Why do you choose " Comments must be approved before they appear..."?

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   Sally's Troveposted 13 years ago

   ...in your Comments capsule?
   
   I don't...why do you?

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      Uninvited Writerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      To keep out the spam

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         2uesdayposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I agree with that reason.

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         Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I get spam now and again, but I simply don't approve the comment. Maybe you get more spam than I do.

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            Uninvited Writerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I'd rather see it before it's published. I sometimes miss comments for weeks...

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      couturepopcafeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Because some people are jackasses and may comment in such a way as to insult your work.  It's like call screening.

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         Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I use call screening only to take the time to decide who I want to talk with, when. You make a good point about that. But I don't care who insults my work in this HP venue. That's their loss if they want to be idiots.

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         jfay2011posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         There have been some times when I haven't approved stuff.  I wrote some hubs a while ago venting about a stealing incident.  I got some nasty psycho comments from people who were friends of the family that stole from me.  I chose to cancel their comments and not have them appear.

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      Stevennix2001posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I honestly don't, as I know from experience, it's kind of frustrating that I can't edit some comments on hubs that require the author's approval; which makes it that much more frustrating to me, as I know I sometimes make grammatical mistakes.  lol. 
      
      However, I have met one hubber that wrote a hub on this very same query, where she claimed the reason she's using comment moderation approval was because many people would leave rather distasteful comments that not only insulted her character, but some would be downright mean spirited and insulting.  Of course, I don't know if what she said is true, as I never read the comments, but this is according to her hub.  Anyway, she wrote a hub saying that from now on, she would require all comments to be approved by her before it appears on her hub because of these rude comments. Of course, the topics she normally writes are on politics, so it's easy to see how that might stir up some controversy.  However, that's one example for you if that answers your query.

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         Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I share the reader's, commenter's experience with you. I may be wrong, but I think HP made it possible recently to edit your comment in that 5-minute window even if the author requires that comments must be approved before they appear.
         
         However, once that window is closed, there's no indication on the Hub that you made a comment. If you look at your activity, you will see that you made a comment to that Hub, but your comment isn't visible until approved by the author.
         
         Frankly, this drives me nuts.

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      rebekahELLEposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I used to, but now I don't. I check the site a few times a day and check comments from the home page.
      I delete if I find a spammy one, and I don't find too many spammy comments.
      I don't mind if someone posts something contrary to what I have written.
      
      Some of my comments come from search traffic, and why make someone wait for their comment to show up if they took the time to search, read and comment? Spammers simply get 'delete forever'.

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         Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I think that's a key...we are checking in a timely way.

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      beindustrialposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, I agree. This feature was created so that hubbers can filter spams on their comment board.

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   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   Because I prefer to read comments before others.

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      Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Oh, that's interesting. I don't really care who reads comments first, because I have the power to make unsavory comments disappear off my Hubs, while no one else does! Wonder Woman, you know.

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         Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Well with that said- YOU Go Girl!

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            Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            TY, Cags. Your comment is a real shot in the arm. I AM goin'.

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   2uesdayposted 13 years ago

   Does a comment with a spam 'link' count as a link in the total allowed for that hub? I thought it might.

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      Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I have no idea, but that's a good question.

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   Gordon Hamiltonposted 13 years ago

   When I first joined Hub Pages, I didn't. To be perfectly honest, I can't remember the wording of the comment that made me change my mind but I remember the subject nature. It was obscene beyond belief (nothing to do with the subject nature of my Hub) and written by a non-Hubber. I was horrified that it had been on my Hub for I think three or four days before I realised it was there.
   
   I know that I am tarring the 99% plus and more with the brush of the miniscule minority but I just don't want to run the risk of that happening again. In the interim, I have deleted a handful of comments for similar reasons, none of which I would have wanted appearing on my Hub for a nano-second.
   
   It's sad that I personally feel moderation of this type is necessary and I understand completely where people allow comments to appear immediately. I guess it's simply a personal preference thing where each of us have to make our own decision.

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      Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think you and Uninvited Writer made good points. If you are not moderating what's going on daily, then you don't want to run the risk of having negative comments that are not addressed or deleted. I guarantee you that I'm not on HP 24/7 to monitor this stuff, but my thought is, let the commenter do what it will...all will come out right in the end.

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         Lisa HWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Your point (a few posts) above about how the comment just kind of disappears until it's approved is one that bothers me too.  I don't get all that many comments that I'd need to be on here 24/7  .  When I first sign on there's the number of comments.  I go to them, figure out if they can be quickly approved with a quick comment; or if they need a more substantial response.  I approve all the quickies,  but sometimes do let them sit for another half day or so before I can offer the more in-depth response I think they deserve.  It's pretty rare that one requires such an in-depth response, so I just take care of the comments when I sign in (or as I see that they're there).
         
