This blog started 2,435 posts ago as a way for me to hype a new book. I admit it. Soulless promotion. At the time I was still sitting in the House of Commons, the US economy was starting to roll over, the housing market there was a mess, the Harper government was playing with 0%-down, 40-year mortgages and few people were prepared for a 55% stock market plunge that would take place months later in the midst of the 2008 election campaign. (In which I was returned to the high office of private citizen.)
Since then I’ve written the equivalent of 32 books here, or almost two million words. Readership has gone from Dorothy and Bandit to 6.5 million visits and over a hundred million page views a year. Posts grew from one every few days to five times a week, then six and, a couple of months ago, to seven. The damn thing never closes now.
The blog’s evolved into a form of daily history, then. The book promotion is long gone (who’s got time for new tomes with this nonsense taking place?). The site has remained stripped of advertising, but it does contain a link to my day job, plus my weekend one. (Blog dogs get free sprinkles at the General Store, by the way.) No other attempt has been made to monetize what happens here, despite a slew of juicy proposals which regularly flow past me.
Meanwhile, over 440,000 comments have been posted. On a typical day there are 150 to 200 of them, and web traffic reports consistently show about 1% of the people who come here to sip at the well actually leave some words of their own. From Day One I chose a moderated format – so no comment is posted without it being approved after sitting in a queue. Trashed, deleted comments go into a special file which will be published after my death. Or maybe sooner.
Throughout the day I grab a few minutes to review what people have written, check the links they post and decide if it’s okay, or too trashy, tasteless or libelous to publish. As you can judge for yourself, some people take the time to offer useful comments. Others use the blog and its now-large audience to spew. As this happens, blog bullies emerge – shrill, argumentative, extreme voices using their cover of anonymity to belittle anyone who disagrees, stifling debate.
Seems to me this is how sites become corrupted, useless, irrelevant and unworthy of continuing. The steerage section fills up with people full of hate – against banks or immigrants, for example, governments or anyone unlike them. It’s loud, ugly and incessant. The goal is to make reasonable people with other views flee, so their opinion will prevail. Many public sites have succumbed to this disease, their owners turning a blind eye because traffic means clicks and impressions and, ultimately, revenues. Telling their readers and users to bug off is bad business.
Fortunately, there are no revenues here. No income stream. No profits to protect. So why should there be compromise?
Soon a significant number of posts, and the bullies behind them, will be punted from this blog. So get used to fewer being published. While we’re at it, maybe the whole section should be nuked.
Got a comment on that?
528 comments ↓
FIRST
I only ever read comments you’ve responded to. So I doubt I’ll even read this.
Political Correctness = Procedural Control
Dealers choice..
Just a lurker dropping in to support this decision. The comment section has been absolutely abysmal for a while due to the ‘noisemakers’.
Yep, do it. Life’s too short.
Yes that would be a great thing to do. Thank you
You’ve had a great tolerance so far Garth. There is some valuable information in the comments, but the quality seems to ebb and flow. Have any of these comments ever changed your views?
Bill McBride of the calculated risk blog (www.calculatedriskblog.com) speaks about the ebb and flow of comments on calculated risk in this bloomberg podcast. (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2016-09-01/interview-with-bill-mcbride-masters-in-business-audio) It’s worth noting that one of his blog dogs became his co-host…
Well said, fully understood and as always respected.
Your name and reputation is here. Whatever you decide to do regarding any comments, etc is 100% up to you.
First!! I did it I am first!
Sometimes I come just for the comments, while other times I skip them all together. There’s some good discussions down here, but it depends on the topic I guess.
Please keep the comments, but go ahead and punt the useless ones. This is a wonderful blog and should not be degraded by fools (well, except maybe Greater Fools) :D)
Scrub the comment section altogether. I never read it.
Lets get rid of comments section.
Great post, I hope to see less noise from the obvious low life’s who constantly hijack these comments for their own agenda.
First!!! Oh YEAH BABY!!! Yeah!!!
Comment moderation is hard and thankless work, but it’s essential if a truly inclusive community is to grow. Thanks for your work!
Most of the comments add no value to the blog.
Please kill the comments section before you decide to go dark. See if you can manage the nonsense first and if that doesn’t work revoke privileges.
#HowToDealWithBullies
https://youtu.be/_yRJOX1fppQ
Are firsts still allowed?
Why is there no comments or mention of the major news from the Yvr real estate situation regards the huge amounts of tax fraud and foreign capital $$ laundering ???
Seems to me like this has had quite a significant impact on the local housing market and would be relevant to this blog and it’s history of reporting housing issues ???
