D: All Things Digital Conferences
There are a few reasons for the preponderance of negative responses on the nytimes site. First, there’s very little filtering except for outrageously offensive comments or language. Second, there is a large pool of dedicated detractors who are negative because the New York Times represents something to them, separate from what the story’s about.
— Anil Dash, in discussion with Nick Bilton of the New York Times about, among other things, people who leave negative comments on Web sites