Protest march
A protest march. Photo via Pixabay.com

Since this website’s founding in 2014, Times of San Diego has always allowed readers to comment on articles.

Initially comments were offered through Facebook, but few readers engaged, perhaps because their social media identities were visible.

Then in 2019 we unveiled a third-party commenting system called Vuukle that allowed anonymous posting. It’s an easy-to-use system, and many readers have taken advantage of it.

However, the anonymous nature has made the comments section a particularly unfriendly place. A loyal group appreciates the blunt give-and-take, but other readers are offended.

Times of San Diego remains committed to reader comments, but we’re going to take a pause through the November general election to study and implement a new commenting system.

We will seek advice from our readers, other publications, and journalism schools on how to provide a welcoming and civil comments section.

If you have suggestions, please contact Editor Chris Jennewein by email. And, for the record, this is the only article that currently allows comments.

Chris Jennewein is founder and senior editor of Times of San Diego.

21 replies on “Times of San Diego Taking a Pause on Reader Comments to Develop New System”

  1. Yes, the MAGA influenced group think they run the comments section. I will abide by TOS but will not shy away from those antagonists and have engaged them with like tactics. Enough with the gang bullying.

  3. Good morning, Chris. Thank you for stopping the toxic serial commenters that spewed hate and disinformation. I would suspect that they were an embarrassment to the majority of San Diego County readers.

  4. It’s about time that “this publication” realizes what freedom of speech means. Journalism schools will just create a climate that is all to common today, “fake news”. I really don’t care about what a comment says, like a bad television show, just turn the channel but when addresses are posted, that crosses the line but I am skeptical on how this publication will handle the comments section. I’ll wait and see.

  5. Yes, comments have become offensive and personal from both sides of the aisle. There is no easy answer as to how to tone it down. Perhaps the Wall Street Journal has a different class of reader as remarks rarely get out of hand.

  6. Well ever since this site was bought by ASU, articles have gone Left or some were rehashed from AP or other sources. Free speech is at risk when you don’t have opposing views. Everyone is offended at something. Ban life itself. I’m sure you’re working on a screening of objectionable content aimed at the so called offenders. There are more people than you think who are not happy with the state of the city, state or country. You’ll just be one more hunky dory offense free rag. Good luck.

  7. A new format with commentator with some form of ID information would probably reduce some of the vitriol could lead to more people commentating. It may, however, limit comments. TOSD is one of the few places people can comment on the news and would encourage you to do everything you can to continue to provide that service to your readers. Looking forward to your resolution and continued participation in responding to the articles you publish.

    1. I used to comment here but stopped months ago. The toxicity and just plain ugly hate posted by right wingers became too much.
      Kudos to Chris for shutting it down. Its about time!
      Going forward I’m not sure how to create a comment section where people behave themselves. The anonymity of the internet brings out the worst in commenters.

  9. This review is a much needed process. I hope you are able to find a workable solution that preserves and improves the commenting opportunity.

  11. I understand the need to filter certain comments or commenter’s, after all you guys had a commenter here that would routinely threaten to beat people up who disagreed with him. At the same time the content of this site leans heavily left, and the commenter’s tend to be more middle right. The answer maybe to have more contributors who’s views reflect the audience.

  12. I click on the times of San Diego for three primary reasons; 1. The headlines are concise and guide what I may want to read further, 2. The articles are mostly of local interest and informative, 3. Reader comments often entertain and sometimes inform, but also reveal prejudiced, ignorance and hate – which might otherwise remain hidden.
    I am a strong advocate of free-speech and believe it is helpful to know how others think. Nevertheless any legitimate forum needs to have some mutual respect and decorum so as not to become a brawl or a mere shouting match. People also should not have to fear any repercussions for comments they may make (unless the comments are otherwise unlawful, slanderous, fraudulent, etc.). So, as is often the case in human interaction, a trusted referee, moderator or editor is helpful to keep the discussion on track.
    So I would recommend the editor consider becoming a such a person and for the Times to establish the guidelines for the comments and generally require real names to be used unless there’s a good reason for an anonymous comment. Explicit fact checking by the editor would also be welcomed. Otherwise, let it all hang out..

  13. Let me know when you start allowing comments again. I do not read online news that doesn’t allow comments. Comments are the only way people have to keep biassed reporting from becoming even more biassed.

    1. When you mistake your own biases for reality, you will accuse professional journalists of bias. This in turn disqualifies you as a good-faith commenter in journalistic publications. Something to keep in mind.

  15. Thank you for doing this. I’ve been meaning to write to you about the toxic comments, it really makes this website look bad. The comments need to reflect your average readers, not the MAGA crowd. I never signed up with Vuukle because of the requirements to create an account but I always wanted to counter the opinions of the right wingers.

  16. I always look at the comments on this site – and am equally amused and horrified. The racism is what really shakes my soda. Every crime reported is supposed to name the race of the perp. Because why? Are non-racist people going to become racist once they see that crimes are “only committed by non-whites”? Are we going to run the “others” out of town? Or are the leftist “Marxist” commie journalists trying to protect those no-good minorities? The real irony is every one of these opinionated pinheads cursing Marx are collecting their social security and got union wages and expect government services toot suite.

  17. I hope you end reader comments for good. The level of discourse is too low for any useful value. Many other news sites have ended comments under individual articles for the same reasons. Just give me the news, thank you.

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