The Herald Sun explains its decision to close comments on AFL Women’s stories
You might have noticed a change on the Herald Sun website when reading our AFL Women’s stories. Here’s why we’ve listened to clubs, players and the AFLW community by blocking comments.
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You might have noticed something different.
The Herald Sun encourages AFL readers to have their say and leave comments on our website.
It generates great debate, humour and it’s a brilliant way to interact with our passionate readers.
But, sadly, we don’t enjoy the same interplay with our AFL Women’s coverage.
Comments are no longer available on Herald Sun AFLW stories — and haven’t been since pre-season.
We have closed them deliberately.
The measure was taken because of the constant trolling, harassment and disgraceful commentary by some members of our community.
It has always confused me why people go out of their way to attack others – in this case athletes, and occasionally, the journalist(s) covering the sport and players’ stories.
If you don’t like something, no one is forcing you to read, or watch, or engage.
Some of the comments that our athletes are subjected to are simply too vile to publish.
This explains why the privilege of commenting on AFLW stories has been removed.
It’s just that – a privilege, not a right.
A privilege that unfortunately due to the actions of some has now been denied to all of our readers.
“The least offensive of the comments runs to the tune of ‘get back in the kitchen’, and the worst cannot be repeated they are so objectionable,” Herald Sun head of sport Matt Kitchin said.
“It makes the environment so unpleasant that it makes perfect sense that readers wouldn’t want to engage with the stories.
“Players, commentators, fans and clubs have all appealed to the Herald Sun to shut off the comments.
“We’ve heard them.
“After reading screeds of vile posts by readers — one story contained almost 300 comments of a grossly sexist tone, which were moderated out of publication — the Herald Sun has chosen to close reader feedback on AFLW reports except in rare circumstances.”
There are the usual boring posts such as “get back in the kitchen”, “AFL is a man’s game”, and the time-honoured “my kid’s Under-10s team plays a better standard than this”.
They also stray into much uglier territory.
Some take time out of their day to question whether trolls even exist, and whether commentary surrounding negativity is all just a big conspiracy.
Trust me, we’ve heard and read them all. You’re not original.
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This is no joke, no made-up fantasy concocted by the media or AFLW players to further an agenda.
Why would anyone interested in reading about AFLW want to scroll to the end of the story and be subjected to that diatribe?
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So, in the interest of those readers – those who support our female athletes and their endeavour to be the best – we’ve made the call.
No more.
It’s like the schoolyard. A select few go and ruin it for everyone.
But until things improve, everyone loses the privilege to go outside and play.
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Originally published as The Herald Sun explains its decision to close comments on AFL Women’s stories