Loyal readers,
We would be nothing without the comments and feedback we get – and we appreciate it, we really do.
The comments section of the blog is hugely valued, and is increasingly as much a part of the experience for readers, and us, as the articles themselves. We get a great standard of debate, people add additional points that we haven’t touched on, and tease out other arguments on the article in question. Sometimes, believe it or not – I know, it’s crazy – people don’t agree with us and offer counter-points to what we’ve written. This is all really, really terrific. The majority of those who use the comment box are highly knowledgable and greaatly enhance the blog and we are hugely grateful to you all.
However, recently, we have got feedback from some of our regulars that the comments board frequently turns off-topic and has often descended into a whiny, trolling tone, even putting some readers off the blog. Again, we appreciate this feedback. We ourselves have noticed an increasing number of spats in the comments section, and people making personal attacks without specific reference to points made in the article. So we are upping our blog to the next level of WordPress security – that of forcing commentors to include an e-mail address, and each commenter will require our approval. Apologies if it inconveniences anyone, but it’s as much of a hassle for us as it is for you. Remember that your email address will never be published; only we will see it, not the greater public.
Our email address is whiffofcordite@gmail.com and everyone is welcome to talk to us directly.
Oh, and to address some on-going queries:
- Let’s keep the comments section on-topic and constructive. Please do not post with wild accusations, with scant reference to the post in question. We welcome constructive debate, not pot-shots
- If you don’t like what we write, please let us know why, at the address above, but make it constructive please – we do take it on board. Let’s keep the comments section for the topic in question. Comments berating others or including personal abuse will simply be deleted from now on.
- If you think what we do here is throw abuse at people online, you should perhaps ask yourself why the mainstream media throw this one out at every opportunity, and also why no blogger (that we know of) has yet called the captain of Ireland “an arrogant, ignorant swaggering windbag” and “an absolute knob”, unlike some prominent print hacks
- Remember, it’s a bit of fun. We’re passionate about rugby and we know you are too, but before you start hammering the keys violently, take a deep breath and remember we like to keep the tone jovial and irreverent rather than academic and fusty. Yes, we like to poke fun at the crazy musings of some esteemed chums in the media, but try to take things in the spirit of gentle mockery rather than righteous indignation, which is probably how they were intended. Unless it’s about Conor Geo…
Thanks as always for reading and let’s keep the rugby debate and discussion going in the comments section in the best possible tone.
Whiff of Cordite
Whiff of Cordite 
Len
/ April 5, 2013Well said guys. It’s a pity you’ve had to take these steps but I’m sure I speak for all the long term readers an contributors when I say better this than you giving up on the blog altogether. Keep up the good work.
jojo
/ April 5, 2013Can I suggest that people try keep the comments shorter.
(do your own blog if you want to write a ten page essay)
And try not rehash other peoples points.
my 2 cents
Chogan (@Cillian_Hogan)
/ April 5, 2013I must say I quite enjoy a lot of the longer comments.
Connachtexile
/ April 6, 2013I think it depends on the content
Outis
/ April 5, 2013I read WoC everyday and always enjoy it, along with the comments until recently.
However this is my first ever post and I would like to use it to confirm the concern raised from WoC.
Keep up the good work though, these new features will be for the greater good… of rugby banter!
Buccaneer
/ April 5, 2013Here here! Unfortunately this is the interwebs and most discussion boards often descend into drivel unless moderated.
On a personal note, I thoroughly enjoy this blog as much for the humor as the analysis. I stumbled across it (and the Demented Mole!) just after RWC and both were a breath of honest fresh air. If anything, my enjoyment of and interest in Irish rugby has been enhanced over the last 18 months.
Keep up the great work lads
ORiordan
/ April 5, 2013Keep up the good work guys and I understand the reason why you have stepped up security as there has been some recent blatant off-topic sniping from some who appear to have their own agenda.
If you want to read some opinionated analysis in an informal and irreverent style, there is WoC.
If you want to read poorly written Munster fluffing, there is Conor George.
If you want to hear someone bigging up their clients, there is Frankie Sheahan.
Isn’t choice a wonderful thing!
DaveF
/ April 5, 2013This is a welcome move WOC – there was one particularly off-topic comment the other day which in itself, deserves these measures.
All of my friends who read this blog enjoy the comments section too so kudos for keeping it to a high standard of debate (a rarity for internet).
Red Mist
/ April 5, 2013Responsibillity abú lads!
@darraghconboy
/ April 5, 2013Absolute unadultered censorship! I demand to express my ill-advised, unresearched and sometimes plain wrong opinions in a shouty , ignorant tone. I also demand that every comment thread, regardless of topic, should descend into a rog vs sexton slanging match (with perhaps a Keith earls not a centre tangent). If my demands are not met I’m going to decamp to the Irish times comment section where I’m sure presence will be appreciated. Good days to youse sirs.
Connachtexile
/ April 6, 2013Here Here!
P.S. This is all Peter Willis’s fault!
contraflow
/ April 5, 2013Trolls ggggrrrrrrrr…..
