![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-4147-100x100.png\")
bound to happen, I guess.
bound to happen, I guess.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-389492-100x100.png\")
ladies and gentlemen, i'd like to express my extreme gratitude.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-326654-100x100.png\")
@catastrophegirl - sometimes makes typos and doesn't care: Agreed. Thanks for listening to us.
*cough* edit button now plzkthx! *cough*
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-918136-100x100.png\")
Could have been worse...just think if there was a \"MySpace Connect\" API?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1151569-100x100.png\")
@bitslammer: I'm a MySpacer but I am grateful there isn't an API for members on here...LOL (I just use MySpace for showing off my photos and my band's music and my daughter's artworks and to stay connected to other musicians in my not quite local area).
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-52435-100x100.png\")
@bitslammer: Somehow I think Consumerist stories might benefit from having all readers hear the first five seconds of Linkin Park before they hit the mute button on their machines.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-545239-100x100.png\")
@bitslammer: It wouldn't go over well with the MySpace crowd since you can't add Blingee to comments.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-125006-100x100.png\")
@bitslammer: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! <runs screaming through the window at the end of the hall>
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-537475-100x100.png\")
Thanks for the update on adding a valid e-mail address. Mine wasn't even in my profile.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-117360-100x100.png\")
@pecan 3.14159265 (100% more snark!): Thanks for the reminder as well.
I got my Consumerist username back when it was (implicitly) recommended that we not provide an e-mail address for maximum anonymity.
Of course, that spirit has long since disappeared. So why not? I'd like my account intact on the new platform.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-21984-100x100.png\")
@pecan 3.14159265 (100% more snark!): Yeah x2 on the email address update, I had two dots's at the dot com part for my address. Don't know how that happened but corrected it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-150766-100x100.png\")
@pecan 3.14159265 (100% more snark!): I agree, I had an email address in my profile but it wasn't an active one. Thanks!
![\"user-pic\"](\"/css/images/default.gif\")
Isn't this akin to blocking 4chan?
Naw, Consumerist viewers couldn't be that rabid... could they?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-436259-100x100.png\")
@nucwin83: \"readers\" technically.
And regular consumerists cant be that bad, but I can only imagine what rest of the unapproved comments were like.
@mac-phisto: \"This is why I have my own blog. If the OP had his own blog, this would never have happened.\"
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-929652-100x100.png\")
@MostlyHarmless: You forgot to insert a link to your own blog at the end...shameless plug!
www.twitter.com/katstermonster
@katstermonster: Gandhi is misspelled.
[I would plug the link, but its not been updated in a while :P
Also, it already is in my profile.]
@MostlyHarmless: Aw, unfortunate! I didn't even realize, I just snagged that from some random website months ago. Good catch.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-386420-100x100.png\")
@Michael Belisle: I am slightly annoyed at you for beating me to this.
Also, maybe I'm just out of the loop here but I don't see any facebook posters anywhere...ever. Someone mentioned that a FB poster shows their FB account name and such, and I just don't ee those. Maybe my work filter is filtering them out? I don't know. So basically what I'm saying is.
What's the big deal, guy?
@JustinSane07: 9 times out of 10, someone with a proper name is a facebooker. \"Bryan Adams\" or \"Alexis Bledel\" or the like.
@MostlyHarmless: Yeah, I never understood why someone would put their \"REAL\" name out on/with any website commentary. NYT's has this also for some people maybe who have subscriptions...
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-581631-100x100.png\")
@econobiker: Yeah I have no idea why anyone would use their real name on the net! It's completely ridiculo...oh wait. Dammit.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-488475-100x100.png\")
@econobiker: That's why I never made it so I could log in through Facebook, which I just joined and barely update. I don't want anyone to come and get me!
Also, I can't get on Facebook from work. It defaults to the McDonald's career page. ;)
@MostlyHarmless:@katstermonster: Yeah I know, but I never ever see them. I tried hunting for some but I saw no posts with a full name or an F in the heading.
I guess I'm just Facebook Bilnd?
@JustinSane07: Probably. Because there were a few in that flamethread you started once. I cannot recall what it exactly was. But what I do know is that at one point it had 42 replies, none from friends. So I skipped it.
@JustinSane07: Their username is a full name instead of a random nickname (like mine, hah), and the picture has a tiny little facebook \"f\" logo in the corner.
@Meg Marco: While we are all here...
Can the new new commenting system have email notifications to the replies please? Especially when you move out of Gawker, my Bunedoggle mails wont work. That would be doubleplusuncool.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-98237-100x100.png\")
@Meg Marco: Hey, who runs things around here? :) Give the man a second star. Let him put two asterisks after his name, at least.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-10718-100x100.png\")
My my, it's so refreshingly quiet and civil in here!
@juri squared: I dont think Facebookers were nearly as bad as the anons that Roz had to weed out. Thankfully we never got to see those :D
@Don't take anything aaron8301 says seriously: \"'ll by hr br whn sh stps gttng m.\"
Though in all seriousness, she certainly does. No one should have to read all that sort of crap like she has to go through.
@MostlyHarmless: actually, i'd like to see a PSA post with some of the content Roz had to weed out as an educational piece to people who want to audition to comment.
also for the humor value!
@catastrophegirl - sometimes makes typos and doesn't care: You have a star. Hop over to Gizmodo or maybe Defamer for your dose of \"so bad they are good\" comments.
