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 Linda Thomas
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Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

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SteveKelley.jpg
Steve Kelley wrote his final sports column for The Seattle Times, reflecting on his career highlights and the low lights of negative comments on almost any story posted online. "For the life of me, I don't know why we run comments at bottoms of people's stories," Kelley says. (Linda Thomas photo)

Seattle sports writer won't miss inane, nasty reader comments

February 3, 2013 @ 5:49 pm (Updated: 1:37 pm - 2/4/13 )

Anyone who writes for a general audience online gets public comments on their stories ranging from inane to idiotic, with occasional insight and intelligence. Usually referred to as trolls, Steve Kelley won't miss them one bit.

In his final column Sunday, The Seattle Times sports writer reflected on 30 years of friends, acts of kindness.

"As much as I've loved covering the games, what I'll remember most from my 30-plus years in Seattle sports will be the associations and enduring friendships, the silly gives and takes and the great off-the-field, away-from-the-camera acts of kindness I've been fortunate to witness," Kelley wrote.

As much as he loved writing about sports, he also grew tired of the reader comments on many of his columns. He described it in an interview on KIRO's Luke Burbank Show as a free-for-all where the level of discourse has become inane and nasty.

"Whatever you've achieved in a story gets drowned out by this chorus of idiots," says Kelley.

On Burbank's show Friday, Kelley talked about one of his favorite columns was about his wife's courageous battle with a brain tumor in 1991.

"I got negative feedback," Kelley says. "People writing that, ‘We don't want to know about your boring personal life."

That column published in 1991 would have been before websites made it easier for people to comment on stories online. It just takes a few clicks for people to show their ugly sides instantly through anonymous posts on stories.

Burbank says the comments show the "darkest part of the human soul."

"For the life of me, I don't know why we run comments at bottoms of people's stories," Kelley says.

Media organizations have tried many ways to get around online comments that attack the writer or the subject of a story.

Some have turned off comments entirely; others only allow posts through Facebook which is less anonymous. Generally "trolls" lose all their power when they have to show their real identity.

People who write anonymous, hurtful comments get satisfaction from knowing they've had some impact on others - perhaps the only measurable impact they'll have that day.

Although I deal with constructive/destructive comments every day, I never refer to my readers as "trolls" publicly or privately.

I'm grateful for people who click on this blog to read my stories. Do I cringe when I see personal attacks? Yes. But I support their free speech, as much as I believe in my own.

The tide of negative comments has a way of being washed over by some insightful, interesting, and challenging views. I see that all the time in conversations between blog readers here.

Sometimes the hateful statements aren't swept out to sea, and they can be exhausting to read. I question whether it's worth it too.

Kelley wants to know why people are so insulting online, considering most would never say the hurtful things they post online to someone's face or even as a phone message.

You're the experts on commenting. Do you have an answer for him?

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (21)


  • Add A Comment

  • soo purletiv wrote...
    @ Linda Thomas
    February 3, 2013 8:00 pm
    Yes I have an answer...

    Guys like Steve Kelley have a powerful "voice". Whether it be in print, radio, or television.

    Guys... ahem... and girls... like him have been basically unchecked for many years.

    They have been allowed to spout "THEIR" opinion, with little resistance.

    Sure, some trolls like the "CH's" in our info-age world are allowed to spout their crud. But, the comment posters usually put them in their place, or at least ignore them, without the help of any law or monitor.

    Sorry for the idiots who belittled Steve Kelley's wife and her struggles. But in reality, what was he looking for?

    He gives his opinion, albeit sports. But some take his opinions seriously and want to respond. For years without recourse.

    After being able to espound his thoughts un-checked by those who consume his paper(s)for decades, I find it humorous that he is somewhat irritated, that others may have a different opinion than him and want to "let him know how they feel"!

    Too bad he has such thin skin.

    I didn't read the articles about his wife. And I feel for him. But, since he made it public on his terms, why does he cry about the reaction?