[img]http://www.imgur.com/X23Z3p2.gif[/img]
contraflow
/ April 5, 2013Sorry gif insert didn’t work.
WM
/ April 5, 2013I live abroad and am always looking for interesting articles about rugby in Ireland and from around the world. The most interesting blog I have found is without doubt WOC followed by Demented Mole. Keep doing what you’re doing and thanks.
party damo
/ April 5, 2013Democracy died today, not with a bang but with a whimper, lol.
AoifeF
/ April 5, 2013Fair play lads, only stumbled across WoC at beginning of 6N, introduced my better half to it and he told me he enjoys comments just as much as your articles, so keep up good work lads! I’ve been spreading the WoC gospel to anyone who’ll listen 🙂
Leinsterlion
/ April 6, 2013Time for a coup d’etat at Cordite towers! Censoring the great unwashed is the first step towards holding the rugby world to ransom(by threatening to get Kidney a passport), while stoking a cat and laughing maniacally.
SteveO
/ April 6, 2013Stoking a cat sounds unpleasant.
Leinsterlion
/ April 6, 2013LMAO, I walked into that one.
damonh78
/ April 6, 2013Well said there definitely seems to be an increase in people nit picking entries for perceived agreivances. Some people really need to learn the difference between an academic research paper and a blig!!
Keep up the good work!!
Premier Warrior
/ April 7, 2013Jesus, between readers calling ye out for hypocrisy and Munster/Rog/Frankie proving ye wrong, it hasn’t been a great week for know-it-all boys on this site
johnthunder (@johnthunder)
/ April 7, 2013try livefyre.com or disqus.com to moderate… and also so that the best comments can be flagged, also does a good job of encouraging people to post as themselves as opposed anonymous and this helps trolls etc. g’wan!
Premier Warrior
/ April 7, 2013A brave stride forward or a way of only showing complimentary comments? (Like my last, reasonable, post, this probably won’t make it….)
whiffofcordite
/ April 8, 2013Does that answer your question?
Tomas Barrett
/ April 8, 2013I’m not sure if it’s the comments in this blog or the blog itself that has turned into a ‘whiny, trolling tone, even putting some readers off the blog’. I loved this blog, it was the first rugby blog I stumbled across shortly after I joined Twitter. I loved the different tone to the normal ramblings of sub-par journalists. It was written with great flair and avoided the propaganda of Thornley or the blindness of Farrelly. However lately it’s become a monotonous diatribe full of provincial bias. The ironic thing is your twitter comments and even the odd statements on the blog about putting the animosity behind us and rallying behind Ireland is nonsense as the lambasting Munster fans and Munster players get from this blog is beyond belief. Peter Willis wrote a great deal of white noise and it was trolling but the comments about cyber-bullying aren’t too far off the mark. Every chance to have digs at the ‘Liginds’ and their fans is taken with gusto and is generally devoid of humour relying on exclamation marks and over-used cliches. I recall after Munster beat Sarries you fell in love with LeinsterLions comment that was a bit drawn out about the mythology of Thomond Park for example. Rarely do you slate Leinster or Ulster to the same extent. It’s wearisome and I hope I haven’t fallen into a comment that is trolling. For that reason I have used my real name as I stand by what I have written here. I always keep coming back to this blog but by now it’s becoming less frequent simply due to the fact that every new post will have digs that are unwarranted. If you wish to raise questions about Munster or Ireland or Kidney look at Demented Mole. He always is eloquent and on song and despite being a Leinster fan he is positive and fair where it is warranted. I know to never expect provincial potshots from him.
whiffofcordite
/ April 9, 2013Thing is, Munster are just more interesting aren’t they?
Rich
/ April 8, 2013Fantastic Blog –
Would say wannabe bloggers are the scurge of any good blog, some of the ressponses are far too long – would suggest maybe 100 word max on reply?
And also – how many bloggers are you made up of? 2-3? I think the content is pretty consistant, would be hard to get critical – maybe a few polls – just to show how far off everyone elses opinion i am!!
Other than that – cracking site, i read it to get the deeper analysis that the Guscotts and Davies are incapable of giving – 2 bad examples i know, but they are PAID for their opinions……..REAL MONEY!!
whiffofcordite
/ April 9, 2013There are 2 of us – one is from Leinster and one is from Ulster, with a Munster heritage and a Munster wife. No Connacht blood though
Aoife
/ April 8, 2013Great blog and good move I think to try and keep the comments section good. If you’re not doing bland-o coverage you’re always going to offend somebody. I enjoy the irreverent style of the blog, it’s a breath of fresh air compared to the consensus journalism we seem to get from other sources. I’ve never seen anything offensive on the blog, just a few people who are over-sensitive…
I find the analysis really informative & it makes me all the more depressed with the crappy Sky commentary over the last 2 days….
Personally, wouldn’t be a fan of imposing a word limit on comments. Plenty of people have interesting things to say & people can skip over the comment if they wish.