I have tested the site for an hour by now and with respect for my lack of knowledge of where the new site is heading, there is one thing I like to question.
I find it unclear, even a bit problematic, that comments are related to an individual release (album/disc). I accept that there are different ways of looking at or defining what a comment is. But in general terms my view is that a comment is a reaction to what has been written or said. A comment might be a statement, an opinion or simply a fact. A comment is often implied, right? So then a comment must have a (written) starting point. The relevant starting point for a comment seems to be a review. How can it possibly be anything else? If it starts with an album it will more be like a reaction to what I have heard myself. That’s pretty much a review, isn’t it? So the attributes to each album is more like “Site Reviews”, “Reader Reviews” and then you could/should have possibilities to comment on each such review.
If a comment on each album is allowed for more general free discussion or for Q&A’s, then we have… well, isn’t that a forum? Hmmm…. So the basic question that needs an answer is: what´s the purpose/content of “comments” as of today?
The removal of a general “forum” brings some structural issues I had not thought of myself. Perhaps it is best after all to keep a general forum for e free discussion and create this opportunity to comment on reviews, whether site or reader reviews, with a strict policy to the effect of making comments short and readable for those interested in facts and opinions on a specific album. The general forum would draw not wanted discussion away from each album.
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