    He could have just kept to his sports opinions and taken it like a..... (gender neutral) person!!!

    In case any one missed it: I despise those who want to post their opinion, yet leave no room for contradiction. If we could all challenge Kelley, article by article and face to face, than I MAY sympathise with him when he leaves certain personal articles... About his wife or other personal and close relationships.

    However, when he is allowed to post his opinions with the bullhorn he has been given.....

    Can he really cry, when us peons respond, contrary to what he holds dear to HIS heart as truth???...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dragonmeteor wrote...
    yes he can cry...
    February 5, 2013 12:08 am
    what part of "his wife has a brain tumor" does your tiny mind not understand. the fact that you pretty much back up the troll that posted about not wanting to hear about his boring personal life, goes to show how tough you really are. you and that troll obviously have no sympathy towards Kelly and his wife at all. and it has absolutley nothing to do with him being irritated at people's opinions. it is the fact that he couldnt believe how moronic someone can be when he writes about his wife having a brain tumor and they respond with a crude comment. Sort of like how you are moronic
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  • RnD_Fan wrote...
    Soo purletiv....
    February 6, 2013 6:52 am
    You make very VERY valid POINTS!

    I don't know of this 'Kelley' so his first/last impression on me is "a crybaby who wished he played sports."

    If you can't be an Athlete...

    Be an 'Athletic Supporter'

    Gender Neutral? Kelley puts out his opinion and in bringing his wife into it, he brought it on himself.

    Had he not mentioned it, it wouldn't have been discussed.

    He was looking for attention perhaps, and he got it

    While it wasn't Politically Correct

    It was Attention, and now he's begging for more by whimpering about it, and bringing it again to the forefront.

    Sad that instead of his accomplishments, he chose to make his last 'statements' a pity party.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    At least Steve Kelley READS reader comments.
    February 4, 2013 2:21 am
    As do you. .. As does David Boze.

    Regardless of commentary comment, however, there are others who (apparently) spew out whatever opinion strikes them a time of posting, regardless of accuracy or anything else, who then totally ignore reader reaction.

    Not that any of the KIRO (or 770) personalities need debate out posters, but complete indifference smacks a bit of elitist arrogence. Just an occasional acknowledgement that they even HAVE readers could make your writers a bit more human.

    At least, if they want to be.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    I'm not sure there is an occupation......
    February 4, 2013 8:44 am
    Where feedback isn't given, good or bad. The worst case of feedback is of course marriage and the insatiable to do lists.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Stevebo wrote...
    Anonimity always has a tendency to bring out the bad in some people.
    February 4, 2013 9:25 am
    I wish I had all the answers and reason for why people "troll" on the internet - which includes increasingly... news sites nowadays. It used to be that the word "troll" was applied primarily to message boards and chat forums.

    Some experts would probably say that people feel inherently insecure - and they feel that with anonimity, they can "voice" themselves on a public forum (such as mynorthwest.com)... and say hurtful and stupid things because of that anonimity.

    In the 2 decades + that I have been involved with online discussions, I have found that there can be some genuine discourse - but much of the time you have to learn to pick and choose the good vs. the refuse.

    It's unfortunate that Mr. Kelly felt that way about the online comments. I've been reading Mr. Kelly's commentaries for probably a good portion of his career. All I can offer is that times change... and soo purletiv does raise a point that I at least partially agree with - which is that the shift in "online" news has given us "peons" more of a voice to feel like we can be heard now too.

    Increasingly (ESPECIALLY with social media) news and information is not a one-sided presentation any longer. There are no longer bastions of power that control the news, such as The New York Times. Little start-up's (such as the once small Huffington Post) can become large... or a person can start a Facebook campaign that can go "viral" and become a huge voice.

    Mostly it sounds as if Mr. Kelly had a difficult time transitioning to a new environment.

