I really enjoy being transparent, which is why I want my blog, your blog and all forums including Zillow, Redfin and the like to be just that, transparent. I think it is time to pin the ip address to every comment and I’m challenging everyone to do jus that.
I’m on the march today for that very plugin.
UPDATE: Donovan whipped this up in a matter of a millisecond- hat tip! Be sure to check out Newblogger.net while you’re there, it’s great stuff!
This works like a charm!
You can use the following PHP to display the comment author’s IP address:
<?php comment_author_IP(); ?>Just insert this code anywhere in the comment loop in your comments.php file.
I added this code directly after the
<?php comment_author_link() ?>and enclosed it in parenthesis like this:
(<?php comment_author_IP(); ?>)
David G from Zillow.
August 17, 2007 at 9:54 am
After attracting some ridiculously stupid trolls on curbed.com yesterday, I couldn’t agree more with your sentiment here, BR. I must say though that I prefer a social solution to this problem – IP’s are too easily masked.
B. R.
August 17, 2007 at 10:26 am
I think both are required. ip & social identification especially in forums & blogs. The social takes time for a consumer to grow loyal to your brand. An ip address- who cares unless you have something to hide.
Lani
August 17, 2007 at 11:14 am
I think this is a good idea because there are a few companies that survive on injecting negative PR on blogs through “anonymous” commenters or commenters with fake names or false links.
In the spirit of transparency, please install that plugin on my page (since you are my php genius) when you get it because the people who make the rounds will be easily called out.
Sorry to the people who comment anonymously; feel free to email the blog host directly and tell them your feelings about conversing without the IP- the host can always copy and paste your comment for you. But, chances are that the Megatrons of Blogging (negative PR spinsters) will simply fall off. And that’s a good thing.
B. R.
August 17, 2007 at 11:31 am
I think this is a good idea for political blogs as well after 2002 2004 2006 and now 08 election cycles. It would be nice to have a way of knowing more accurately who/from where/with what possible motives the comment is being made.
Forums must do this and include a social mechanism that further protects the true and natural flow of a conversation. Comments that come complete with a link to their site are less concerning unless the site linked is a junk site with no content- this is challenge that the big media giant zillow could solve for the masses in the quest for true transparency.
John Mackey at whole foods is a great example of why all forum of online communication must be properly vetted.
Donovan
August 17, 2007 at 11:51 am
I appreciate the link love, thanks!