Here is some background information about why people are having trouble commenting and/or seeing comments. Please, please, p.l.e.a.s.e, book mark this post and share it because some people do not read the site updates and just go into the comments when the solutions and/or explanations are being provided.
Many people are complaining about not being able to see the totality of comments. Others are complaining their comments are not refreshing with the page. There appears to be a very simple explanation and easy solution for this issue.
CTH 2.0 does not have any tracking software initiated to recognize the user in the comment system. THERE ARE NO COOKIES deployed to track you. There is no system in place by CTH to monitor you or recognize you. This is part of our current privacy position.
What that means is you must initiate a process where YOU request to be recognized in the community. We are not asking your permission to recognize you (ie. cookies) as with 99 percent of websites; you must intentionally engage the commenting system to say you are expressly desiring of recognition.
How do you achieve this status? When you fill out the comment box there is a place for your user name, email address and then it asks you if you wish the site to: “Save my name, email and website in this browser for the next time I comment.” It is a checkbox.
If you check that box [√] you are, in essence, applying a cookie to yourself. You will then be recognized by the commenting software system and see the totality of the commenting conversation. You will see all comments.
If you do not check that box [ ] you are not requesting to be recognized again, and you are dropping an isolated comment into the system. You likely will not see the totality of the comments. You will see only comments attributed to your comment or reply.
Think of it like walking up to the conversation on a porch:
If you affirmatively check [“save my name, email and website in this browser for the next time I comment”] you are saying to the audience, I have something to say and I am sticking around to hear all the other voices.
If you do not affirmatively check [“save my name, email and website in this browser for the next time I comment”] you are saying to the audience, I have something to say, but I am not sticking around to join the conversation or hear other voices.
It appears the software is designed such that if you are not affirming intent, the commenting system doesn’t anticipate your engagement in all the other comments. Ergo other comments do not appear and/or they are not populated in your experience.
This is a privacy and tracking issue. CTH 2.0, as an independent website, is currently not tracking or applying any host generated tracking data of the participants.
Most websites do apply some version of tracking via “cookies” to make your engagement part of an active tracking system (make user experience easier); and/or use those cookies to deliver you targeted advertising. CTH 2.0 has no advertising and no need for a system of targeting.
Due to the scale of emails complaining about this specific issue (approximately 400 today alone), the tech team is recommending that I switch to Disqus for the commenting program. However, if we do that: (A) the same company that targeted us, Automattic, owns Disqus; and (B) without a doubt Disqus tracks users for tracking and targeting.
Some people do not care if they are comment tracked; others don’t care if Disqus is used because they are familiar with it from other websites. However, for me that is an option of last resort and I will not deploy the free version of Disqus because I don’t want to open another door where a third party can start monitoring the conversation. Especially when Automattic has already used the targeting of the original CTH to shut down our voice.
So, with all of that said. Keep this solution in mind. If you want to see all the comments, then check the [box] that says: “save my name, email and website in this browser for the next time I comment”, and hopefully that will eliminate the frustration you are encountering. Fingers crossed.
All other commenting solutions encompass some form of server/host recognition and tracking of the user in the comments section. The current system allows you to make that active decision; any other comment system will make that decision without your input.
Lastly, on the email notifications. Again, we explain that currently we do not have an active email notification system for new posts in place. The reason for the delay is again a matter of privacy. An email auto-notification system is done by a third-party provider.
[…] One of our priorities right now is establishing an email notification system where you can subscribe to automatic notifications of new posts etc. As with almost all systems of this type (there are many) it involves the use of a third party email transmission process. Y’all are aware that privacy is a CTH priority, so we are being very careful about vetting the service and setting up this notification system to protect CTH users.
CTH does not compile user information, does not engage in the manufacture of processes that assemble lists of users or any user data. We are working to ensure we do not end up creating an external list of subscribers that would be vulnerable to exploitation. Your privacy in all matters related to CTH engagement is my priority. (read more)
We received well over 100 emails today alone asking us: “where is the email notification system”? The short answer is: we are working on it as a #1 priority.
Be of good cheer, all will be ok.
We cherish you.
Live your best life…. Remember, it’s the only one you will ever have.
Love to all,
~ Sundance
#FightForTrump pic.twitter.com/HyTPyO45e3
— TheLastRefuge (@TheLastRefuge2) December 6, 2020
MAGA
Great. Read Sundance’s article, check the damned box, and NO to Disqus.
Couldn’t agree more.
test
2nd test
Thank you for this. I made two comments and wondered what happened.
Well I am going to try that ow ,than on to the rally.Thank you Sundance.
Well that worked great,and no third party anything.
test
test
This is a test. I have the box checked.
Here’s my cookie.
Test
Make America Great Again
RiggedElection!
Testing
Test
Thank you for this post. My bad for not reading updates and just going to main stories. My apologies.
China Joe got into a fight with a puppy, and broke his ankle. True story
Some of the tales that dude spins are freaking weird. Lots of pools, and showers, and swimming naked, etc. I wonder if he named that dog Corn Pop 2.0. Anybody know?
He named it Major.