@MostlyHarmless: actually i still read giz sometimes but since they implemented the new comment disorientation system i can't stand to read the comments. everything is upside down to me.
also, i'm at work and i have to keep things somewhat decent, even on my lunch break
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-176865-100x100.png\")
@catastrophegirl - sometimes makes typos and doesn't care: No joke! I still can’t get my bearings at Lifehacker.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-171069-100x100.png\")
@MostlyHarmless: yeah, wasn't it Facebookers who tracked down the snot-nosed kids at Domino's? Though I have to admit, the majority of Facebook comments kinda sucked. Their comments were almost as bad as mine!
@dorianh49: There's nothing wrong with Facebookers, just the Facebookers who used their accounts to post here. Their comments were poorer than average overall, and it was because they didn't have to audition for commenting privileges like the rest of us.
Gawker sold Consumerist to Consumer Reports, yeah? How come the accounts are still linked, and weren't split off from the old network?
@SnatchTease: Part of the deal was that Gawker would let them keep the system for one year after the sale.
As long as Consumerist doesn't switch over to that godawful voting system they have on Gawker sites now, I think I'll be fine.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1037-100x100.png\")
@squinko: Yeah I can't stand the new comment system on giz. Most the time only 1 or 2 comments are visible and I end up having to expand them anyways. Even worse is how it often filters some responses within a single thread and promotes later ones which don't make sense without first reading the hidden comment. I don't get what problem this is trying to fix.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-716547-100x100.png\")
@squinko: I have stopped reading the Gawker sites since they are filled with all sorts of script errors with their new system.
@I Love New Jersey: and the really bad gallery view they throw in on gawker sites now sucks a lot too. wish they'd leave it as 1 image per page, or gallery that opens separate windows.
@squinko: Yeah, it has /some/ good points, but overall it is quite awful. a net negative. by a long distance.
@MostlyHarmless: It's not so bad on Gawker itself, but trying to comment on Jezebel or io9 is like trying to jump in uninvited to a big ol' circlejerk.
@squinko: Heh. I only ever go to those if theres a link on Giz LH or consumerist to those. I do like a couple of Jez commenters though.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-16563-100x100.png\")
@MostlyHarmless: Although, if you want to have any idea of what poor Roz deals with on a daily basis, go to one of the Gawker sites, particularly ones that delve into anything remotely controversial. Since you can see the raw, unapproved messages that normally don't make it past the Roz filter, your knees will buckle and your head swoon when you read what she has to deal with on a daily basis.
@Trai_Dep: Yeah, thats what I told someone already. Thats a punishment for having a star.
And the MOST frustrating part... even after reading that crap, there is nothing you can do. You cannot give a 'thumbs down' and if you reply to them, they get automatically approved.
The only thing worse than someone shouting crap in your ears is not to be able to retaliate.
@MostlyHarmless: Yup, many a time my mouse was hovering over a particularly tin-foiled hat reply, my hand jittering...
One nice feature for Consumerist comments 2.0? You know how they have a heart icon to track those that you find interesting? It'd be swell to have a dagger icon to make those that aren't interesting to disappear.
@Trai_Dep: I'd dagger that comment if I could.
Also, the dagger should only hide /that/ particular comment. So that we dont miss out on other good comments from that commenter.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-483565-100x100.png\")
@SnatchTease: I believe at one point it was mentioned that Gawker support would continue for a year as part of the deal.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-151751-100x100.png\")
I just wish there had been a way to link my Consumerist account with my Facebook account. I've had both for awhile, but it was one or the other.
I'm not complaining, though. I did notice the negative tone of some of the Facebookers.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-136882-100x100.png\")
Golf clap, Ben. Golf clap.
Aw, the hell with it. STANDING OVATION AS BEN WAVES TO THE CROWD, tears roll down his cheeks, \"luckiest man...on the face of the earth.\"
Thumbs up from this guy
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-189920-100x100.png\")
This seems fair enough but Ben and everybody else, I BEG you not to switch over to Gawker's current commenting system that is degrading to its users. Greying out the text of non-starred commenters and not even showing them unless you click a button. It creates a large divide between the user base and so far I'm glad Consumerist is user friendly enough to not have done that.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1227429-100x100.png\")
@kyle4: Add me to the group that intensely dislikes the new gawker commenting system. It seems to expect that newbies are unlikely to contribute anything useful. (Of course, my grandmother thinks that doctors younger than her don't know what they're talking about....which brings some problems; she is old enough now that all doctors are younger than her and she refuses to see them.)
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-390449-100x100.png\")
@kyle4: Yes, Consumerist keep the current system or as close as you can to it.
Gawkers new system drove me away from visiting their sites, and I used to refresh three of their sites through out the day, everyday. Good for my productivity though!
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-904466-100x100.png\")
Tmoney02: \"Yes, Consumerist keep the current system or as close as you can to it.\"
It seems Gawker's not using it anymore, so... maybe they'd be willing to part with it? Then Consumerist could just tweak the interface rather than having to start from scratch.
@stranger than fiction: It seems Gawker's not using it anymore, so... maybe they'd be willing to part with it?
I would think so normally but I get the feeling that gawker maybe at least considering backpeddling despite the strong line they drew when they implamented the system.