More and more Chinese cases target property in Canada | Vancouver Sun
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/more-and-more-chinese-cases-target-property-in-b-c-say-lawyers
Vancouver real estate speculators taking advantage of loopholes and lax oversight – The Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/out-of-the-shadows/article31802994/
Punt away but keep the comments section, please and thanks.
Some of your responses are priceless
Some comments are suprisingly good, notwithstanding.
I’m an anarchist at heart – soooo NUKE it baby
I used to read the comments, and then got tired of all the nonsense on there. There is only the odd comment that adds any value to the discussion. I come here for your great insight, common sense and BS cutting…First time commenter, long time reader! Go Nuclear!!
This blog has positively changed my view on investing and living. Not sure what I would do without my daily GF fix!
Woohoo Punt away… clearly the wrong 1% are posting.
Nothing but deafening applause from the steerage section. ‘Bout time!
And this…..
CRA to begin review of B.C. real estate speculators
The B.C. government urged the CRA to track down tax cheats and toughen up its rules after a Globe investigation s…
http://www.bnn.ca/1.565924.1473777506
No problem whatsoever. A lot of it is inane drivel from individuals who seem to be a complete waste of carbon and oxygen.
I was going to write ‘first!’, but decided against it.
Love reading your blog each day, although I must agree, some of the comments are total trash. I do find the race to first can be comical when they’re 14th done the line.
Appreciate the lack of ads and have developed a trust for your intellect and sense of humour. I do, incidentally, plan on using you some time in the near future for financial guidance; as I’m approaching near end of a career.
Can’t help it……..FIRST!
Do what you want. I trust your judgment.
NUKE IT!
Nuke them.
I, personally, seldom read them, anyway.
First
Give 1 warning! Get rid of the garbage
Deleted?
irrelevant
I scan the comments section for italicized text on the rare occasion I actually look. If you can’t be bothered to respond to it then it’s likely I don’t care much about it either. I think this is the first comment I’ve ever posted here after reading the blog since 2009. Thanks for the free advice. It’s been worth far more than I’ve paid.
Why even have a comments section? Seems like you get a lot of heartache from it. How many ppl actually read the comments section anyhow?
I say nuke it
And here is another Dumb-ass,, “DUH ,didn`t see it coming” moment… This is from one year ago,, Ian Young saw it coming but nobody would believe it,,I mean,, just a few Chinese dudes buying Vancouver houses.. http://www.scmp.com/comment/blogs/article/1883085/immigration-mega-fraud-rich-chinese-immigrants-canada-who-dont-really
No comment
I read your blog often. Agree/disagree is irrelevant. I do learn, both from you and “some” comments. It’s yours so do what you do and ban whomever you wish.
obviously, there will be a zillion comments today, and many DELETEDs.
you set yourself up for that, Garth.
my 2 cents today is that it has got pretty bad. I used to enjoy the blog, as ever, and always glance through the comments. we used to get 100+, with 200 on a hot topic (usually the impact of Asians in Vancouver real estate), with interesting comments and relevant tos and fros, not to mention added free advice on occasion. you could even post some question and get a seemingly informed response.
now it’s mostly garbage, FIRST!, and digging up someone’s quote from yesterday. I don’t even word search Smoking Man for a quick laugh (the man is priceless) because I can’t be bothered with that section of the site anymore.
If someone does go through each and one of them, then more DELETED is indeed the way to go. arbitrary? to an extent, but nothing’s really free.
speaking of free, Garth’s advice on income splitting and using TFSAs/RRSPs between spouses and/or to reduce income not too long ago was pure gold.
Love your blog and love most of the comments, good or bad. But it’s your thing and you get to decide on the rules! (I won’t be sad if you delete those silly “First!” comments though…)
I don’d mean to throw anybody under the bus, but this must be about you Smoky.
People have freedom of expression, but it doesn’t apply everywhere. This blog is a private enterprise. This blog doesn’t owe anybody anything. Nobody has a right to have to be published.
The tenor of the comments section should generally be productive and positive.
It should not be painful to read the comments. Reading the comments should add to the experience of the column, not detract from it.
Exercise whatever level of heavy-handedness required to achieve that goal.
If its not well written, grammatically correct in the general sense, and if it doesn’t contribute to a mature adult discussion – kibosh it. This includes one-word posts of “First!” etc. There is also no need to apologize for such an editorial approach either.
Long overdue Garth
About time. Likely most of us are looking for useful, concise information. I am always amazed how broad your sources are. So often we have perused the same info and I appreciate your take on these articles.. Please keep on improving this site, it is so relevant..
Nuke it!
Please.
Seriously though, I am a big believer in free speech even when it is twisted and messed up. The risk of where that line is drawn is what i fear… Today’s hate riddled diatribe becomes tomorrow’s politically incorrect jest.