President Trump should give the puppy, The presidential medal of freedom , for beatin up chynajoe
The one that gets me freaked is his story of the kids rubbing his hairy legs.
Never in my life have I thought about rubbing anyone’s hairy legs. That’s some bizzaro type stuff to say.
That story was gag inducing.
China Joe added additional information: He grabbed the dog’s tail while he (Joe) was naked from the shower. Who does this?
Next he will say that he injured himself by licking a frozen lamp post.
China Joe thought that frozen lampost was Kamala’s hairy legs.
“When you fill out the comment box there is a place for your user name, email address and then it asks you if you wish the site to: “Save my name, email and website in this browser for the next time I comment.” It is a checkbox.
If you check that box [√] you are, in essence, applying a cookie to yourself. You will then be recognized by the commenting software system and see the totality of the commenting conversation. You will see all comments.”
I did that the very first day and it has worked flawlessly for me on everything, which include.
LG G7 tablet/ LG G4 phone/ Samsung Galaxy Tab A tablet Brave/Firefox/Chrome/Tor browsers
… and an ancient Dell w/ Windoz XP/ Opera & Firefox browsers (no lectures, please)
Like and lol.
Thank you, Sundance! MAGA!
#FightForTrump
One man’s opinion: An emphatic No! to disqus.
People need to be patient. Everything will be worked out.
Agree! I do not like disqus.
jim: agreed: not a fan of disqus
No to disqus
“An emphatic No! to disqus.”
DITTO here
From one Michigander to another. Completely agree.
100% agree – no to Disqus;
Thank you for this update; is the notification bell linked into the same process that people used on the old CTH 1.0 for email notifications?
I never used the email notification part, but did find the notification bell a handy tool in order to follow up on comments that became conversations, especially when asking a question, made it easy to find when someone answered.
.
test
I just saw this in the other “update” thread. Clicked “save my email etc.” box and VOILA!!! its working fine. Hoorah!!!!!! Now I just have to figure out the avitar thingy….
Go to Gravatar. The original username and email you used there will work here. If you need to change, you can do so afterward through them.
I never had a WP account and now I do not want to give them my info. Maybe I am stuck with a symbol until something else comes along…
You should be able to create a free email account for the express purpose of making a WP account to get a gravatar.
The only catch would be you would need to enter that email here to comment instead of the primary email that I’m assuming you’re using currently.
Thank you for all you do for us.
God bless PDJT
checking the box. Thanks Sundance.
Its Always Something Simple. Works.
Thank you Sundance.
I am happy for your efforts at ensuring privacy of info. Continue keeping us informee!
Test
Anyone know how to install my own Avatar picture?
https://en.gravatar.com/
You’ll need to create a WP account (or log in to an existing one) and then upload an image to use.
After doing that, even though you don’t sign in to WP here, your avatar should follow you here as long as you enter that same email here that you did when logging into gravatar via a WP account.
Thanks for the help Zachary Navaree!
When I tried that WP said RedBallExpress was already in use. I have used it for years on the CTH.
WP asked for my password and I am sure I never created one.
Wonder if Bill Barr works there?
I believe, but could be wrong, that you could create a gmail account (or any free email you have access to) for the express purpose of setting up a WP account to establish a gravatar.
You could then use that email here at the treehouse so you have a custom avatar.
I also believe that the display name isn’t tied to the email entered here in any way, so you may be able to retain your name while using that new email here to comment.
It worked! I could read all the previous posts on other threads.
Thanks a ton!
Test#3
Here’s my cookie too. I deeply LOVE this site…
Amen I fight for our great President Trump. He will prevail.
I’d post an embedded image of a cookie jar if I could =P
Hopefully embedded images/videos/twitter posts aren’t too far off in the future for the treehouse.
Also, I know I’m in no position to influence decisions but I sincerely hope we don’t end up with disqus. Commenting as it is (after this fix anyway) is fine as it is in my opinion.
I do hope that eventually there will be some way to quickly and easily locate replies to my comments as we used to be able to do via the WP account functionality, but I’d rather live without it than be subject to the dictates of some 3rd party.
Comment for Sundance: I want to voice my appreciation for your willingness to stand out from the pack and provide a non-intrusive web experience. CTH is hands down the most elegant news / community site in existence today and I’m proud to have it listed as number one on my bookmarks list.
Keep up the excellent work. Your instincts are right on!
Like.
Thank you Sundance for making security a priority.
#FightForTrump
test
test
Ha!! A cookie for you and one for me!
Thank you.
Thank you.
I’m leaving this comment so I’ll see all comments and will be remembered by CTH.
Test
test
MagaVotesMatter.com Please contact President Trump now to save our Republic.
Testing to see all comments.
Test
Thank you, for all you have done for us and Godspeed.
Thanks
?
The last few days have been flawless and don’t give anyone the opportunity to control what you all have built.
I love the Treehouse and I love my president! Checking the box so I can read all comments.
Testing
Testing
Checked.
Well, that worked like a dream. So good to be back to normal!
Thanks so much!
Thank you for the detailed explanation, and for giving so much time and energy to keep this place going in the face of such opposition.
Thank you Sundance and the moderators for your great work!
Test
Thank you Sundance!