May 9, 2000
Overheard:
By AARON ELSTEIN
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL INTERACTIVE EDITION
Silicon Investor Gets Moderated Boards
One of the chronic problems with Internet message boards is that discussions that start about stocks frequently
deteriorate into spats of insults and name-calling.
In an effort to minimize such conflicts and create some
oversight of discussions, Silicon Investor is allowing its members to create message boards from which they can exclude anyone they want from posting.
The new boards were made available to members starting
last week and are quickly gaining popularity -- dozens have been created. The boards are designed to "help keep threads on-topic and relevant to the author's philosophy or intent," says Jill Munden, a Silicon Investor spokeswoman.
Silicon Investor's move to keep its boards from veering
off into online shouting matches comes at a time when Raging Bull (www.ragingbull.com), another popular stock-chat site is trying to rein in some of the more obnoxious chatter on its message boards.
Raging Bull, which is owned in part by CMGI, the Andover,
Mass., Internet-investment firm, recently increased the number of staff who respond to members' complaints of insulting or obscene messages, which are prohibited. Such messages are usually deleted and the posters face suspension or a permanent ban from using the site.
While the new Silicon Investor boards allow some oversight of its usually free-for-all chat forums, the creators don't get to control what's posted and cannot delete messages. But already, they are sparking some concern in a world where any sort of restrictions on speech are frowned upon.
Some members of Silicon Investor, owned by Go2Net in Seattle, fear that people who wish to post something a moderated board's ringleader doesn't want to hear, such as legitimate criticism about stocks, will be shut out. The boards could also make it easier for unscrupulous stock promoters to ply their trade -- hyping stocks and duping unsuspecting investors.
"My concern is the moderated boards will be filled with
cheerleaders and others with the same point of view," says Jack Hartmann, a frequent Silicon Investor poster from North Aurora, Ill. Mr. Hartmann says "these developments will be worth watching."
However, Ms. Munden says, moderated boards will be clearly identified. Investors who have concerns about the fairness of the discussions could still avoid those boards and stick to the site's regular discussion forums, where any paying member can post messages and debate issues until their hearts are content.
The moderated boards already have generated support forums on Silicon Investor. Two of the most popular message boards on
Silicon Investor are "Mediation for the Banned" and "To Be or Not To Be," where members can discuss what it's like to be kicked off a moderated board. |