It does create a lot of flotsam to wade through though. I think your scruples are close enough to mine that I feel I am not missing anything of value. Thanks for making a wake for the rest of us to evade the worst of it.
Firstly, punt the bullies – we will accept you using your discretion. Secondly, keep up the good work – some are seeing the light.
Later dude, Bandit et al ….
Furst
I’ve read your blog six days a week for seven odd years, religiously. It’s been an education as well as great entertainment, and when it’s late a little spasm of worry runs through me, indicating some form of mild addictive ingredient at work. I’ve also read your book, early on, and attended a seminar you held here in Calgary some four years ago or so. All fantastic stuff. And I tried to get my mother to hand over her finances to you some two years ago but I gather she balked when the time came to sign on the dotted line.
Having said all that I rarely read a line of comments as sifting through the garbage for something half as informative as your daily offerings is a waste of my semi-valuable time.
Keep doing what you’re doing, Garth, it’s greatly appreciated, and the comments just wouldn’t be missed. In total agreement about the hiding behind anonymity nature of trolls dragging public sites into lowbrow trash bin.
These low interest rate’s are sure helping the Multi’s.Bayer is buying Monsanto for $66 Billion cash. These low interest rate’s are going to destroy the working people . http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKCN11J1PD
I come to the blog for your perspective.
Stay for the insults and tin foiling of the fedoras.
These comments are nothing compared to the drivel on the CBC comment sections.
Anonymity is the issue.
Not fair you and your crew are the only ones sticking your necks out.
I have read for a couple years now. You are a great writer and humerous. I don’t agree with everything and that’only fair. I only wish real names were used so people and trolls didn’t have to hide behind the curtains. Most of what they say is BS and a waist of reding and time.
Yes, please axe most of the comments section. Use disqus or another comment tool to weed out the terrible ones, and promote the truly insightful ones like Reddit. Thanks Garth!
if you delete the comment section the wretchedly unhappy will go back to cbc.ca/news where they can hangout and their ‘spew’ be appreciated.
I was addicted to the comments section in the past (a love/hate thing), but I haven’t had the time or energy since my son was born (he’s a peach, but cries non-stop from midnight to four in the morning…every morning!)
Desperate times call for desperate measures: do any of the blog dawgs/blog bitches have a remedy or cure for this midnight madness? Breastfeeding is already enough of a chore…but these sleepless nights are getting the best of me. Thank God he’s an adorable angel by day though
I just pop in the steerage section looking for the W.C. Never can remember where it is. Down the hall, first door on the left, right? Seems you have been loathesome of the comment section since BPOM snuck in here and took a dump in the lobby on the carpet. Still can’t believe you let him get that far under your skin Gartho. As for the comment section in general, this blog is your ship, steer her to the waters you like. I find a few commentators worth reading, Smoking Man for instance (I might be fan #12, been here that long), as well as those that shuffle through the humdrums of life with the occasional nugget of wisdom thrown in (you know who you are).
Shut it down.
I beilive that I am a colourful unpredictable, funny and sad at times poster. But I never attack a person back insipe of vitriol hate that comes my way at times.
I like to drink and post, sometimes I’m so drunk I have no idea what I tumbed on the phone. I’m surprised as anyone the next day when I read it. I always give Garth the heads when I’m on one these. You will see some deletes.
I do despise liberalism with a passion, and yeah it shows.
However with a few drunken exceptions I never cross the line. Or I don’t think I do.
Garth if you think I’m doing a disservice here, just let me know.
It might be worth using Disqus for this purpose: https://disqus.com. I have no affiliation with them but I’ve seen it used successfully on other sites. Specifically: http://awealthofcommonsense.com. Granted the readership there is much smaller, but I have a feeling moderating is made much easier when someone has to create an account to post. I’m certain there are other companies that provide the same service, Disqus is just the one I know of.
I think it is interesting to see different points of view in the comments but am also glad that the over the top comments are weeded out.
Bye bye Smokey and that useless Freedom First!
I have never commented here before but regularly read the blog and a large proportion of the comments. Thank you to the proprietor for an ad-free venue and for moderating the comments.
I hope that the comments section will not disappear as I do find some of the content to be informative and the varied points of view can be interesting and entertaining. However, there is also a huge amount of nonsense and bleating which contributes little or nothing. Declining to post the crazies and those who go off on irrelevant tangents (no need to delete, just don’t give them a platform) would be an improvement in my opinion.
I never read these anyway… Shut em down
Great. I have had to leave a few sites where the conversation got ridiculous, sprinkled with a few good comments that became hard to find amongst the trash talking. Ban away.
An issue may be multiple aliases from some of the a users, so the process is not easy, but it will be appreciated by those that assemble here for a better purpose.