If you look at any of the Gawker sites ad info you can see a huge dropoff in the number of visitors since the new commenting system started, with no sign of stablization.
It will take a very large number of people just to get back to the same pageviews and site visits they had before they changed things.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-505944-100x100.png\")
@Tmoney02: Jezebel drove me away all on its own, but the commenting system is what killed off my residual interest in Gawker and i09.
@JulesNoctambule: Yes I had an abusive relationship with Jezebel. \"I Cant quit you\".
Gave up on trying to have any sort of commenting but it was entertaining to see newbies get eaten by the group think sharks, or someone in the group say something wrong then have to back peddle and apologize.
Now there is no hope of any sort of dissenting opinion or discussion, even if the commenting system didn't slow everything to a crawl, making the comments worthless.
@Tmoney02: I just couldn't get behind the ivory-tower Jezenisim mindset so heavily bought into over there. The few truly thoughtful commenters were just overrun by the groupthinkers.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-68654-100x100.png\")
@kyle4: ALTHOUGH, new gawker has edit. but really, the only huge improvement i see is the link to \"related\" stories on the sidebar. i think that's very helpful & would like to see some kind of adaptation of that on the new consumerist.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-6173-100x100.png\")
@mac-phisto: I'm not a huge fan of edit; we can all read typos fine, but what happens with edit is someone who gets their ass handed to them goes back and changes their original comment so that all the repliers look like buffoons.
(Unless you disable editing after the comment has been replied to, but that limits your ability to catch your typos anyway.)
@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): A different forum I'm on has edit, but disappears after 15 minutes. I think it also leaves a little note that the comment has been edited. Seems to work okay.
@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): yeah, i used to really advocate an edit feature back in the day, but now not so much. it seems like every post over on gawker has been edited now.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-324163-100x100.png\")
@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): IIRC, you can only edit for 15 minutes and cannot edit once someone has commented or you've been disemvoweled.
@kyle4: I'm with you!! I hate the new Gawker commenting system! I don't click stories that often anymore when I read them in Google Reader. And even when I do want to read the comments, my computer seems to get stuck for 10-15 seconds trying to load them which is really annoying.
And I'll also add that I'm a non-star commenter on the Gawker sites and I really don't care to comment if my comment has to be \"promoted\" or whatever BS they have for it to be seen.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-469141-100x100.png\")
@danramarch: As far as I understand, there are no plans to include the Gawker commenting changes on The Consumerist. While changes for The Consumerist (including the comment system) are definitely in the works, this isn't one of them. Eventually, we will no longer be using the Gawker system.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-332258-100x100.png\")
@kyle4: Seconded. My commenting on other Gawker sites has gone down considerably due to the new commenting system...
...which probably means Consumerist will now move to quickly adopt the new system ;-)
@rpm773: Whats wrong with greying out prole comments? [Kidding Kidding]
On the plus side, you get to not see all the unapproved comments. They are downright terrible. Just ask Roz.
So overall, its unfair to everyone.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-104183-100x100.png\")
Curses. The heydays of me making ridiculously snide and offensive comments anonymously are over. I hate having to contribute to a conversation.
Interesting that the FB Connect - which apparently allowed for \"real\" names didn't improve the quality of the comments. Fascinating, really.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1504-100x100.png\")
@martyf: Some of them didn't realize their names would be associated with their comments. One dude went on a long rant about a book that was going to change America and talked about the author in the 3rd person, not realizing his Facebook ID (with the same name) came over as well.
It's the one from Raymond Hamilton. It's been disemvoweled, so it's a little tough to decipher.
@RandomHookup: Man, I read that article and totally missed the comments. Good catch, that made my night.
@martyf: I always just assumed people made dummy Facebook accounts. Thats crazy if all those things face book commenters said were with their actual profiles.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1161-100x100.png\")
@martyf: I noticed a larger number of FBCers had no problem with dumb remarks being associated with their real name.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-6536-100x100.png\")
@Ben Popken: Makes me think of those cyberbullying PSAs. They all say, \"If you wouldn't say it in real life...\"
I'm pretty sure the people who say awful stuff online do say it in real life.
@Ben Popken: ...their real name, and the ability to instantly find out a number of personal things about them via their facebook accounts. Stunning, really.
Although due to my short-sightedness in my teenage years (guh, livejournal), some simple sleuthing reveals my first, middle, and last names. And whatever godawful music I listened to as a teenager.
@katstermonster: I googled \"katestermonster livejournal\" and this is what came up first:
Seriously? I might have to unfriend you now.
@MostlyHarmless: Also...looking closer, I realize this wasn't even the original livejournal group they made. Not sure what the heck it is, when it got made, or why it has a picture of a girl I used to be friends with kissing some guy. Ugh.
@katstermonster: Hmm thankfully, for me that page was mostly blank except for the names on the side, and falling leaves. Filters FTW.
@MostlyHarmless: Yeah, the picture is on one of the other pages, linked on the upper right. I suggest you avoid, haha.
@MostlyHarmless: yaaaaa I know. some friends made it when I was like 15 or something. and they no longer remember how to login and get rid of it. wastland. WASTLAND. what was I THINKING???
@Ben Popken: Shaming people into being nice by removing their anonymity only works if they have a sense of shame.
Sounds fine to me. As soon as I find any site useful enough that I want to comment, I register for an account. Consumerist.com has been one of the most useful sites I have encountered in quite some time. Bravo Ben!