         I sign in pretty much every day (with rare exception), but I also leave a separate window up with HP on it; so I'm back and forth over the course of a day.  I've thought about getting rid of the "approve thing" and am not sure I wouldn't do that.  I suppose when it comes down to it (and if I think about it), maybe the real determining factor for me is that I don't want to let a spammer have his/her link on my Hub for even five-minutes.  (Well, that - and I suppose I'm a control freak when it comes to what gets put on something that has my name on it.  , even if I've got plenty of Hubs that I'm not all that thrilled with.  )  I suppose, maybe, it's a matter of preferring to head off (even small) potential "issues", than having to go figure out where they all are and clean them up.

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   BeautifulNaturalposted 13 years ago

   Spam is definitely the main reason I choose to preview my comments, I mean who wants harsh comments that are unfounded and disrespectful left smeared accross their loving masterpiece of writing.

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      Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I hear you...but if you are writing what you know and believe to be right, then why do you care about what a spammer, flamer, has to say? You know, when some idiot disses your stuff, his/her words make the fool out of them, not of you.

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         BeautifulNaturalposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I totally understand you, but, I refuse to allow a spammer or anyone who wants to adverstise their ignorance to do so under my writing. I figure if they want to write things about  scam, mlm or any other absurd distraction they can do it some where were they are allowed. Freedom of speech is one thing, however, being disrespectful to other readers is another.

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            Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I understand what you are saying, BeautifulNatural. Thank you for adding your thoughts to this thread.
            
            I only want to add that your writing and reputation will never be diminished by a spammer. Your good words will stand on their own, and the contrast between your words and those of a spammer will, most certainly, elevate you in the perceptions of the reader. Spammers have a way of making fools of themselves that are apparent to everyone...except maybe, other spammers. And who cares about them?

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   ubanichijiokeposted 13 years ago

   Please
   Help
   Me
   Ask!

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      Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      And your point?

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   Wilfionposted 13 years ago

   I didn't know you could choose.  When I have received comments, I am asked whether to approve or deny them, but have not knowingly set this.  Personally, I would rather not have to do this, and would be happy for them to appear automatically.  Previously, when I had another account on HubPages, I always approved comments, even when they disagreed strongly with what I had written.  I never received any rude comments, but think had I done so, I would still have approved them.

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      Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      You can edit your comments capsule on a Hub, while in edit mode on that Hub, to say whether you will or will not approve comments before they appear. You can also do this globally for all your Hubs by clicking my account > Comments > show settings.

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   Lisa HWposted 13 years ago

   Lots of reasons.
   
   I have "approve first" because I have a couple of Hubs that have been known to attract spam.  Then I have one (aimed at junior-high aged kids) that attracts junior-high-aged-kid type of comments (like "bla bla bla"    or worse  ).  I don't want that stuff on my Hubs.  I've gotten a couple of really crude comments, and I don't want "crude" showing up on my Hubs either.  There have also been times when someone doesn't post spam, but posts something that makes the Hub look like someone thinks HubPages is a big "fun party" where the writing isn't taken seriously.  Links to stuff (not spam, but just stuff I don't want a Hub linked to) is another reason (especially these days when what gets linked can matter in the 'bots' "eyes").
   
   In spite of seeming picky, I pretty much approve all comments, including any nasty ones or insulting ones.  They're a part of the deal, so I have no problem with them (although I sometimes reply to some of them).  They're real/honest feedback.  I don't have a problem with that, or want all nicy-nice stuff in comments.  It's just that stuff that could make my Hub look bad (to 'bots or readers) that I don't want on them.  I have a big mix of Hubs, so maybe I've gotten to "sample" enough of the different kind of things people do in comments that I think there's some "wisdom" in approving comments first. 

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   Greekgeekposted 13 years ago

   My old Greek mythology and art hubs had a whole string of comments were clearly from 1-3 individuals delighted with the prospect of an open guestbook where they could post strings of obscenities that had nothing whatsoever to do with the topic.  I half suspected that they thought I was someone they knew (a classmate?) whom they had decided to torment. It was very odd.
   
   I also have approximately 6,000+ spam comments blocked on my own blogs and websites. Many times the spam comes from bots or paid link droppers who offer some vague all-purpose platitude about your page and then drop a backlink to their site.
   
   If you're on the web long enough, sooner or later, the spammers come to love you. At that point, it's vitally necessary to screen your guestbooks. After all, that content is seen by your readers and search engines as part of your content, reflecting on the quality of your page.
   
   On a happier note, since I have trouble keeping up with things, I like to have a comment notification tab where I can easily find and skim through all the comments I've received and reply as neeed.

