Comments on the web are often uninformed, off point or inflammatory postings by trolls. The views tend to be extreme and conservative. Sophisticated readers are not convinced but may be disheartened, and the less informed are misled. But some sites, like the NY Times actually pick out  highly informative posts.

Our goal is to help sensible people like you redress this imbalance. We’re here to make good commenting easier and even enjoyable. We will provide concise and informative talking points and will help you choose the most effective place for your comments. We’ll also do some hand-holding concerning the quirks of posting your comment.

To get started just choose one topic and one place to comment. Once you get the hang of it, you can expand if you like.

1. Choose your topic
   • We provide a list of frequently repeated misconceptions, and
   • Simple ways to rebut them
2. Find where to comment
   1. The characteristics and advantages of different types commenting opportunities:
      • Newspaper stories
      • blogs
      • social sites, etc.
   2. Information about specific sites
3. Learn commenting methods and tricks
   1. How to write effective comments
   2. Tips for specific sites

If you don’t think comments change minds, read why Popular Science shut off its comments. Although this is dismal news, it makes it clear that if we turn the comment space over to trolls and extremists, they will do much more damage than if they are diluted and refuted with intelligent comments and comments that warn of their dangers.

P.S. And for more (really scary) confirmation, read in the Washington Post how dictators use social media and even set up troll factories.

Dan’s “secret sauce” question

According to Dan something like this needs a “secret sauce” to make it work. It’s hard to get people to do useful things. So what is it? We need ideas. The social component is likely crucial. Perhaps looking at examples will provide a clue. Admittedly, these are bit crazy, but let’s start collecting them: Sunday assembly. Free the children. Battleground Texas. 

More Info about Politics and Social Media

PEW: Who uses it and (at the bottom) some interesting reports

PEW: Survey on social media changing minds