Now only if the Gawker sites would disable Anonymous comments and facebook connect!
Former Facebooker here (Jim Topoleski) Surprise Surprise to everyone who used to make snide comments about me being a facebooker, since guess what I HAD a real account long before Facebook was added!
But to get to the point of my post, I highly doubt it. Just take a look at the number of long time Gawker posters here or there who post utter crap.
Hell half the Facebook complainers where some of the WORST posters on the blog, and they got a free pass to complain about facebook posters!
All this really did was cut off a group of people who are now going to enmass flood your site with requests, get on, MAYBE make a few legit comments, then fuck around like before.
If you really want to ACTUALLY improve contents.
1) Drop the snide comments in the blog posts. The more you treat it like a NEWS site, the more likely people will be adult.
2) ACTIVELY moderate. If it means you need to pay someone to watch over who posts, then do it. Passive moderation NEVER works in the long run.
That being said, I think I am done here. While I was excited for the blog to be split away from Gawker, being under the CR banner worried me. I see since that time my worries where properly placed.
All I have come to see is instead of being a consumer site for all, there has been a constant and steady push toward making it exactly what I hate about CR it's self, a repository where you have to pay to get what should be freely given information.
I give it another 6 months to a year before you have to pay or be a subscriber before you are even allowed to comment here. Its too bad this was a good site when Gawker owned you.
there has been a constant and steady push toward making it exactly what I hate about CR it's self, a repository where you have to pay to get what should be freely given information.
How do you propose Consumer Reports should pay for itself? They don't accept ads by company policy, and according to you, their service should be free. Typical spoiled internet mentality - everything's about me, everything should be free.
@Falcon5768: You'd be surprised how many people don't want to bother with having to register to make a comment. Sorry you got lumped in with every one else, but I definitely noticed an overall-lower quality of posts from FB.
Anyway, this isn't a news site, in the traditional sense. Just because something is designed to be informative, does not make it traditional news. Personally speaking, this isn't a site designed to be impartial. In fact, given that this is a site designed to cover unethical or inept behavior, the false neutrality many journalists give sickens me. Some people enjoy a little personality in their news, that's why people like Stewart/Colbert, or even people like Limbaugh and O'Reilly are on the air.
And anyway, they've done a few things to try and earn a little extra income. The tip jar sketches didn't interest me, so I followed my own advice and ignored them. And even if they did want you to pay money, I might or might not (I'm a notorious cheapskate, but Consumerist accounts for a large part of my worktime time-wasting), but I'll never begrudge someone for trying to make a living so long as they're not trying to mislead or extort anyone.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-321187-100x100.png\")
@Falcon5768: Let me get this straight: you're whining that this may be a pay/ad site, but you want them to have full-time active moderation?
@Falcon5768: I agree that active moderation is badly needed to increase. That's one of the reasons I pushed for changes. It simply isn't feasible for me to handle both hundreds and hundreds of barely readable anonymous comments every day -- each moderated by hand -- as well as actively moderate current threads.
I won't promise that I will be everywhere, and I certainly still will greatly appreciate tips on moderation that's needed (my info's in the sidebar), this change will definitely help.
I'll give you an example. Under the audition system, a spammer creates one account and is banned. I deal with them once for about two seconds. As an anonymous commenter, they could go into thread after thread after thread posting spam comments -- each of which would have to be individually moderated by me, and there was no way to block them from continuing to do so.
As for Facebook commenters -- well, I felt that there were a few major issues. First and foremost, they were in general (with some exceptions) low-value commenters who had effectively bypassed audition. Since Facebook support had been implemented, nearly all of the really bad trolls had come from Facebook. Users clearly seemed to hate them and anti-Facebooker sentiment definitely caused distraction in threads. Further, there were back end issues with Facebook commenters that the Gawker system just doesn't support, such as people wanting to change their username so that it doesn't display their real name (which isn't possible). In short, there just doesn't seem to be a good reason to allow Facebook comments but require audition for others, and it just didn't seem to be a good fit for our site.
As for this being a part of a push for money: no, it isn't. I won't claim to know or have any role in CU's greater plans for the site, but this came out of discussions with Ben and myself about some recent downtime we experienced with our commenting tools. It's a change I pushed for and that I believe will make the site better.
While I can see the need to curb anonymous posters I think perhaps you're going to far by removing Facebook Connect.
Just by reading the comments here it's pretty clear that there are bad posters on both sides. However that's not enough of a reason to punish everyone that prefers to use the convenience of Facebook to post here. That's just one less user/pass combo to remember among the hundreds we already deal with.
Your justification for removing FBC falls a bit flat too, IMO. If an individual has a track record of posting inane and pointless things. If they are offensive and disruptive then do what every other community on the web does. Ban their account individually. How many people are going to go as far as creating a whole new FB account just to post here and cause problems? That's a pretty sad thing to do and you can just ban them again. As mentioned above, the \"proven posters\" with accounts need some attention too.
This also brings me to the whole concept of auditioning. You're creating way too much work for yourselves. Just do away with the audition to begin with. This website is supposed to be about the CONSUMER. Well, the CONSUMER should be able to visit here and post a comment or statement (sometimes something as simple as a supportive turn of phrase even if there is no additional value to it) without having to prove themselves to some arbitrary community. That's not too consumer friendly is it? In fact it's pretty snobbish and elitist.