    I'm always sad to see people be so horrible to other people online... but I can only control my own behavior... and I choose to try and be an asset to the online community when I can.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • nwhandy wrote...
    I agree to a point...
    February 4, 2013 10:11 am
    with some of the posters here. It is good to have a forum for discussion. I believe the complaint is not that people disagree with the columnist, but the way they express that disagreement. "I disagree with you, and here's why" is not a problem. "You are a blankety-blank idiot for having that opinion" is hateful and usually not welcomed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    I'm sure that this was a topic that resonated with you Linda!
    February 4, 2013 11:41 am
    You are by far the most active, and interactive, columnist in any blog or news site that I read, I am always impressed with your ability to keep level headed when responding to less-than-friendly comments.

    I can empathize with Mr. Kelly's POV but his tone comes off as rather bitter and ungracious. Not to say that he should appreciate being personally attacked, but he IS referring to his customers, and regardless of the content of the comments, they are the reason he drew a salary as a columnist.

    As for the digital tigers, I think that it's a manifestation of natural male (yes I think the meanies are mostly men) aggression that has no other societal outlet. In our modern world, almost every aspect of our lives are directed and managed to the Nth degree. From the morning commute, to the words we are allowed to use at work and even how we are allowed to think of each other; every action we take has been analyzed, discussed and legislated or mandated through popular opinion. There is no place for the male lizard brain to just go and safely succumb to its barbaric desires. An anonymous comments page provides an outlet for that aggression.

    I agree that a hosting site can manage comments through tactics that remove that anonymity, but I think they also cut off valid and useful comments because some people just don't want to have their real name attached to ANY comment because its just too easy for a nut to find out where you live, or a boss to find out you have a different political POV than them, or whatever the reason may be, there are some valid reasons to want to stay unknown as a commenter. When Dori started forcing all of his comments to Facebook, I cut back my comments 98% because I didn't need my neighbors hearing my political opinion because it's unpopular. Also, that mechanism seems to be really broken on MNW and comments get lost.

    I think that rather than try to stop ugly posts, MNW could create a more robust posting environment that would encourage more community and reduce the ugly posts. Implementing a reputation scheme where the community can "grade" comments, a viewable/searchable profile service, and the ability to track our own posts would perhaps give people more reason to care about the quality of posts and give a sense of belonging without blasting personal information on the Internet.

    Well there's my opinion and with that and $3.23 you can get a cup of coffee at Starbucks!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    Krazy Town
    February 4, 2013 5:36 pm
    That's a good post and I agree with your assessment of the male species.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Raymong wrote...
    Sentiment
    February 5, 2013 9:59 am
    I like your opinion here, it would be nice to have a civil conversation concerning view points and opinions of those with a bully pulit, and with each other. What ever the topic of discussion may be. Now concerning that $3.23 cup of coffee, Really!?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    even trolls see ads and spend money
    February 4, 2013 11:51 am
    mynw.com and the seattle times are businesses looking to make $. if providing a place for us anonymous trolls to come and make stupid comments in exchange for our clicks was bad for business they wouldn't do so. steve kelly shouldn't bellyache over the hand that feeds him, but instead view every snide comment as money funneling into his pay checks. even messiah 101 needs major blinds for his mom's basement, and ron provost may very well be driving a mercedes benz from mercedes benz of lynnwood.
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  • monkeyal wrote...
    Comments are best when brief,
    February 4, 2013 11:53 am
    to the point, illuminative with new and/or missing info from the original story, and when, as Bill O'Reilly likes to say, are "pithy".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    It couldn't possibly be related to the...
    February 4, 2013 12:11 pm
    inanity of the writer, could it? There's plenty of that going around on MNW.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Speaking of the ads
    February 4, 2013 12:20 pm
    What's the deal with Rachel Bell selling that hair growth tonic? She proposes it as a great Valentine's Day gift that men should buy for their wives or girlfriends. Uhhh, why not also include a case of Slim Fast and that smokers toothpaste? I'll stick with traditional gifts, thank you.
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