Yesterday I made a few comments on an article. I thought my comments were temperate although they were in some measure in disagreement with the author. The subject was interesting to me. Perhaps my status as a novice inhibits my facility for distinguishing between the banal and the interesting. I find today that the article has disappeared.
My confusion stems from the disappearance. While the comments contained some lively debate, I saw nothing worse than that which occurs in the normal course of sibling rivalry. Some of the opinions were expressed in a juvenile manner while others were nicely reasoned, but the free exchange of ideas in the marketplace always intrigues me. I understand that one may delete an article here. I can see some valid reasons for doing so such as dismay at the quality of the article after a period of reflection or the belated discovery of innacuracy of flawed reasoning. Neither of these conditions obtained.
My question is simple: Why would someone delete an article that stimulated such a lively discussion? As I understand it, the accrual of Gather points depends, in part, on the number of comments and ratings that an article receives. It would seem to me that an article that resulted in such a degree of controversy and such a large number of comments ought to remain. The author benefits from the points earned and the community at large benefits from the lively and detailed explication of different points of view.
Perhaps I'm ignorant of the local customs. I'd like to believe I'm open minded and would welcome the opinions of others more seasoned than I.
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 10
Ivy, I never thought of that. I believe that publication elsewhere is a definite possibility. I'm sure that the author profited from the comments, perhaps not so much from mine, but there were many very perceptive members in the discussion.
We all mumble around in gather offending some with honest feedback. As an artist I prefer honest feedback to...nice...pretty....ICK. If you put your work out to be reviewed don't be surprised if someone doesn't agree.
Email the writer and communicate with them directly.
Gayle
--The author decided to delete it. Perhaps they regretted writing the article in the first place or they took it down for revisions. I have seen authors self-delete articles when they didn't like the way the conversation was going or if they were called out for plagiarism.
--Someone didn't like the content of the article and flagged it, removing it from view until it is reviewed by Gather. Sometimes I think some people have nothing better to do but look for reasons to flag articles.
--The author left or was kicked off the site. If the author did not delete all of their material prior to this happening, some of their content *might* remain but is difficult to find unless you search for it. You won't be able to access it via their namespace. If you ever go back and read older material and wonder why the comments make no sense, it may be because many of them are missing due to members leaving or losing their accounts. While I understand that some people feel the need to leave and move on to other things, I do appreciate those that leave their comments and articles here when they go.
Because I only comment and don't publish articles, I don't like when an article disappears because my comments (and everyone else's) disappear along with it. Gather has talked in the past about possibly of changing the system so that the comments stay with the person who made them even if the article goes away. I hope they implement this in the future.
Then again, there are people on here who make personal comments in an article, realize that they've done a stupid thing, and whisk down the article before or just as it's flagged for harassment.
The local custom to which you referred contains erratic and thin-skinned behavior, doesn't it?
Upon my arrival they attempted to my make my person disappear. Astonishing.
Like you, I was ignorant of the local customs. I have learned much through intensive study. Let me know, Otis le Chat Lord of Death and Destruction and Master of Cat Food, if you have any questions about these humans I might answer. I have learned quite a bit.