It’s up to you which comments you decide to publish. My only request is that you be aware that some of the “negative” comments are responses to assertions/opinions which have been placed in the main blog post. It’s not fair to post a controversial opinion and then not to allow readers to attempt to refute it. Many of the sites you alluded to above saw significant declines in traffic after they enacted overreaching censorship.
With that said, I’d still read the blog if you disabled comments altogether. It’s not a huge deal. However, it’s worth pointing out that some people post really interesting links and it would be a shame silence than alongside the “bullies”.
Perhaps introduce GT’s ‘grading’ system for acceptable posting etiquette, say 0-3.
That way people will know if they’re close to getting ‘punted’, as you say.
‘1’ = one more notch down and you’re out (final warning)
‘2-3’ = acceptable/useful contribution
‘0’ = deleted (for…a month/year/forever/till RE bottoms?)
Hi Garth
You must get sick of curating this stuff. My b/s included.
Consider Disqus or other plugins for better automation. (Disqus has integrated comment flagging and opt-out for ads for non-profit sites). Or maybe your webmaster has some g-whiz stuff that could make your life easier.
~ If we are performing repetitive tasks on a computer, we are using them incorrectly ~
Have a great day.
I’d be interested to know how many people read Garth’s daily blog posting but do not visit the comment section at all. I don’t mean the 99% who don’t comment, but how many don’t even bother open up the comment section.
That would be a telling statistic.
I find the comments quite useful. A lot of the dogs usually have decent things to say and have answered some questions that I have had.
It’s also good for “on the ground” intel about what is happening in certain west coast housing markets.
I agree with the censoring at times and I think that you are much more reasonable than the CBC. When I used to post on CBC a good 50% of my comments would be deleted and most of the time all I did was say (in a respectful way) that I disagreed with Justin Trudeau.
The comments are valuable and a lot of us regulars have gotten to know each other virtually and look out for comments by certain people.
I wish you good luck on your goal. As an all in investor in 7 Canadian banks I enjoy reading how others really invest (actually having skin in the game)as compared to a basement dwelling Know it all.
People will disagree how I invest but it’s my money and it has worked for years.If someone shows me a 20 year plan that works better I will listen with interest.
I thought the point of this blog was free thinking? Opinionated as the comment section is, why should there be a collective mindset?
Sure, attacking other viewpoints can get nasty, but it brings out the misguided or those that wish to be pigheaded. Who’s problem is that?
Debate is healthy, even the heated stuff. Some who post here are quite astute. Others, lets not go there.
It’s a process. Ignorance can be helped while stupidity has no known cure.
For what it’s worth even the educated crowd get it wrong from time to time and use excuses to drown out their bad judgment. Funny how that is?
Really appreciate your insights and views Garth and I absolutely agree that many entries in the comments section are simply people using it as a forum to spew their rants!
Love the discussions that are interesting but I would have to agree that you likely have much better things to do with your time than to sort through the irrelevant and random thoughts that are often the majority of the comments submitted most days.
Well, again it is your blog to do as you please with, same as the guest when you added Doug and Ryan or whatever.
I personally like the comment section although I don’t read all the posts. They very in content. I also like being able to post, usually for my own enjoyment. I try and follow the rules but I have got in trouble from time to time when I stepped out of line and I think that’s fair. Unfortunately there isn’t a way to delete your own post once you realize you crossed the line so moderation is a good idea.
Occasionally I get lots of feedback on my comments but not usually when I post as “nonplused”, usually when I post something funny. I think “NASA Space Intercept” was my best work judging on the feedback (Beelzebub was responding to the Fed’s misdirected prayers back in 2008. Yes I’ve been following the blog that long. Sad, really.)
I’ve bought and read 2 of your books (Greater Fool and Money Road), and implemented much of your advice. I bought a motorcycle, got a dog, stayed loyal to my wife, hired a financial guy (although you don’t like him much, but he is fee based, not commission!), and followed the rule of 90 as best I can. I wasn’t very diversified but my advisor is getting me closer and fortunately I didn’t get too burned.
With 6 million visits a year, there must be countless other stories like mine, so I say may people owe you a beer. Probably more than you can drink.
So, thanks, no matter what you decide to do.
(PS I also bought some stuff from your old online store but I can see why you canned that, customs was a real problem they kept opening all the boxes at $75 a pop. It was almost like they were out to get you! Not all of it worked out as planned (but it was a good learning experience) but the solar is nice to have on my RV and the power hub has paid for itself by keeping my home office online during power outages. One time the utility shut down the power for over 8 hours in the middle of the day for some reason or another, a tie in or something. Luckily I was on radio internet at the time so I could keep working no problem the whole time. My wife works from home now too (but for a company, office of the future type thing) so now that system keeps her online during outages too as long as we don’t lose the internet.)
your arm must be getting sore from patting yourself on the back….haha
hope I don’t get punted….
oh, and I hope commentor # 444,444 isn’t Chinese….
you can put a fork in Hillary, she’s done….I just received my absentee ballot from the states…..one more for the Trump camp….looking forward to some of the idiotic things he’ll do….haha
Nuke the entire comments section from orbit… It’s the only way to be sure.