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      Lisa HWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Greekgeek, what you mentioned about stuff being seen as "your content" has always been one of my major concerns.  I don't care if some kid writes some foolishness on a Hub, but when a visitor shows up and runs into a bunch of baloney at the end of the Hub it does nothing for the look of my Hub (even if my Hub is a fairly casual, "non-lofty", type of article.  For good or ill, each Hub says whatever I wanted to say in it (and I never write "bla bla bla" or "djekdisdap;fj" or "whatever" at the bottom of what I had to say. 

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    emievilposted 13 years ago

    I don't know if I consciously opted to have the comments on my hub screened but I definitely prefer it that way. And my reason is the same as the others, to keep off spam (or at least to screen them). I end up approving most of them anyway but it's kind of a comfort knowing I see them first (and approve them) before anyone else does.

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    Greekgeekposted 13 years ago

    Lisa, not only that, I am perhaps too keenly aware that search engine algorithms do, to some extent, judge all the content on a page as its content. Perhaps they can detect where your article ends and guest comments begin. Perhaps not. Either way, you are responsible for the content that appears on your page.
    
    I have two unapproved comments sitting in one of my hub guestbooks that I honestly don't know what to do with. I'm talking about methods for search engine optimization, and someone engages me on the topic of traveling to Greece, including recommending books about Greece. On the one hand, it's an interesting conversation. On the other hand, it's totally hijacked my guestbook and created a huge pile of non-relevant content for my visitors to plow through (of course, most won't read it) which also eclipses the article I actually wrote. There's now more content about Greece than the actual topic of the page.
    
    And of course there's the side issue that the commenter worked the conversation around to promoting some book, which I suspect may not be sincere -- hence my holding out and not hitting the "approve" button.
    
    Even without that, we are the editors of our articles, and that includes what appears at the bottom of them. We don't want to be quashing differing opinions, and we don't want to be hurting feelings or being ungrateful to those who are considerate enough to take the time to write something and leave us feedback -- that IS a gift!
    
    But irrelevant guestbook content can harm a page, both for readers (which is what really matters) and search engine relevance. This is the one of the few times I've actually screened a significant chunk of irrelevant guestbook content instead of wincing and allowing it, but it's something I think about and consider.

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       Lisa HWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       That's the thing.  (The search engines).  As it is, pretty much all (very close to it) of my traffic comes from Google.  I'm pretty happy with the traffic I'm getting, and I don't want someone's posted link to catch the "eye" of any 'bots.  Who knows which Hub it could be..  Who knows what someone may link to...
       
       I'm really appreciate for comments.  I know that some of my Hubs wouldn't have performed as well if it weren't for what people have offered by way of comments.  I don't want to screen out legitimate comments - just make sure what gets posted is a legitimate (even if nasty) comment.
       
       Of course, I shut off some comment boxes on some Hubs because I wrote the Hubs in answer to questions about sad things in life, and I found it depressing to keep feeling compelled to revisit them (years after I'd written them) over and over again.  Also, some other types of Hubs don't really tend to lend themselves to meaningful comments.  A not-so-dynamic Hub with four "good Hub's" on it can kind of look like a loser of a Hub.  (At least when it comes to the ones I have.  )

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       PaulGoodman67posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       @GG and Lisa - I have similar problems at times.  Some hubbers just see HubPages as another form of Facebook or a blogging site, not grasping that for some of us it's a serious attempt at earning.  I think some hubbers think that they are automatically doing you a big favour by commenting, even if their comment is irrelevant, or inappropriate.  It's awkward.  I've seriously considered dropping the comments section altogether at times.  Maybe I should just be more brutal?

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    HikeGuyposted 13 years ago

    Mainly to keep out spam. I've only had one rude comment -- three years ago someone criticized one of my first hubs as an excuse to leave a link to herself... too tacky for words, so I deleted it without comment. Most of the time I'm happy to have comments, so I keep that option.
    
    I'm no expert, but I have the impression that all links on the page can affect Google rankings -- include garbage dumped in the comments. So, as much as I'd prefer to let all comments go live without delay, both to create a good experience for the reader and to protect my investment, I pre-screen.
    
    Greekgeek makes a good point about relevance.

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    Greekgeekposted 13 years ago

    I don't ditch guestbooks, I just moderate. I love it when commenters share their experiences/opinions on the subject (even when they disagree!) or ask useful questions that help me improve the article.
    
    On the other hand, I just zapped a comment in moderation that was, ironically, a link for anti-spam software. Link dropping IS spam! Also, the title of the software sounded suspiciously like it might be malware (the oldest malware trick in the book: pretend to be selling something that removes viruses, but actually disables your anti-virus software). Needless to say I denied that comment.
    
    That's another big reason to moderate. Even if the HTML is stripped from the links, some innocent reader might be fooled into copying a url pasted in a comment into the address bar, or going to a shady site mentioned by name.

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