I can understand wanting to protect the site and stories from throngs upon throngs of 4chanesque behavior and commentary but perhaps a smaller step of just doing away with Anon posting might be sufficient. The issue can always be re-visited in the future.
Besides, whatever you did apparently malfunctioned because I'm still able to post and I'm logged in via FBC.
@arthurborko: It's not like there's a small amount of FB posters that are bad. It's a huge majority and the comment quality went down drastically once the FB commenting system went up. I report a lot of comments and in the last few months, most of the comments have come from FB posters.
@squinko - applauds the death of FBC: My point stands. You can individually ban the users that post offensive or outright innane content.
But really, just like any other web community the posts with no value that aren't being outright disruptive should just be ignored.
Apparently I already had an account I forgot about, so It doesn't affect me but I still disagree with the removal of FBC.
@Consumerist-Moderator-Roz:You do a great job, Roz; thank you for all your hard work and vigilance over our (sometimes) excitable selves! :)
@Falcon5768: Consumerist will always be free.
We do have a hired moderator, but she never had time to do her job because it was taken up mostly by going through the anonymous comments.
@Falcon5768: Sorry, I don't think you're Jim. He had a Facebook account he would post with, but also a regular account that was his full name.
So now I have to give Consumerist my Name, Address, SSN, Credit Card number, Mother's maiden name, and location of my secret tattoo before i can comment?
@MostlyHarmless: No, you do what we've talked about ten thousand times on this blog when the subject comes up. You lie, with or without the help of friendly services like Mailinator. :)
Disabling Facebook: the best thing you can do for any website. Thank you!
But people with any LOLCATS-type domain emails will still get a free guest pass? Because otherwise, Captain Duvel Moneycats IZ GON BALLISTIC, as Teh Kittehs say.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1159581-100x100.png\")
Well, having been a purely Facebook commenter, I think its a good thing that people need to audition. I don't know if this account has been approved or not, yet, but I've been posting on here for months now. In fact, two of my stories made the front page. Maybe that will count fer sumpthin'. Guess I'll see when I click \"submit.\"
*crosses fingers*
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-25155-100x100.png\")
Thank you god
I was always fascinated by people who would post something racist or sexist (or any other \"ist\") using their Facebook profile, thereby providing their real name, location, and picture.
@Laura Northrup: Now I'm wondering if somewhere at Consumerist headquarters there's a big ugly chart.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-665956-100x100.png\")
This is great news. The level of commentary had definitely gone down once the FB crowd started posting here. Let them audition like the rest of us.
I'd add that if you're a Facebook linked person that's made great comments, probably send Roz an email telling her what your legit Consumerist ID will be for faster preapproval.
Both of you.
@Trai_Dep: But how do I know if I was on the good guys team or the bad guys team? :)
Brent Woodle @ Facebook, reporting for duty.
Not that I don't fully support this ... but is there a way to enable Facebook Connect but keep the auditioning system?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-107596-100x100.png\")
I kind of liked Facebook Connect.... I suspect I was the rare consumerist commenter that hated having to change my login constantly. Oh well, it's not like I lost much.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-327386-100x100.png\")
@MaarekElets: I just stay logged in with my home computer and I recommend it if you have a personal computer.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-280999-100x100.png\")
Ben, you have officially made my day. Long live the house of Popken.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1029427-100x100.png\")
*loves*
I was so so tired of the fb'ers!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-159466-100x100.png\")
If any FB posters still want to comment, just audition for an account. If you're worth your salt, you'll be back with us in no time. I think it's a great idea to prevent people that are unwilling to sign up, because those people are probably here to do a drive by comment. Anyway, how hard is it to audition and get approved? Apparently not that hard since I was approved... =)
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-782863-100x100.png\")
Count me among the supporters of this move ...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-524697-100x100.png\")
Finally... a website that get's it. I wish all Gawker sites did this.
I know this is sort of off topic, but why can't I add my e-mail address to my profile? Every time I type it in, it \"says e-mail used, type another\".
@MightyDwarf56: Did you register at some point in the past and simply forgot your username and password?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1223595-100x100.png\")
I'm actually using this as incentive to finally sign up for an account. As much as I use facebook (picture posting mostly), there are times that I think facebook's integration into other 3rd parties is going to be the end of the internet.
I've been a long time lurker on Consumerist. Even tried submitting a story one time about something that I can't remember, but I've never had the stones to sign up for an account. Maybe this \"purge\" of commentors will give me the \"oomph\" to start commenting a lot more.
...boo?
A note for those who are still in audition status (you can post comments, but they don't show up): please contact me if you don't know why you haven't been approved. My email is moderator@consumerist.com. Sadly, one of the weaknesses of the Gawker system is that I can see your account's comments, but I can't see your email address, so if there is a problem (such as a rule violation) that is preventing you from being approved, I can't notify you.
It always breaks my heart to see a repeat commenter who posts for months -- years, in some instances -- in audition status, because they're not up to snuff in some way, but I can't reach them unless they contact me.
