At first I wasn’t too sure about what would happen by requiring people to make a profile and registered. Pretty quick we saw a drop off with the amount of trolls. That was good.

Over at the FCBlog where I get to post it is still open for anonymous and it is not uncommon to see 100+ comments (some posts with 200). That blog tends to focus very narrowly on politics in the Foothill Cities of the SGV which is a good way to stir up a comment war.

I think if you want intelligent conversation registering is a way to cut down on the trolls and flamers. If all you are interested in is wild conversation and a lot of hits then you go the no registering route. I prefer the former as you do get a better debate most of the time.

I’ve always found the community-creating aspects of blogs to be the most interesting thing about them. So I was, in a sense, trying to understand why cityblogging creates or impedes community-building.

I’m kinda in-between on the anonymous comment on/off switch. I think it still gives the drive-by trollers their outlet to be assholes, but it does limit their audience considerably.

But hey, thanks for listening. I’m such a perfectionist I always walk off the podium thinking, “that was a crappy talk.” I hope people come away thinking about the issues and not about the horse sex.