#13 Dwight
“Scrub the comment section altogether. I never read it.”
#14 JSS
“Lets get rid of comments section.”
——————————————-
Let’s keep the comment section but get rid of the comments.
I have been reading your blog on a daily basis for over 2 years now except for Saturdays but since the addition of Ryan and Doug it has been every day!
The comments section has been getting nastier and nastier. This is a financial blog not a right or left wing political blog. I enjoyed skimming through the comments section on occasion but it’s getting insane.
Keep up the great work, there’s nothing funny about numbers but you’ve found a way to merge humour with finance and I thank you for that Mr. Turner!
Let thousands flowers bloom.
It’s better to see what’s out there – the beauty and the ugly.
It’s better to learn to handle views, opinions that don’t affirm your pre-existing beliefs than pretend they don’t exist.
All mainstream started as lunatic fringe. Keep your brain flexible even if it is more challenging. What’s the point of a life where you are not challenged every day?
Garth, Just switch off the comments.
Sounds good! Get Bandit to help…
#66 Love My Kia on 09.13.16 at 7:07 pm
Bye bye Smokey and that useless Freedom First!
……
You voted for T2 diden’t you..
I could go in a second, I can write legible words now. but let’s be perfectly honest. I draw in alot of people to the comments section. Im quite certain I have a hell of alot more than 100 fans. Probably an equal amount of haters too. It’s democracy.
Why do I come here every day and try and write something funny or entertaining, every now and then a home run prediction. I like Garth, he’s a good honest shit head and he has my respect.
He stod up to control freak Harpo, he lost his job defending this Pathetic community we hang out in.
Trust me KIA. I’m not going anywhere.
Nuke it.
Garth, it seems to me that over the years the Comments section has been hijacked by people who wish to spew venom or make ill-informed comments rather than make a meaningful addition to your blog comments. I’d be okay with the eliminating the blog comments but perhaps a “weeding” of the comments will work…likely to eliminate the great majority of comments, but that would be good! Sadly, I have found myself reading the comments section less and less because of the “blog bullies”.
We all think differently, have different opinions and points of view.
Many of us are well informed, have taken are own actions to stay afloat avoid the madness and keep financially safe.
Often people disagree.
We do not all agree with your investment advice Garth or your general take on things.
Seems you main problem is dealing with different points of view – your lack of humility and arrogance puts many people off who do not see eye to eye with you.
No point shutting this site down Garth, let it roll, always worth a peek every now and then – and let us all see how this whole shooting match turns out.
Who in the end gets egg all over their faces – time will tell.
Garth,
I like some comments, especially anything Smoking Man or anyone from Shalong Branch has to say. Also some people have some good/different opinions that I enjoying reading as well. The guy on first is always so predictable.
But, if the comments section went away, I don’t think I would miss it much. I come here for your post! Sometimes I sucked into the comments and spend too much precious time on your site. Far more time than I or the wife would like me to spend.
PS I mentioned “the office of the future” thing in my comment (which was going in at #1 but I took so long to type it it landed #73! I think you are going over 200 comments today). People don’t think about it but if you are going to enjoy the advantages of “the office of the future”, reliable power and internet are musts. She has to put in 40 hours a week (she often does more but hey) and if her connection from home is not reliable it might jeopardize the whole arrangement. Working from home she skips an hour and a half of commuting per day, paying for parking, paying for bought lunches, paying for so many clothes, paying for gas, etc. So having the power hub has turned out to be a good idea. We aren’t on radio internet anymore which is problematic, Shaw is not “business grade reliable” in our area, but we can hot spot a phone when they are down. Her work phone as a matter of fact so she doesn’t even get charged.
Close the comments section altogether if it comes to it. Just keep the blog posts flowing please!
Hi Garth:
But before retire to some exotic place with wife & Bandit – make sure to preserve some of these investment advice PEARLs posts somewhere… publish them into a book or something.
I find them useful and informative as a guide… and gotta surf something intellectual & worth reading daily besides all the garbage news these days.
If you’re not feeling well – leave this Blog in your will – will ya? Get the new pup whisperers Dougie or Ryan to continue this thing: they look rich enough and will work for free for public service and financial literacy, I’m sure.
Kind regards,
Keep:
Intelligent, insightful, topic-relevant comments & useful links. Grammar & spellcheck extra bonus points.
Punt:
EVERYTHING ELSE.
