Mumbrella, which is a media industry journal has abandoned its comment threads. The article makes an interesting read. Some of the same issues that have concerned us over the years, but we have always come to a different conclusion.

https://mumbrella.com.au/mumbrella-will-no-longer-publish-comments-why-weve-made-the-call-643436

Interesting. I agree you have made the right decision Graham.

I had never heard of mumbrella, but now that I have, I wonder how much other freedom of expression has disappeared that I don't know about.

Pretty sad that any online media source does not allow comments.

At least one of last-chance commentators said that it meant goodbye from him; others will follow. You might as well stick to the Daily Rag if you can't find out what people other than the author think - or the ABC where only trained monkeys are allowed to comment. I watched what happened to "Mr. Jones" last night when he tried to tell the truth about Soviet Russia. Animal Farm got a guernsey in in the film, and the message was clear - history is repeating itself.

I did read the excuse written by the character who has closed down the Mumbrella comments. The smugness was sickening.

Hi Graham,

Thanks for the link.

The article did make interesting reading.
And it did raise issues with which most of us
are concerned about the "poisonous well of
uneducated opinion and name calling" for example.

But as you point out - Thankfully, the forum
has come to a different conclusion.

I can't help but wonder whether the fact that the
business was sold to a US based events company -
"Diversified Communications" in 2017 has something
to do with their current stance - especially with
their presidential elections being just around
the corner.

Foxy, in a democracy there is no such thing as uneducated opinion.

All opinions count, whether you like them or not.

There are indeed laws for some forms of speech, but it is a dangerous precedent when all authorship is not subject from public scrutiny.

Dear Chris,

I agree with you that's why I did make the point
that Thankfully Graham takes a different stance
to Mumbrella. He takes a more rational one.

And I also suggested the reason perhaps as to why
Mumbrella is taking the current stance due to the
US elections being just around the corner.

Chris, being in a democracy does not change the fact that there is such a thing as uneducated opinion. Many opinions are based on demonstrably false assumptions.
And yes, they do still count, to the detriment of us all.

Aidan, that is the challenge of each person's opinion.

Debate between all will, hopefully, deliver the right pragmatic policy outcome.

there are very few arguments that don't have some policy strengths or legitimate concerns.

Foxy, Aidan, you both make a very important point, with out either of you realising it.

You uneducated opinion you value so lowly is probably the most important opinion there is.

It is not the brain washed opinion that comes spewing out of our universities every year.

It is not the conforming opinion of the political class, following what ever is the current fashion.

No it is the opinion of people developed by years of experience in their community, & more likely to reflect the facts of life than will ever be produced by some expert or academic.

Yes some of it will be very wrong, like my lady, who would rather believe the global warming scam, than believe our scientists would lie to us for their private advantage, but it is more often right than the rubbish so often spilling out of the ivory towers of academia.

Covid 19 anyone? If ever there has been a greater miss use of power & authority, I'm damned if I can remember it.

Dear Hassie,

Yes perhaps the term that should have been used
instead of "uneducated" was the term - "Misinformed".
There is a difference between the two.

I’ve gotta ask Graham, why is that move of relevance to the common man?

Spontaneous comment is historically a new phenomena. There was a time when all comment was heavily vetted.

Maybe we’re becoming spoilt with choices.

Why do you judge their move with concern?

Dan