@Consumerist-Moderator-Roz: i would suggest maybe another PSA with this information. i know i'm not alone in saying that many of us don't make it past page 1 in the comments. i would hate to see someone who legitimately wants to join not be able to b/c of this \"feature\" & maybe not see this comment b/c it's not prominently featured.
anyway, thanks for all your great work! it's not an easy job & you do it exceedingly well. many times, i forget you're even around (which i mean to be a complement - the best mods are the ones you don't see).
guess i'm going back to the old username. oh well facebook connect - it was fun.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-149187-100x100.png\")
This could leave a vacuum of dumb-ass comments. Might I suggest XBox Live transcriptions as a replacement?
@Cupajo: Yeah, where am I going to get my sense of self-righteous superiority for the day without some serious dumbassery to feel better than??????
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-943594-100x100.png\")
@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): when all else fails, I generally find I can walk outside and find plenty of idiocy, sadly. Humanity: a dab'll do ya.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-291961-100x100.png\")
Forgive me if I sound clueless, and it's been a long time since I registered here...
What's the auditioning thing all about?
@Dooley: If you didn't create an account to comment with your comment wouldn't show up right away. The moderator had to approve it first.
I wonder how many of the people who complained about their comments not showing up right away were anonymous posters who were auditioning?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1223640-100x100.png\")
Aww. Hey, if it makes the site easier to handle for the mod(s), that's great, but I found Facebook Connect not only easy to login to, but I enjoyed the easy ability to post my comments on my Facebook wall. If you honestly think this will help the quality of comments, then sure. I mean, it wasn't hard to create a new account (though this \"audition\" thing confuses me).
Always was a kind consumerist, always will be. ;)
I can't wait for the switch to the new site. The forum syustem here is horrendous. I can never find my old comments, and any relevant replies.
Once I submit below box, this comment will go into a black hole that takes me a long time to find sometimes, depending on how nested it becomes.
I've tried looking for a relevant comment link in my profile, but the comment links I have found only take me to the main story that I commented on.
@catastrophegirl - sometimes makes typos and doesn't care: I use Ctrl+F quite often to find posts. Yet it took me about 15 minutes to find this post again.
Surprisingly, I found it only after I became frustrated and I went into my Profile to seem my Comments. I clicked on this one and it actually took me here this time.
I am not sure if the problem was fixed, or it only happens when I reply to someone within a thread, like this post, since I am responding to you directly. I think this type of post becomes too nested, and ends up getting \"lost\"
And why no e-mail notification option?
@Biggbrother: hrm, i usually skip clicking the link on my comments page that leads to the comment and just click for the whole post, hit expand all and then ctrl F for whatever i am looking for, like responses.
but that's in firefox. don't know if it has other issues in other browsers.
i signed up for the email thing from bunedoggle but it hasn't ever worked at all yet
[consumerist.com]
@Biggbrother: The comment link thing happens to me, too. It's been months since it actually went to the comment. But actually I thought it was just me, so I didn't say anything about it.
@speedwell, avatar of snark: In my experience, it looks first like it's posting after the comment to which I'm responding, but really it's posting in chronological order within the thread. (So if I posted in response to Biggbrother, I'd first see the post after his, but it would really post after yours.) If I begin to reply to a post and then don't submit one, any subsequent post I make will turn up in that first spot unless I reload the page to clear the initial post plan.
Less complicated than it sounds, though.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-137340-100x100.png\")
Please stay away from the new comment system that gawker uses. Otherwise, I'm a happy camper.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-371007-100x100.png\")
I would just like to add one big THANK YOU CONSUMERIST reply to this thread.
You have made a wise decision.
\"I'm sure disabling anon and Facebook connect will piss off and thrill in equal measure\"
But fortunately, we've disabled FB, so we won't have to listen to them piss & moan!
Thank you Ben et al. Thank you.
Please send my re-registration email to Blarp Gorznump care of my email account of that same name.
-Blarp
I find the audition process to be rather lame. I know that some on point, non abusive and unoffensive auditions were flatly rejected by one of the mods. I often suspect that mod (dont know if they are still with the consumerist) of being my slashdot stalker. One moment I could comment... the next I couldnt and no one would tell me why.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1050308-100x100.png\")
I'm very disappointed with losing Facebook Connect on this site. I'm more disappointed that OpenID is not yet supported, here and a hundred million other websites still fail in that regard.
It seems like the easy way out of the issue to just disable Facebook Connect, rather than develop the method of approving the posts through audition. The content surely is stored locally to consumerist, so why can't the site still control what is displayed and what isn't after it was posted through FC?
ehh, the facebook thing was kinda convenient
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-605040-100x100.png\")
@noinamg: exactly, that's how I felt. I had a Consumerist log in but I could never remember it. Now I think all the facebook commenters that everyone hated will be back just using their normal login's. Will that still make our comments inflammatory and horrible or was it just because it had the little \"F\" logo in the bottom that people were already prejudiced to what we had to say?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-570351-100x100.png\")
@SuparnaBabalas: I do think there was prejudice for Facebook posters as a whole; but that was largely because there were enough mega-knobs posting from Facebook that many of us got painted with the same brush.
I'm one of those people who dualposted from Consumerist login and Facebook...I kind of liked having the cross-posting nature of my posts here upon my FB account, and it certainly did raise a few questions about things I had responded to.
A small source of free advertising has now been removed due to morons. Great.
Awesome, thanks.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-60778-100x100.png\")
Now, if only Facebook will disable Facebook API.
Thank goodness.