Sir Garth:
Editing the comments more judiciously is fine with this blog dog. However, your script is only 70% of why I read the blog. The other 30% is to screen the comments to assess the public mood. Thanks
Garth – your comment section has grown into a forum about real estate, but also economy, investing and geopolitics.
I used to read all comments, but I have become so used to many commenters and their opinions that skip the section altogether most days.
It’s not that I don’t like these opinions, it’s just that I know them.
I also got used to the situation in Canada’s Real Estate:
It’s too expensive (for me) and won’t get cheap (enough for me) again.
We had some timid CMHC intervention, an oil crash and now the foreigner tax.
Maybe these events cooled down some markets. But what I was hoping – when I discovered this blog – was a major price decrease everywhere in Canada.
Now I understand that this would come with consequence that would make Canada a worst place to live in even for everybody.
So I don’t hope for anything anymore when it comes to real estate.
Hi Garth,
I find the comments quite valuable at times, particularly when they provide insight into other geographic regions based on the topic at hand. However, as others have undoubtedly have said, it’s really hard to find the pearls worth reading amid the sea of fetid crap. The rules for posting are stated quite clearly above this box and I would suggest enforcing them ruthlessly before doing away with the comments altogether.
Thanks
is that pic Joe Biggs from infowars.com?
Hi Garth,
I rarely read the comments anyway but it is nice to have a way to chime in if I feel the need. You at least will read it while moderating even if nobody else does. Punt away, it can only improve the breed but please leave commenting open.
Thanks again.
I really don’t know how Gartho does it. Works 7 days a week, 5 downtown, then at the store on the weekends. Add to this, his moderating comments at all hours, not sure he sleeps.
I could not blame him for shutting the comments down. He’s only human.
That would suck for me, because then I would be forced to blog everyday on my shit blog. That would be like a job, I hate deadlines. Probably the reason no one wants to hire me these days.
I never read the comments. Love your writing. My time is too precious. I think it’s a great idea to make the comments section obsolete. Me: single renter with a dog. works full time as paralegal for multi national. I come here to learn basic sound investing advice.
Get rid of the comment section. Most of it is useless. Keep up the good work that you have done yourself. It’s been most helpful to me. Thank you
The old group is missing.
Well – the numbers are in for August – and they are good this time! Maybe the 5.2% increase in US household income (net of inflation) is having a solid effect on people using our premium services!
Our entire system’s growth came in at 23% YoY in August
AUS +29%
Canada +19% (yes – the prairies dragged us down but still growing)
– BC +30%
– Prairies +5%
– ON and East +20%
US +24%
– NE +16%
– Mid/South Atlantic Coast + 20%
– Central US +31%
– Pacific Coast + 29%
I notice a suggestion about using Disqus above. While that service does have issues of its own, it does a good job of self-promoting worthwhile posts and groups conversations together so that one can quickly skip over entire blocks of comments that aren’t of interest.
I still remember when I wrote my long rant some time ago about dog owners being slaves to their pets, and cat owners being true contrarians.
It wasn’t lost on me that but a few days later, you fell and broke your leg, Garth, while out walking Bandit.
There is something to be learned from blog comments.
The blog post is the meat of the content, and truth be told I only frequent the comments to see you slay some weak minded fools. I will miss it a little, but I also understand the time and headache it will avoid.
#60 Cici on 09.13.16 at 7:04 pm
I was addicted to the comments section in the past (a love/hate thing), but I haven’t had the time or energy since my son was born (he’s a peach, but cries non-stop from midnight to four in the morning…every morning!)
Desperate times call for desperate measures: do any of the blog dawgs/blog bitches have a remedy or cure for this midnight madness? Breastfeeding is already enough of a chore…but these sleepless nights are getting the best of me. Thank God he’s an adorable angel by day though
———————————————–
Our second son was colicky. Cried for three hours, every night, like clock work. They grow out of it. Stick in there. It gets better.
Sorry Smoking Man, but he’s talking about you.
Clearly you’ve been trying extra hard to get DELETED and that just means Garth working extra hours cleaning up your crap. He’s tired of it. Surprised you’re still around! Your comments don’t fit this site.
And I really don’t buy for a second that you don’t know what you are saying due to the alcohol. Even if that is true, it means you got to go.
Garth, my older cousin used to say “You are who you hang around with.” Let’s not hang around with Smokey, anymore.
here in oakville
possible resident living below the median
Halton Police Looking For Elderly Gas Thief
http://www.newstalk770.com/syn/60/165360/halton-police-looking-for-elderly-gas-thief
maybe the whole section should be nuked
Tom Waits – Silent Night & Christmas Card From A Hooker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_PfwVNmckc
…let Bandit moderate the crazies.
If not, go for it and shut them down.
