XKCD Improving the Internet ... Yet Again 204
netbuzz writes "Comic creator Randall Monroe suggested in a recent xkcd strip that YouTube comments would be better — or, more precisely, less idiotic — if only those posting them were forced to hear their words read aloud first. Well, YouTube has gone and made this "audio preview" a reality, albeit an optional one. And, it's not the first time that xkcd has contributed to the betterment of the Internet, as those who are familiar with last year's "Internet census" and its use of a Hilbert curve may remember."
Interesting concept... (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm impressed! (Score:5, Insightful)
No good (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Interesting concept... (Score:5, Insightful)
Correction. The people who need this feature are likely to use it to get the computer to say naughty things to them. Especially if there is an option to have the voice be the woman with a British accent used on some GPS systems.
Re:Interesting concept... (Score:3, Insightful)
I have to ask... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Interesting concept... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I'm so torn... (Score:5, Insightful)
I believe most of us would agree that nothing from idle belongs on the front page.
Re:Interesting concept... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:No good (Score:1, Insightful)
Most people on the planet are stupid mindless sheep who follow the head sheep no matter where they go. They think they're living happy lives with their facebook pages with 40 friends (38 of whom they never actually talk to) who all tell them they're so great and cool just so they get the same response back. They'll instantly attack someone the instant something negative is said about Apple/PS3/XBox/Google/Anything not because the comments are wrong but because they feel it attacks their chosen irrational faith in whatever pathetic ''thing' they mindlessly worship.
Re:No good (Score:2, Insightful)
I stand corrected, suxzorz does in fact get parsed and spoken.... That's sad...
Re:Interesting concept... (Score:3, Insightful)
I think Slashdot's approach with the quick-reply AJAXified version is fine: preview and cancel, with two useless buttons that nobody uses. And after you preview, you still usually have to wait about 15 minutes to post the comment because you type at a rate of more than two words per hour.
Audio previews should really wipe out all but the true extremes - only the most determined idiots and geniuses will actually submit their comments. Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen.