Hello! I was wondering if there is a way to hide the comments that appear after news stories (and now reviews)? As a long time visitor to your site I've noticed that the comments never add anything to the news/reviews and seems like a place that just ends up with a handful of people encouraging argumentative behavior. This is just my opinion, but the site was a much more enjoyable place before comments came became standard after every article. For some people I think the comments system might actually be a form of an addiction as it's not uncommon to see the exact same people commenting on many of the articles on a daily basis, even those that don't seem to interest the person(s) for any reason but to alienate others with troll-like behavior. I think it'll be even more of a problem now that you've allowed people to comment on reviews. I admire you guys for wanting to expose yourselves to even higher levels of criticism and/or hate, but I personally don't want to be a part of it. :) I understand that I could just -not- look at them, but to be honest it's kind of hard not to. An option to hide all comments (if there isn't one already) would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. **Added** I admit that this request could be viewed as strange to a lot of people, but if you take into consideration that I'm the kind of person that liked it better when game consoles only played games and when you inserted a cartridge or CD into the system it would just simply work it isn't too strange anymore for me to want my video game news/reviews site to simply show me the news/reviews, unlike websites like Kotaku and Destructoid, which have become a breeding ground for unpleasant people to get behind a podium and spew arbitrary information that nobody asked for. I've always viewed Gamespot as having a more professional demeanor that provides objective news and reviews and that's why I love you guys so much. :)
[QUOTE="dark_surge"]Hello! I understand that I could just -not- look at them, but to be honest it's kind of hard not to. An option to hide all comments (if there isn't one already) would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Okay, what's to stop you from un-hiding the comments if it's hard not to look?:lol:
Good point. :) I was actually thinking about it a little yesterday and I suggest a "Disable comments" option in the settings menu. It'd be the best of both worlds. People who feel the urge to comment on everything can still do so, and those who want to view Gamespot as more of an online newspaper can without having to look at the extra clutter. Everybody's happy, and Gamespot doesn't lose traffic from those who only come here to use it as more of a social networking site or their online diary.
Honestly, there have been many times where I've read a GS news article, and skipped the comments entirely...as soon as I finished reading the article, I went to a different webpage.
Just don't look at them. The comments section is always full of bickering man children playing a game of internet slap fight from the comfort of mom's basement. Best to pretend it simply isn't there and be thankful these wastes of space are too occupied with that to be on the forums!
I completely understand. I've been doing the same for pretty much every article for the past 1-2 months. :) I liken it to the carvings in a bathroom stall. You're already there so you might as well read them, but in the end it's just a lot of nonsense you've seen a hundred other times in other stalls and you often leave feeling like you've lost a little of your humanity and would have been better off staring at your feet and playing the theme song for Cheers in your head. ....or something like that. Gamespot is the grocery store in which those stalls reside. Only the stall walls are literally everywhere now and all I want is a pound of hamburger and some potatoes. It's a nightmare scenario, I know. I've outgrown the need to express my opinion in a space where my opinion doesn't/shouldn't matter, and rightfully so. Those reviews are for your opinion to be known, not other people's. The comments section of websites are an exercise in frustration and futility and all this is why I'm requesting this small feature.
I'll take your guys' advice. Thanks, topsemag55 and RandoIph. At least I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. **Added** Still, I'm wondering if there's any way to implement such an option. Is there anybody who can tell me if it's even possible?
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