My bro works at one of the oil head offices in Calgary. Lots of anger amongst the remaining employees. Out of frustration some guy crapped in the urnal. Things are getting out of hand
STICK WITH YOUR FOCUS “ST. GARTH OF WE’LL ALL BE PERCEPTIVE IN OUR TIME–HONEST”
Sorting through the rubble, any rubble for that matter, is a time-honoured human tradition. Perhaps the greatest group of sorter-ers is the impoverished crowd that daily goes through the garbage pit near Cairo in sunny Egypt. A true Third World occupation is what that is OK.
But the trash that washes up on your blog’s doorstep likely doesn’t come with much actual odor. Nevertheless it is easily dusted and should be forthwith!
NOW SOME REALLY CONCERNING ISSUE TO ME…
…the stock market’s ramblings these days have got this veterean investor reaching for the worry beads yet again. I remember 2008 and that was not nice.
Is the same thing about to repeat?
Dunno.
But I transcribe herewith some words, and written by the late Barton Biggs, as a way a perhaps attempting to divine what may lie ahead. Mr. Bigs died in 2012. He cut a wide swathe on Wall Street during his professional life as an investment strategist for Morgan Stanley and later with Traxis Partners which he founded in 2003.
His book “Wealth, War & Wisdom” should be a staple for any investor’s library of research.
The book describes the various awful events of WW 2, the Korean conflict, and dovetrails those into stock and bond market reactions during those turbulent years.
Towards the end of his book he wraps things up with some downhome truths for all investors. I refer to Chapter 16 “Barbarians at the Gate”:
“…The history of the chaos of World War 11…shown by the stock markets is provocative. They suggest wealth is emphemeral, diversification is essential, and that stock markets have surprisingly good intuitions at the epic tipping points.”
BTW, we have major tipping points today excluding the
Clinton-Trump silliness. How about ISIS, Iran, Russia, China, South China Sea, world debt levels, QE, and so on. Take your choices.
More from Mr. Biggs:
“..As the old saying goes, when coming events cast their shadows, they often fall on the New York Stock Exchange…However, the history of the world demonstrates that wealth destruction, whether through wars or plagues or technology, has been endemic to mankind, and there is no sign as yet that sophistication and progress will change this eternal verity.”
So there. Chew on that.
If the July levels hold, they will be the final lows for bond yields. We are witnessing history in the making.
Discontinue the comments totally, and use the time and energy saved to write a new book!
You can provide a link to a digital (Kindle, etc) version of the book on this blog site, so regulars can share it with their unenlightened friends, relatives, and co-workers, to help them manage their finances and retirement.
Improve the quality of your personal life, and the financial lives of countless others.
The rare time I read the comments I wonder what the ones you don’t allow through must be like……
Shut the comments section down.
Hey Garth,
If you got rid of the comments section altogether I’d probably stop visiting the site. A vibrant comment response gives a blog posting life, otherwise it’s just a blog post.
Certainly there’s some riffraff. I never ever read smoking man’s posts. That’s a guy who needs to just get his own blog going and stop piggy backing off of you. Instead of saying ‘censored’ just say ‘irrelevant’. All comments should somehow vaguely be related to investing or the economy or your blog post.
Anyway, I’m sure you and your new associates have gotten tons of new clients from the activity on this site, let’s not try and pretend otherwise. ;)
I’ve been looking for a site where I can continue to learn from everyone about investing as I take over from [email protected]. Politics, narcissists, drunks and the tin foil hat crowd don’t help me but I have learned from the comments.
Where does oil go next? Into the $50s or the $30s. Far too many bullish calls IMO.
Can you punt those who comment only to say “first”? That may solve half the problem.
Like most of us, I come here the valuable information you provide and will continue to do so gratefully even if comments are killed off. That said, when the comment section works, it provides me with information and perspectives that would be hard to find elsewhere. In their own way, the comments can provide some of the “cross country checkup” aspired to by the CBC.
On the other hand, Garth, the present format is very demanding on your time and tolerance not to mention on Dorothy and Bandit. A proliferation of bullying and ignorance is no help to the rest of us. I would suggest two simple changes to the format which perhaps could even be automated relatively easily.
One would be to limit posts to one per day per poster/IP address. Hopefully, if you can only make one comment, you will think about it and not waste it in flaming other people. The other would be to limit the number of characters per post as some newspapers do now. This at least encourages brevity if not wit.
Nero approves!
Smoking freak gone?
Don’t care cause my script erases his drivel.
MMMmitsou…
https://youtu.be/EJLG5B8g_XA
Pass me my fiddle…
Just let the dust settle on ham so we can see who was right before you turf the comments section.
If moderating is taking too much of your time then nuke it.
