[Imc-uk-useability] feature to introduce new comment display

[ionnek]

Hi,
i've done a second draft for a feature to introduce the new comments 
display:
http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/UkComments#Draft_2
best
ionnek

----draft 2-----

    abstract: You may notice we have changed the way comments to
    articles are displayed. If you want to know why and how, please read
    the full article.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Indymedia is an open publishing platform for alternative grassroots
    news. The comments functions allows everybody to correct or add to
    posts. Quite often, comments are used for quick discussions or
    rants, in a way that would be more suited for a discussion forum
    like libcom [i mean the former enrager]. Some comments seem to be
    designed to discourage, disinform and undermine activists.
    Constructive additions that correct or add to articles often get
    lost in wider debates. Some regional collectives have found it
    difficult to develop a local news site when articles immediately get
    hit with large numbers of bad comments.

    To solve this problem, we have introduced a feature that allows imc
    uk site admins to promote comments to "additions". A comment can now
    be manually "promoted" to an addition when it adds information or
    thoughtful criticism. We hope that displaying constructive and
    focussed comments underneath the articles will add to the quality of
    imc uk news. Additions will be displayed with their full text at the
    end of each posting. The titles of all other comments will be listed
    after the additions. Clicking on a title displays that comment along
    with all the others.

    Discriminatory or disruptive comments will continue to be hidden
    according to our editorial guidelines
    <http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/static/editorial.html>. We are
    working on a feature that allows users to access hidden comments.

Comment: I've tried to change the tone of the feature to something more 
positive - not starting by waving an index finger at pp ("this is not a 
forum"). but it still needs improvements...

Problem: Sometimes we have to "unpublish" some comments, for expl when 
peoples names and adresses are made public. This should be introduced in 
this feature as well.

Question: is it really necessary to make all hidden comments in the past 
accessible? I think that our guidelines are evolving, in the past, 
comments were hidden for other reasons than now. I think this dynamics 
should be reflected on the site by not making old hidden comments 
visible, but make a fresh start.