Not every page needs a comment bar!

Typical uses of comment bars

Comment bars have (currently) a clear function on some pages.

  • Business pages: A comment section is a place for people to indicate their personal experiences and opinions.
  • User pages: A comment section facilitates a user-to-user conversation.

What's typically discouraged in the comment bar

But, sometimes editors leave comments that would be more useful to others if they were instead added directly to the page.

  • Fact changes: Different hours, change of menu, etc.
  • Requests for updates and more information, or comments along the line of "Somebody should add XYZ"

And of course:

  • Opinions are fine in the main text, too. They're encouraged! (See #8 of Wiki Welcome page.)

Pros

The comment bar has several benefits to the wiki.

  • The largest impact "benefit" is the low barrier to editing or opening an account - new users readily and easily add comments. It dramatically increases participation in the wiki, despite making a bit of a mess.
  • The comment bar provides an easily recognizable metaphor for interacting with the wiki. Folks understand what a "comment" is. It's quick and easy. Almost everyone who begins to edit the wiki starts out by first making a comment somewhere.
  • It is a clear way to distinguish facts from opinions (especially when people wish to voice 'negative, hurtful or ill-thought out comments)
  • Comments are often interesting to read and it's easy to see them on the Recent Changes page.

Cons

The comment bar has several disadvantages to the wiki.

  • Readability - pages with a large amount of comments are very difficult to get through.
  • Disempowerment - New users can mistakenly believe that their contributions should ONLY go in the comments section, believing the main content to be the exclusive domain of "someone else".
  • Lack of accountability - people can leave a negative, hurtful, or ill-thought-out comment and then never be heard from again.
  • Many comments left can be products of trolls or generally junk, or even simply non-informative (for example, see the "fact changes" line above as typically discouraged)
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