From the Readers

An online management system recommended

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-05-05 10:26

Comment on "China to end anonymous online comments" (chinadaily.com.cn, May 4)

A better system is long overdue for managing and moderating of reader's comments. A typical system is based on the registration of users.

What do you need to register?

1. Username;

2. Password; and

3. Email

How does it work?

1. After registration, username and password are needed to comment;

2. Only the username is displayed along with the comments, so that a reader can still maintain anonymity with other users;

3. Each of the comments has a 'Report abuse' link so that readers can flag up any abuse directly to the moderator who will take the appropriate actions;

4. When a comment is found to be against the rules, then it will be deleted by the moderator;

5. The moderator has the discretion to ban (based on the email) a reader who frequently play against the rules; and

6. Readers must accept the rules and regulations of the comments system as set out by China Daily, e.g. abusive, derogatory, and ad hominem attacks are disallowed.

This is definitely the right way forward, as such a system is already a fairly standard practice in many of the well known Western online press in the US and UK.

So, for the sake of promoting healthy, mature, positive, friendly, meaningful, and responsible debate, and to discourage and stop users (and 'trouble makers') abusing the system, it is essential for China Daily to adapt such a system as soon as possible.

Freeviewer, on China Daily Website