Maybe it's just me, but when I write about something which may bring about a huge amount of conversation, I consider it to be a waste of time to limit the response it may garner.  I had the courage to put my words out there, I'll have the courage to leave the words of others out in the public eye as well.

What are you guys' opinions on 'approval only' comments on Hubs covering controversial topics?

gamergirl wrote:

Maybe it's just me, but when I write about something which may bring about a huge amount of conversation, I consider it to be a waste of time to limit the response it may garner.  I had the courage to put my words out there, I'll have the courage to leave the words of others out in the public eye as well.

What are you guys' opinions on 'approval only' comments on Hubs covering controversial topics?

All of the comments on my hubs are approval only. I don't know how to set it otherwise. I believe if a person is willing to recieve comments then they should let the comments be seen no matter how ignorant or insignicficiant the comemnts may seem. They're not insignificant to the one who made the comment.

Have I ranted long enough?????

My hubs are all set approval only too as I don't know how to change it.
I have published all the comments I have got, if they are nice enough to bother to comment, even if it is not of my opinion, I approve it.
The only ones that I have knocked off have been just a post about another totally unrelated website, basically spam.

I don't screen my comments before they appear.  But I do have the ability to approve or disapprove them.  I figure that is a good middle ground.  I have only disapproved one comment other than the accidental multiple comments that are the same. 

I always just let them post and later weed out blatant spam.

I am now approving all topics on my hubs.  However, I think what one person considers a controversial topic may just be creative expression for another.  What exactly is considered a controversial topic?  Some people are more sensitive than others and may be taken aback when they receive comments that are challenging/debating.  It does not necessarily mean that people are not courageous, they just are not as comfortable with debate and challenge.  Personally speaking I just do not challenge other peoples topics that much because at the end of the day we all believe what we are going to believe .  If other people want to that is great.

SweetiePie wrote:

I am now approving all topics on my hubs.  However, I think what one person considers a controversial topic may just be creative expression for another.  What exactly is considered a controversial topic?  Some people are more sensitive than others and may be taken aback when they receive comments that are challenging/debating.  It does not necessarily mean that people are not courageous, they just are not as comfortable with debate and challenge.  Personally speaking I just do not challenge other peoples topics that much because at the end of the day we all believe what we are going to believe .  If other people want to that is great.

What is controversial is a case-by-case decision.  Anything that remotely touches on religion or politics will be in that category.  Consider the potential for debate.   

I just let everyone have their own opinions and no longer wish to even write a hub about anything controversial.  It is not worth the debates, debates are boring anyway .  Drawing and cooking are more fun!

I have my hubs set to need approval before posting.  My philosophy for posting someone's comments is this...  I have done my best as a writer to be respectful to my readers and I expect the same in return.

Because I write that which is often controversial, I do on occasion get those who get crazy!  Not cool.  That is not why I am here writing, and I don't feel obligated to publish disrespectful, rude or  false information about what I write.  I am trying to clarify and be credible.  I think I owe it to my readers not to allow my hubs to be someone else's trashcan. 

I will most always post a comment, even if they disagree with my beliefs, "if" it is given in a respectful and intelligent manner.  Why would I even begin to think everyone is going to like or agree with what I have written? Pleeeeeeeeease!  LOL

Just because we don't agree on a topic, etc...  does not mean that we can't communicate like adults.  I actually enjoy a good exchange in hopes of finding a bit of understanding with others.  Isn't that what this is all about?

I love learning as much as I love teaching:-)

tDMg
LdsNana-AskMormon
Kathryn

I haven't had much of a problem on Hubpages - save for a few spam comments and a couple of idiotic statements that went to the trash (that really had nothing to do with the topic at hand), but I had to set comments to approval on my Squidoo lenses because of teenagers who decided it's cool to go onto a site and randomly say how "gay" something is or other assorted idiotic tirades that surely must come from someone who's under the age of 18, right?

I had to do the same on YouTube because I got tired of "girls" posting asking if someone wanted to see their hot "pix" or some moron telling me to take my shirt off.

Don't these kids have schoolwork?

I have approval before display set on my internet marketing hubs purely because of the spammers and I hate for them to get a few hours of exposure of their link before  Isaw them and spammed them! Ive never had to delete a genuine comment: even if it disagrees with me just the spam

I have approval on my Hubs but it's purely to stop the spammers. I don't write on controversial topics anyway, but if I did, I'd publish the "anti" views as well - otherwise there wouldn't be much point in opening up the topic!