagine that I’m trying to remove your right to attach a note to a public noticeboard, or to participate in a town-hall debate (which would indeed be reprehensible of me, and a violation), but from my perspective, I’m asking you not to scribble on my newspaper, or to be boorish at my dinner party. It’s simply down to a different perception of the purpose, and thus degree of ownership, of a blog as a whole. To me, this is my home on the internet. You’re most welcome to visit as often as you like, and to stay for as long as you like, and I’m sure you’ll understand if I retain the right to set the rules while you’re here.

And this, in my opinion, sums it all:

The comments-on position is valid, and the comments-off position is valid too. Both can coexist peacefully. It doesn’t have to become an issue of principle, and indeed to try and make it into one is faintly ludicrous (it’s a website on the internet, for goodness’ sake).