General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: An internet truth regarding sexist/misogynist comments [View all]Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)I'm not suggesting it would be the most pristine site in the world. Presentable merely means a sit not obviously overrun with poo-flinging mouthbreathers of the sort you find at RedState, StormFront, MRA sites, or, often the comments section of unmoderated 'news' sites.
Again, it's not about 'you' or even 'me'. It's about the overall reputation, and by extension, value of the site in shaping society in even the smallest ways. When you've got a lot of idiotic comments, that no one who regularly posts at the site sees because they've got the idiots on 'ignore' or have, as you suggest, merely 'not responded to them' or 'navigated away', then the average potential new user is going to say 'wow, this place is full of idiots', and more likely than not, not stick around and read articles that actually have value.
Agreement and disagreement is fine, and a fact of online life. Continuing, ongoing abuse should not be 'LIFE' though. And it's not 'disagreement'.