Comments on: The Case for a User Registration System http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/ The Life and Times of Geof F. Morris Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:52:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Geof F. Morris's Indiana Jones School of Management http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-3/#comment-7673 Geof F. Morris's Indiana Jones School of Management Tue, 02 May 2006 20:08:36 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7673 <strong>Unethical!</strong> Looks like Twelve Two Two Fondue has run into one of my big fears: fake comments from regular visitors. That sucks. Again … told ya so. ... Unethical!

Looks like Twelve Two Two Fondue has run into one of my big fears: fake comments from regular visitors. That sucks. Again … told ya so.

…

]]> By: GFMorris.org http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-3/#comment-7672 GFMorris.org Tue, 06 Dec 2005 03:54:19 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7672 <strong>Personal Comment Aggregation</strong> I’ve talked about personal comment aggregation before, and I want to discuss what I see as the problem(s) to be solved and what solutions I see. Please feel free to criticize my idea—it’s still nascent in my head. Here are the prob... Personal Comment Aggregation

I’ve talked about personal comment aggregation before, and I want to discuss what I see as the problem(s) to be solved and what solutions I see. Please feel free to criticize my idea—it’s still nascent in my head.
Here are the prob…

]]> By: Geof’s Relentless Kvetching About WordPress » Roles and Capabilities http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-3/#comment-7671 Geof’s Relentless Kvetching About WordPress » Roles and Capabilities Fri, 02 Dec 2005 16:45:32 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7671 [...] The new roles and capabilities make a lot of sense, but I’m not sure I like the term “subscriber”. Subscribing comes with a lot of concepts. I probably would have just called it “user”. And yes, this is coming close to the ideal I have in mind for how a user system should work. [...] [...] The new roles and capabilities make a lot of sense, but I’m not sure I like the term “subscriber”. Subscribing comes with a lot of concepts. I probably would have just called it “user”. And yes, this is coming close to the ideal I have in mind for how a user system should work. [...]

]]> By: Geof's Relentless Kvetching About WordPress http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-3/#comment-7670 Geof's Relentless Kvetching About WordPress Thu, 22 Sep 2005 15:22:07 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7670 <strong>Let’s See OpenID!</strong> Sure, I’ve yapped about WP supporting OpenID before, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t do it again, eh? Six Apart’s TypeKey service is now serving as an OpenID server, and I’m quite hopeful that WordPress will start sup... Let’s See OpenID!

Sure, I’ve yapped about WP supporting OpenID before, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t do it again, eh? Six Apart’s TypeKey service is now serving as an OpenID server, and I’m quite hopeful that WordPress will start sup…

]]> By: The Indiana Jones School of Management http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-2/#comment-7669 The Indiana Jones School of Management Wed, 15 Jun 2005 15:49:39 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7669 <strong>You Say You Want a Revolution? Well, You Know …</strong> The below is an open letter to Matt Mullenweg. You wrote: Bug reports (feed type A does B wrong) are far more useful than calls for a feed revolution. Okay, you addressesed specific bugs in the comments, Matt. But let’s also face facts here:... You Say You Want a Revolution? Well, You Know …

The below is an open letter to Matt Mullenweg.
You wrote:
Bug reports (feed type A does B wrong) are far more useful than calls for a feed revolution.
Okay, you addressesed specific bugs in the comments, Matt. But let’s also face facts here:…

]]> By: The Indiana Jones School of Management http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-2/#comment-7668 The Indiana Jones School of Management Thu, 02 Jun 2005 19:29:00 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7668 <strong>More on WordPress User Levels</strong> Lara and I were talking last night about WordPress user levels, what they do, etc. First, let me give some relevant linkage, and then I’ll go on and finish my little diatribe on this, complete with suggestions. The Case for a User Registrati... More on WordPress User Levels

Lara and I were talking last night about WordPress user levels, what they do, etc. First, let me give some relevant linkage, and then I’ll go on and finish my little diatribe on this, complete with suggestions.

The Case for a User Registrati…

]]> By: tmechanic http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-2/#comment-7667 tmechanic Sun, 24 Apr 2005 07:42:01 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7667 Thanks for the very interesting read. I learned a few things. Thanks for the very interesting read. I learned a few things.

