The online edition of the Spectator will now see commenting on all of its articles once more.
We made the decision to remove article commenting at the end of the Fall 2007 semester due to severe SPAM attacks on our website. Unfortunately, due to restraints within the online section and the complexity of our Drupal content management system, we were not able to address the issue until recently. However, we now have strong anti-SPAM systems in place along with new controls against anonymous commenting. All commenters must now answer a security question which — ideally — will only be answerable by humans. We’re currently in our test week, so there still may be many wrinkles to iron out.
Here’s a bit from our web developer as well:
After days looking at the archives, I think it’s wise to ban all comments with “Cool site”, “Good site”, “Nice site” and “* syte [sic]”. Of note, however, is that because 30% of the SPAM was actually gibberish without any links or advertisements, I’m led to believe your site was actually attacked without aim for commercial gain. This differs from the rest of your SPAM, that while malignant, has a commercial aspects besides just causing harm. Most of this purely malignant SPAM was posted on 1/17/2008…
Comment away!
Meghan is writing the most intelligent, perceptive and poignant posts on this site–write on!
Said George K,
On April 15, 2008 at 12:40 am:
[…] unrelated note: Commenting has returned! However, we had some slip-ups. The new commenting policy will use a CAPTCHA system to help keep out […]
Said Elections, commenting and the Tibet opinion piece » The Editors Notes | SpecBlogs.com,
On April 15, 2008 at 1:16 am:
Comment and Spam without so much Spam in it!
Good Job!
Said mockfrog,
On April 15, 2008 at 10:10 am:
Commenting allows Alumni input sharing their views: students get real world interaction with Columbia Spectator leading the way. Good move!!!!!!!
Said Liquid Fusion,
On April 15, 2008 at 6:05 am: