I get on there 4 or 5 times a week and have noticed something the last few months that has probably been there a while and I never noticed. The reporting from what I gather is center left, nothing that could be seen as strictly a liberal paper. But if you go to their comments section it's almost a complete reversal of what you get on this site. 9 out of 10 comments are as far right as you can possibly get, and they all think everyone is out to get them. Obama is mentioned in any article and its constant insults, if a piece on Sarah Palin is issued talking about one of her 100 misteps, and its constant 'oh the libs are scared of her now, look at them attack her!' Worse thing yet, they all report your posts no matter how polite and G rated you are, I've gone through at least 10 myself. Anyone else notice the readers of the Chron are overwhelming crazy right wingers, who for some reason continuously comment on Chron's articles, even though they all talk about how much they hate it?
I think that, by and large, newspaper comment sections are the cesspools of the Internet. At least we get memes from 4chan. It's the easiest route for what I assume is, by and large, an older audience that is only on that website because it's the paper they're familiar with. They aren't too great at the Internet and they're going to gravitate toward their paper's comments. They don't have a desire to seek out vigorous political discourse on sites like, oh, the Clutchfans BBS.
I swear I read a thread somewhere about people being paid by corporations to infiltrate large message boards and discreetly advertise their products. I don't think its far fetched that something similar is happening with the conservative agenda. All corners of the internet you see people spewing Obama hate like its their job. How many of these folks do you think are paid to do just that?
I agree that newspaper websites, as well as internet news websites, have cesspools as message boards. I also agree that the Chron is a cesspool of a newspaper. I've been paying $30 a month for Wed-Sun service and I've seen the Chron turn into complete shiiiiite in the last 12 years. Time to cancel the subscription. I'll read it online if I feel the need, and stay out of the message boards!
The Chron.com commenters provide some of the greatest unintentional lulz I have ever seen. Highly recommended reading.
There could be a story about a kitten being rescued from a tree and those posters would turn it into an "Obama is a SOCIALIST!!!!!11" fest. Some really weird people post there. Weirder than here. And that's saying something.
Oh by far, every single video is an argument, ranging from Bebier to gay marriage to 1488. The funny part is most of the arguments don't relate to the video itself.
I was thinking most intelligent people have noticed what I have. It does almost seem like it must be some of these people's jobs to get online and bash Obama because of the hot weather article, or that Sarah Palin doesn't know about Paul Revere's ride.