]]> By: GFMorris.com http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-2/#comment-7666 GFMorris.com Fri, 25 Feb 2005 03:05:59 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7666 <strong>Eating My Own Dog Food</strong> Okay, it's time to eat my own dog food. I've been openly campaigning for user-registration systems for logware for almost a year, and now that WordPress has an option for users to register themselves ... so I'm going to enable it. I'm even going ... Eating My Own Dog Food

Okay, it’s time to eat my own dog food. I’ve been openly campaigning for user-registration systems for logware for almost a year, and now that WordPress has an option for users to register themselves … so I’m going to enable it. I’m even going …

]]> By: The Indiana Jones School of Management http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-2/#comment-7665 The Indiana Jones School of Management Tue, 19 Oct 2004 19:50:03 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7665 <strong>Reputation Matters</strong> From Why Web Publishers Fear a Little Sharing: "We use registration only where it makes sense to do so from a reader's perspective," explains Adrian Holovaty, lead developer of World Online, the Web division of The Lawrence Journal-World newspap... Reputation Matters
From Why Web Publishers Fear a Little Sharing:

“We use registration only where it makes sense to do so from a reader’s perspective,” explains Adrian Holovaty, lead developer of World Online, the Web division of The Lawrence Journal-World newspap…

]]> By: MaThIbUs http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-2/#comment-7664 MaThIbUs Tue, 22 Jun 2004 18:38:10 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7664 So everybody should go and install <a href="http://www.scriptygoddess.com/archives/2004/06/03/wp-subscribe-to-comments/">this WP plugin</a>? So everybody should go and install this WP plugin?

]]> By: The Indiana Jones School of Management http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-2/#comment-7650 The Indiana Jones School of Management Wed, 16 Jun 2004 16:34:21 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7650 <strong>WP User Levels</strong> Posting for my nickel knowledge as well as yours---assuming that you care about WordPress, of course: Explanation of WP User Levels [from WordPress Wiki]. Principle: each user can edit/modify posts and options for other users whose level is lesser t... WP User Levels
Posting for my nickel knowledge as well as yours—assuming that you care about WordPress, of course: Explanation of WP User Levels [from WordPress Wiki].

Principle: each user can edit/modify posts and options for other users whose level is lesser t…

]]> By: The Indiana Jones School of Management http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-2/#comment-7662 The Indiana Jones School of Management Wed, 02 Jun 2004 13:04:46 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7662 <strong>I Told You So</strong> I love to say that I told you so. I Told You So
I love to say that I told you so.

]]> By: The Indiana Jones School of Management http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-2/#comment-7661 The Indiana Jones School of Management Thu, 27 May 2004 16:04:20 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7661 <strong>Using WP Post Slugs for Safe URL's</strong> Thoughts on how to keep permalinks intact in WP while editing titles. Using WP Post Slugs for Safe URL’s
Thoughts on how to keep permalinks intact in WP while editing titles.

]]> By: The Indiana Jones School of Management http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-2/#comment-7663 The Indiana Jones School of Management Wed, 26 May 2004 19:39:49 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7663 <strong>Another Plus for the User-Reg Idea</strong> Okay, so I'm pimping my arguments for a Weblog user registration system again, but I think I have good reason to be doing so. Dave Shea is now using what he calls a reply legend. First it checks if the comment author is me. If so, it returns the... Another Plus for the User-Reg Idea
Okay, so I’m pimping my arguments for a Weblog user registration system again, but I think I have good reason to be doing so.

Dave Shea is now using what he calls a reply legend.

First it checks if the comment author is me. If so, it returns the…

]]> By: The Indiana Jones School of Management http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-1/#comment-7660 The Indiana Jones School of Management Mon, 10 May 2004 17:21:45 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7660 <strong>Moderate the URL, not the Comment</strong> Paul Freeman suggests moderating the URL, not the comment. I think that he has a point; in a situation where you have something like my suggested comment_reg system---which again, before you get your panties in a wad, is about so much more than simp... Moderate the URL, not the Comment
Paul Freeman suggests moderating the URL, not the comment.

