There’s a new craze in town and everyone is doing it. They’re doing the comment.

It’s not too hard. For this specific type of comment, you just sit and type a reaction to a story.

I’ve commented lots. Sometimes I try to be funny. Sometimes I’m serious or even mean.

I’ve also read lots of comments.

The best comments are the unexpectedly absurd, or the comments that turn out to be wildly popular and spark debate that takes on a life of its own.

Remember the DEN story ‘Man Exposes Himself at AJ’s’?

If you don’t, the man in question turned out to be a stray barcrawler who interrupted some girls having a nice dinner. You can probably gather what happened next from the headline.

Anyway, that story was wildly popular if the number of comments is any sort of measure.

Since the time I began writing this column, there was one fresh comment on that story, which is pretty impressive considering the story itself ran March 5.

The comments may even be more popular than the story at this point, with commenters rabidly attacking the previous or sticking up for the dissenter who left their opinion three or four comments back. I’m not quite sure how to categorize conversations that happen on wildly popular stories.

I think it’s hilarious that commenters try to outwit each other; it seems like they truly believe that because they understand the story and comment, they are a little closer to the story itself and somehow become part of the story. I have to admit that I am guilty of this.

I’m also guilty of not commenting about the story itself. I comment on the ideas the story gives me; not so much about what the actual story is about. It’s a shame how nasty some of the comments, especially on dennews.com can get.

The student reporters are not professionals, admittedly. But they are working on it and have the courage to put material out for people to read, for good or ill.

There’s a pretty big debate as to whether or not commenters should have to leave their real name. I don’t necessarily believe that they should.

Anonymity is perhaps the best part of commenting as far as I’m concerned; it allows commenters to be much more honest.

Unfortunately, commenters are more than honest. Some are just downright brutal.

Oh well, though.

It takes time for good writers to develop their skills. In my opinion it’s totally unfair to bash people who create: writers or otherwise.

Just keep in mind that the best comments are ones that discuss the stories. Not the comments that belittle and rip apart.

That said, I know that I will get some flack for this article, but that’s alright. Believe it or not, negative comments sometimes can be beneficial for the writer.

They set sort of a bar: if I can make this article good enough to not get any bashings, I’ve just about done my job.

Thomas Stevens can be reached at

581-7942 or at denopinions@gmail.com.