I need to kill my facebook account -_-'
Facebook: The New AOL
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-316976-100x100.png\")
I had noticed a significant decline in the quality of comments recently, but didn't realize Facebook and anon posters were largely to blame. Kudos to Consumerist for fixing the problem. You are awesome!
PS My real name is not razremytuxbuddy, and I don't use Facebook.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-472416-100x100.png\")
I was connecting with Facebook because I kept forgetting my other user/pass. But, over all I don't mind the switch back.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1223918-100x100.png\")
I'm a bit disappointed with the lack of Facebook Connect for posting since that's how I started out long ago. But whatever. If I don't pass the auditions, oh well. I have enough fun just reading the posts.
I posted once via Facebook and received at least one unnecessarily snarky reply.
That said, I am glad it's been disabled.
And I'm adding my voice to the choir for Gawker's new comment system blowing!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-131723-100x100.png\")
So is the anon comments the reason why we never saw Roz making any sort of comments around here? Seriously, it seemed like for a while she had vanished from the site.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-469349-100x100.png\")
@theblackdog: My guess is she was neck deep in a pile of shit comments.
Giving everyone with a Facebook account a voice on Consumerist comments was not something I was fond of...I can only imagine what it was like on the administrative end of things.
Great Success!
Thank you Ben! Thank you Roz!
It WAS starting to get a little thick in here!
@HogwartsAlum: Thank you. :) I actually expected more backlash but I'm happy to see that a lot of people are on board with this.
Before you go disabling things make sure all the sign in links work. I've used the Facebook sign in a few times when I couldn't get the regular sign in to work.
(Using Firefox/Windows XP)
@nacoran: You need to make sure you've created a specific exception for your AdBlock Plus filter sets if you have that addon. It is a very common problem for gawker blog posting.
Create a filter like these for each blog you read:
@@consumerist.com
@@lifehacker.com
@@gizmodo.com
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1082888-100x100.png\")
Commenting using your full name never struck me as a great idea, anyway. No matter how well thought out and insightful your posts seem today, just like those pictures of you in a NKOTB t-shirt, there's always a chance they'll come back to embarrass you down the line.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-672780-100x100.png\")
I love you. Sooooo much right now :D
@GuyBatterson: Yet you take the time to visit, read the story, and comment?
Clearly, you don't care. Nope, not at all.
Thank you
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1021770-100x100.png\")
Good for you! Now the cowards can't post their crap, and the FB Connect people don't have to worry about creepy people like me trying to view their FB profiles >=}
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-175610-100x100.png\")
And Wall Street rallies! ; )
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-946901-100x100.png\")
I did the \"used to be\" facebooker, mainly because I myself was auditioning Consumerist.com to see if I liked it. Apparently I did, and got myself a right gen-oo-wine account! Yay!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-43716-100x100.png\")
Great decision!
makes sense
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-267279-100x100.png\")
Quick Question: When will the scheduled separation from Gawker occur? Just curious
Test test test - hmm, Facebook posts still working
When will the disemvoweling get fixed?
Glad that consumerist is being proactive about eliminating trolls even if there is collateral damage. I'll be happy with any new system when the time comes as long as it can at least emulate the current and classic comment viewing looks.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1090812-100x100.png\")
I don't understand why people found connecting via Facebook appealing to begin with. The beauty of the intertubes is anonymity, last thing I'd want is people hounding me on Facebook.
(And ditto for Facebook wanting people to add their internet handle to their account. For a semi-legitimate form of social networking that's a step in the wrong direction.)
@serke:
Noone hounds me on facebook specifically because I use privacy tools as they are meant to be used. Security through obscurity never works in the first place. Internet anonymity is nothing of the kind.
This is OK as long as you let me connect through AOL or Prodigy.
So I have to register for another site, yeah that makes it more convenient. You know they blacklist sites on Fark that force people to register for their sites, it doesn't do much but add to their marketing lists.
@Bs Baldwin: You don't have to comment; you can still read the site without having to register an account.
Well you don't have to register for it to read it. You just have to register to comment. I don't think that's discriminatory. Something Awful is an awesome forum that maintains its quality by requiring registration, and even requiring people to pay. It's not that hard to register for The Consumerist.
Although I really don't know what all the fuss about Facebookers is about. I certainly see why it's preferable to have commenters invested in your community, rather than fly-by-night. So I get it from the site's point of view. I just haven't seen this objectively awful posting that makes Consumerists hate Facebookers so much. I haven't been here that long though.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-692615-100x100.png\")
Well done, Consumerist!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1224435-100x100.png\")
Ok fine, I'll actually register with the site instead of being lazy and using facebook
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1224432-100x100.png\")
Well, I'm a former Facebook commenter and it took almost twenty seconds to sign up for a regular account. Yay!
I know that most didn't like the Facebook posters, but I have to say that I am disappointed that the connection is gone. The FB connect was how I would post on here. Mind you, it wasn't often, but it was much easier. I have created a new account today. I am not sure what I have to do to \"audition\" to post comments, however. I guess I need to do some more reading and searching to find out.
I'll be honest, I've always been confused by the various methods of level messages and what not, I believe it'll be for the best to not have 50 different ways to leave a comment.
I'm actually sorry to see Facebook Connect go. It was nice to have comments (few that I made) published automatically on my FB Acct.