I think that he has a point; in a situation where you have something like my suggested comment_reg system—which again, before you get your panties in a wad, is about so much more than simp…

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-1/#comment-7659 Geof F. Morris Tue, 20 Apr 2004 13:31:16 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7659 PGP-signing is certainly an option for many things, certainly. PGP's never gotten traction in the marketplace, though, despite many folks' best efforts. We'll see on that front. As for email auth: that's probably the best system. PGP-signing is certainly an option for many things, certainly. PGP’s never gotten traction in the marketplace, though, despite many folks’ best efforts. We’ll see on that front.

As for email auth: that’s probably the best system.

]]> By: skippy http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-1/#comment-7658 skippy Tue, 20 Apr 2004 02:08:59 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7658 One of the problems with per-user comment notification is that most blogs don't support threaded comments (ie: commenting on a comment); instead all comments belong to the top-level post. As such, notifying the poster is appropriate. If commenters want to monitor the thread of the conversation, I think RSS syndication is the tool they should be exploring. I think any robust blog package should provide a selection of registration options for people. One that I would strongly advocate (and contribute to the development of) is an email-based authentication system, as is used in the <a href="http://www.phpbb.com">phpBB</a> registration process. If a user supplied an email address with their comment, the blog emails that address with a time-limited authorization URL. If the commenter receives the email and follows the link, the blog immediately releases that comment from the moderation queue. If the time lapses without the commenter following their specific authorization link, then the blog owner can moderate the post as they see fit, as normal. This could be extended in various ways to monitor the IP address(es) used by commenters. If the name, email address and URI (or some server-supplied cookie, perhaps) all jibe with the values on record in the database <strong>and</strong> the IP address has been used before with those same credentials, moderation is bypassed. I think a modest barrier to entry for new commenters is okay, provided it's nothing onerous like "signing up" to a site that lacks a clearly defined privacy policy. Once a commenter has "proven" that they're reliable, the system ought to get the hell out of their way and let them comment. Another option would be PGP or GPG keys for "signing" comments. This would ensure that the poster is who they claim to be, because the PGP signature is the hash of the content encrypted by the poster's private key (I think -- public key cryptography still confuses me a bit). I've seen a few musings from <a href="http://www.philringnalda.com/">Phil Ringnalda</a> about this, and I think it has some real value for those savvy enough to be using PGP to begin with. Perhaps PGP-signed comments could be edited by the key holder, even. One of the problems with per-user comment notification is that most blogs don’t support threaded comments (ie: commenting on a comment); instead all comments belong to the top-level post. As such, notifying the poster is appropriate. If commenters want to monitor the thread of the conversation, I think RSS syndication is the tool they should be exploring.

I think any robust blog package should provide a selection of registration options for people. One that I would strongly advocate (and contribute to the development of) is an email-based authentication system, as is used in the phpBB registration process. If a user supplied an email address with their comment, the blog emails that address with a time-limited authorization URL. If the commenter receives the email and follows the link, the blog immediately releases that comment from the moderation queue. If the time lapses without the commenter following their specific authorization link, then the blog owner can moderate the post as they see fit, as normal.

This could be extended in various ways to monitor the IP address(es) used by commenters. If the name, email address and URI (or some server-supplied cookie, perhaps) all jibe with the values on record in the database and the IP address has been used before with those same credentials, moderation is bypassed.

I think a modest barrier to entry for new commenters is okay, provided it’s nothing onerous like “signing up” to a site that lacks a clearly defined privacy policy. Once a commenter has “proven” that they’re reliable, the system ought to get the hell out of their way and let them comment.

Another option would be PGP or GPG keys for “signing” comments. This would ensure that the poster is who they claim to be, because the PGP signature is the hash of the content encrypted by the poster’s private key (I think — public key cryptography still confuses me a bit). I’ve seen a few musings from Phil Ringnalda about this, and I think it has some real value for those savvy enough to be using PGP to begin with.

Perhaps PGP-signed comments could be edited by the key holder, even.

