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I am taking a blogging break for a little while. I am in the process of getting all of my challenges for 2011 picked out so you'll see a bunch of those posts.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

To Moderate or Not to Moderate....

That is the question. After a recent bout of spamming on my blog I have decided that I am going to be moderating my comments for the time being. I really hate doing it but I really hate spam comments even more and I dislike word verification even more than I hate moderating comments AND the spam. So my question(s) to you are these: Do you use or have you used comment moderation on your blog? Did you see an increase or a decrease in the number comments? What are your thoughts on comment moderation? Do you have a tendancy to not comment on blogs that have it activated or does it not really bother you?
NOTE: The Library Loving Challenge has started. If you would like to participate leave me a comment on either "Let The Library Loving Challenge Begin" or the review of The Secret Year. For every COMMENTOR on those posts I will donate .25 to my local library up to $100.

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10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean about the moderation, but I have to admit I started doing it. It was because of spam actually. I was getting a ton of it on my comments so I approve EVERY comment and still have the security word. I hate it too, but right now it is the only way. It is your blog and you need to do what you have to do to protect it. And if that includes nasty and rude comments then so be it.

Tales of Whimsy said...

I don't use comment moderation.
I just have it set up that each comment is forwarded to my email so I know if I need to go delete something.
Good luck!

Unknown said...

I don't use the moderation, but I really don't get much spam either. I get a decent amount of comments and I like them to be available for everyone to read immediately. I have email notification on, so if there was spam, I'd catch it really quick and delete it then. Since it's easily deleted, spam doesn't bother me as much as most.

I really dislike when blogs have both word verification and comment moderation. Blogs with 1000s of followers manage to do without it, so when I see a blog with a handful of followers using both, it makes me think the blogger is a little full of themselves. I don't know why, it's just a gut reaction. I'll still comment, but I'm left with a bad taste in my mouth. You can delete it, so why annoy the people you want to comment?

I'm easily annoyed, so my opinions probably don't reflect what others think.

CHRISTIE said...

I haven’t had much spam but I also haven’t been blogging long. Comment moderation doesn’t bother me. I’m not a fan of word verification but it doesn’t stop me from commenting. I haven’t used either yet but if spam becomes an issue for me I’ll reevaluate. Do what you think is best for you :)

Yvonne said...

I don't see anything wrong with moderation. It's your blog and you should decide what's best for you. I've visited a lot of sites where people comment about stupid stuff like who they met on so and so dating site and other weird stuff that no one would really care to know. I have a Yahoo group and I definitely use moderation with new members because I'm not sure if they are actually interested in being a member or just out to spam. As far as commenting, if someone wants to leave a comment, they will, even if they have to use the dreaded word verification.

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

I'll still comment. Spammers are so bad. I wish I didn't have to keep the security word on mine, but so far no bad spam. So, I'm happy. Plus, I hate to see spam in the comments. It can actually be a distraction and harmful depending on what the spam entails.

YzhaBella's BookShelf said...

I don't moderate, as of yet. Of course, my blog is very new, so I've not yet encountered the problem. I would turn on moderation if spamming became and issue. I would not leave another blog, of stop commenting just because another uses it.

I do use word verification. I don't like having to do it myself, but I feel us a necessary precaution. A necessity I love to hate! lol

Thanks
Kate aka YzhaBella

Sue Jackson said...

Hi, Jamie -

I've stopped by to thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to comment...a few weeks ago! This is embarrassing since I've been blogging for years, but my settings somehow got messed up and I wasn't getting notified of any comments...since January! I wondered why no one was commenting - duh! Anyway, I got it straightened out and will be much more responsive now.

As for the question, I'm with you...I don't like having to make people do word verification but without that and comment moderation, my blogs get inundated with spam - like messages filled with Chinese characters and drug ads! It's a necessary evil.

Sue

www.greatbooksforkidsandteens.com

Mel u said...

I moderate to avoid spammers who use our blogs for free ads-out of respect to my readers

Mel (He Followed Me Home) said...

I've always has word verification and have (knock on wood) been fortunate enough to not get any spam yet. I really hate word verification too, so I've decided to test it out..I just took it off & we'll see how it goes. I do like Juju's idea & think I will try that next if I have any spam problems :)