I am surprised that the FB API doesn't permit you to block access to a subset of users so that you can still control response quality.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-21380-100x100.png\")
Serves them right.
I had to work for the privilege of being able to leave mediocre comments that nobody reads.
I am addicted to The Consumerist. As a CR magazine and CR site subscriber for years, I also believe that you have let some fresh air into the world of Consumer's Union.
Thank you for all you guys do.
I was going to make a witty remark about how great this was a lot sooner, but I couldn't remember my user ID and password.
\"You need to audition to become a commenter. Your comments will be displayed once your account is approved.\"
How does one audition? It would be nice to have that information on the signup confirmation page.
Personally, I believe FB connect is a powerful way to cross promote, target audiences and maintain an easily manageable system. For example, normally this comment would hit my wall... now it won't. So 50-100+ people won't see this article... and the 100-1000+ people who would have seen it from likes, comments and re-posts are now gone as well... and that was just from me posting and sharing my comment.
I'm sorry, I enjoy this site, but social networking has changed... people want share their experiences, and aren't afraid to use their real identities to do so. The reasons behind limiting the embrace of a currently popular site like facebook seems incredibly short sighted in my opinion.
I agree with remarks about content and focus. Many people disliked the 'facebookers' (which I only learned today because of this post) - but they still came here. Your moderator is swamped (cry me a river) - but there's so many other solutions. I didn't comment much, but I came for the content through RSS every day. Now I probably won't comment at all, because I care more about what my friends think about your article and my response than what any commenter here thinks.
Don't get me wrong, the comments are occasionally, at best, interesting... but this approach? Well, allow me to fill the role of black sheep juvenile I'm sure I'll be painted for these remarks: Fail.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1225465-100x100.png\")
Darn. I only used my facebook account since I was having trouble with my password for my consmerist account. No matter what I do I cannot get a new password emailed to me. I've been trying weeks. Finally created this one until I can figure out what's going on with my regular account.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-408954-100x100.png\")
Facebook is the biggest waste of time. MySpace and Twitter, are tied for first place.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-63820-100x100.png\")
I never really understood the whole idea of \"auditioning\" to comment... but getting rid of anonymous commenting is probably the best thing, especially for a site based around consumerism and consumer rights.
SUCK IT!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-63602-100x100.png\")
Oooh. A new platform? Color me excited.
There were anonymous comments?
Well, not a huge deal to register and I can understand why anonymous would be deactivated. But I can't imagine how the Facebook connect thing was that bad, esp since it linked back to accounts. But then again, I didn't read all the comments all the time, so maybe some people were bad.
It was convenient to not have to register at yet another site to make comments on articles. I think I'm registered at about 60 sites now. And to top it off, all the common names I use were taken here. Oh well, I'm here now.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1228022-100x100.png\")
I was annoyed to hear this at first- I had used Facebook Connect to comment several times because it simplified my online life. Whenever I sign up for a new web site, I set up a unique email address, conjure a unique password, and add a record with my credentials to a private database. Facebook Connect saved me those steps on sites that supported it.
I actually had no idea that your regular users had to audition, though, and I totally agree that Connect was giving those visitors an unfair benefit. (And I certainly didn't know you supported anonymous comments; your moderators must have been busy!) So, here I am as a registered user, eager to share my wit and OUTRAGE where appropriate. *waves*
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-105855-100x100.png\")
I'm sure disabling anon and Facebook Connect will piss off and thrill in equal measure...
Consider me the latter
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-423957-100x100.png\")
Gotta say, I'll be really upset if I lose my star... it's so pretty! Also, I think anyone with a star agrees the new gawker system is pretty nice, makes us feel super extra special.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-680891-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-285080-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-44429-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-500755-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-180171-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-176868-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-248249-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-63807-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-15106-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-590531-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-520287-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-7387-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-624458-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-261962-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-808630-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-542811-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-917643-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-143777-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-6171-100x100.png\")
\"We're disabling ... Facebook Connect.\"
Best news I've heard all day.
@squinko:
Now if only there was a way to actuly disable facebook itself.
@squinko: I guess the party is over. I always figured the only reason I wasn't banned from this site was that the Moderator had her hands full with Facebookers.
It's just a matter of time now.
Bring back Facebookers?
@squinko: Since my workplace, like many, many others, blocks anything related to facebook with web-filters, I can now start posting again while at work! Horray!
There was a nasty little problem where it wouldn't finish loading the page if it couldn't talk to facebook, and it kept me from reading the comments, which is the best part for many stories. (rss feeds were the only way for me to read it!)
@squinko: Here here Consumerist! I agree with the OP, best news of all day!
@squinko: I was hoping that said \"We're disabling....Facebook\". Yes! No more Facebook makes a happy me.
\"And there was much rejoicing!\"
@squinko: can we get conseanary and gitemstevedave in here to congratulate themselves?
@squinko: I thought the same.
I mean, it's not as if I don't use facebook as well, but it's just odd to me the caliber of comments coming from there.
No post auditioning is it, i suppose.
@SnatchTease: The Consumerist has an agreement with Gawker to stay on their network for a year IIRC. When that year's up, then they'll be moving to their own platform.
Just hoping the comment system stays similar to how it is now, and not like the new Gawker comments.
@squinko: Week/month/year? :)
@squinko: Hmmmm...how can I blame the OP here?