]]> By: TechGnome's World http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-1/#comment-7657 TechGnome's World Thu, 15 Apr 2004 18:13:11 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7657 <strong>Something to think about</strong> While spellunking through the forums of WordPress I came across this post which linked to Geof's posting regarding comment registration on blogs. At first I was a bit incensed. Then I read it. Good thing I did, I might have gone off half-cocked. At... Something to think about
While spellunking through the forums of WordPress I came across this post which linked to Geof’s posting regarding comment registration on blogs. At first I was a bit incensed. Then I read it. Good thing I did, I might have gone off half-cocked. At…

]]> By: Josiah Ritchie http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-1/#comment-7654 Josiah Ritchie Tue, 13 Apr 2004 21:16:52 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7654 Excellent analysis of many problems. Thanks! I hadn't thought about how perverse it was that I get an email when I comment on my blog. It is very annoying, but I've been ignoring it. I REALLY want to be able to block users with the name Prilosec, Viagra, etc. Just blocking by name alone would be a good start. Another thought, hide email address and then authorize the post using the email address as a unique identifier. Anyway, I'll be stopping back to see what else you have to say. Excellent analysis of many problems. Thanks! I hadn’t thought about how perverse it was that I get an email when I comment on my blog. It is very annoying, but I’ve been ignoring it.

I REALLY want to be able to block users with the name Prilosec, Viagra, etc. Just blocking by name alone would be a good start.

Another thought, hide email address and then authorize the post using the email address as a unique identifier. Anyway, I’ll be stopping back to see what else you have to say.

]]> By: Amy http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-1/#comment-7653 Amy Mon, 12 Apr 2004 19:25:36 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7653 The only place 'full support' has in my life is in my bra. The only place ‘full support’ has in my life is in my bra.

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-1/#comment-7656 Geof F. Morris Mon, 12 Apr 2004 19:22:44 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7656 I'm still pushing on that 2%, but that's just me. I know how you feel about support! :lol: I’m still pushing on that 2%, but that’s just me. I know how you feel about support! :lol:

]]> By: Amy http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-1/#comment-7655 Amy Mon, 12 Apr 2004 19:20:42 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7655 heheheheheh. Thanks for the props, dearie. You know, I've heard the incrementing suggestion several times, and I have to admit that I wish I'd written it into Quarto. For cat.net, it's really not that necessary, because I personally know about 90% of the people who comment there. For other sites [include very long disclaimer about how I'm about 98% likely never to release Quarto] where the possibility of retractions-for-evil-purposes is higher, it WOULD be useful. Come to think of it, it wouldn't be THAT hard. Just one little auto-increment field in the db, and an extra variable in the comment-display function. You know, if it weren't for my friends, I don't think I'd ever write any code. ...Whether or not that is a compliment is up for debate. :D heheheheheh. Thanks for the props, dearie.

You know, I’ve heard the incrementing suggestion several times, and I have to admit that I wish I’d written it into Quarto. For cat.net, it’s really not that necessary, because I personally know about 90% of the people who comment there. For other sites [include very long disclaimer about how I'm about 98% likely never to release Quarto] where the possibility of retractions-for-evil-purposes is higher, it WOULD be useful.

Come to think of it, it wouldn’t be THAT hard. Just one little auto-increment field in the db, and an extra variable in the comment-display function.

You know, if it weren’t for my friends, I don’t think I’d ever write any code.

…Whether or not that is a compliment is up for debate. :D

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-1/#comment-7652 Geof F. Morris Mon, 12 Apr 2004 18:05:52 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7652 Yeah, I think that a gradually-increasing system is the way to go [if this isn't clear in the text]. I think that the design of such a system isn't too bad. Execution probably has headaches that I've not considered yet, but to be honest, a lot of the ground has been plowed between logware and WebBBS's. Yeah, I think that a gradually-increasing system is the way to go [if this isn't clear in the text]. I think that the design of such a system isn’t too bad. Execution probably has headaches that I’ve not considered yet, but to be honest, a lot of the ground has been plowed between logware and WebBBS’s.

]]> By: Alex http://gfmorris.com/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/comment-page-1/#comment-7651 Alex Mon, 12 Apr 2004 18:01:23 +0000 http://gfmorris.com/archives/2004/04/12/the-case-for-a-comment-registration-system/#comment-7651 I think you make some very good points, I particularly like the idea of being able to put a little [verified] note next to registered comments. This doesn't hurt occasional users, gives extra weight to registered commenters and gives you a good place to start changing settings if things get out of hand on your site. I think you make some very good points, I particularly like the idea of being able to put a little [verified] note next to registered comments. This doesn’t hurt occasional users, gives extra weight to registered commenters and gives you a good place to start changing settings if things get out of hand on your site.

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