More proof that inflation is just a memory, interest rates will never rise again and the middle class is in terminal decline.
“Middle-class Americans and the poor enjoyed their best year of economic improvement in decades in 2015, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday, a spike that broke a years-long streak of disappointment for American workers but did not fully repair the damage inflicted by the Great Recession.
Real median household income was $56,500 in 2015, the bureau reported, up from $53,700 in 2014. That 5.2 percent increase was the largest, in percentage terms, recorded by the bureau since it began tracking median income statistics in the 1960s.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/09/13/the-middle-class-and-the-poor-just-had-the-best-year-since-the-end-of-the-great-recession/?wpisrc=nl_most-draw8&wpmm=1
DXY looks like it’s forming a very bullish consolidation pattern. I think 2012 was a long term breakout and we’re currently seeing secondary consolidation ~95. Negative implications long term for $CAD.
I am grateful for the free information you provide every day. You should do whatever makes your life easier and keeps this blog going.
Thank you Garth!
Is it hate week?
I love it!
Winston Smith.
It is your blog and you can do what you want,
I say let Smoking Man edit the comments
Other much smaller sites have moderators other than the author to vet comments. Maybe offer the job to a few lucky dogs?
Keep comments please.
I really like it when you DELETED a comment you put the reason….kind of like a little badge of shame for the poster to wear!
Great job on the blog Garth.
In regards to your book – I suggest you simply copy/paste all the DELETED comments…and put them in an e-book! Sell on Amazon and iTunes!
Probably sell a half million of them to the blog dogs!
Despite relatively moderate to high valuation, US equities are significantly under owned by the retail investor and by institutional investors historically speaking. Cash holdings are at 2008 & 2002 bear market levels. Bond holdings are at record levels. This should make any further equity corrections short and shallow. We’ve got a long way to go folks.
Don’t bend too much, Smokie . . . we love you, like you love your Mickie. This isn’t about Garth but about you beavers and your inability to listen to those who he is affiliated with for a reason.
Some of the comments are insightful, others are useless. I’d miss them if they were gone. Even Smokin’ Man.
Love the T-Shirt master Sergeant Joe Biggs! Hoo Rah!
I agree, drop the comment section.
No question racists, disrespectful comments should be deleted. However, a proper discourse should allow for contrarian points of view. You too have been fairly open to labeling self-entitled millenials, doomers and bullion lickers. However, you sometimes seem rather sensitive when challenged on points of view that contradict your own? That seems like a shame as well articulated counter points seem to lead to a more enlightened common point of view?
You probably won’t publish this comment as a case in point.
I’m new here so I’ll just say, it’s good to have a sense of humor in life about most things, but when some people get behind the computer they seem to plug in their mouth and disengage the brain. Their vitriolic dribble can be very distracting. Lets talk of money and opportunities and how to build, keep and enjoy wealth with a dash of humor of course. And for those who keep claiming to be first, here’s a quarter, go phone someone who cares. Whoops, I guess you need to find a pay phone first and add a little more change to it. I for one agree with you, Garth. The posted comments will be much easier to read through to find the good points.
Garth
I have gleaned some useful information from the comments section, like the great beginners investment book ‘millionaire teacher’. I also enjoy some of the alternate market forecast perspectives (not you gold bugs – go away). So my vote is to keep the comments. If there is a way to keep out the riffraff, that would improve the value of the blog in my opinion.
Thanks for all you do, and of course we will all be OK with whatever you choose. Its your baby.
Regarding:
“42 robert james on 09.13.16 at 6:54 pm
And here is another Dumb-ass,, “DUH ,didn`t see it coming” moment…This is from one year ago,, ”
A year ago? This has been going on for over 15 years. haven’t you heard of the term “astronaut family”? You have got to stop reading this blog and get out more.
It seems you can comment uncensored on this blog as long as you agree:
-Interest rates are going up 4 times this year,
-House horny locals making $80k a year are buying $2M homes in Vancouver,
-Foreign real estate money in Vancouver is humble and just honest investing, every student should own a Lambo,
-Preferreds have worked out very well over the last 3 years.
Otherwise everything else is off limits.
If there is no free speech (within limits) you might as well shut the whole thing down.
I read your blog every day but most of the time I skip the comments. It would be better time spent if blog dogs had to keep to the topic. A lot of work, t hough, to read through all of them going delete delete. I would think you have better uses for your time. Still, the occasional post is informative and valuable and some are entertaining. I have read blog posts that led me to further sources that were useful. Your sarcasm would dull if it weren’t used.
If it is a PITA to moderate us idiots and gassing the comments ensures the blog continues . That’s cool. We still learn…..
Petnto. No more axgrinders! Let the punts begin.
I’m in favour of keeping the comments section. Some people have shared useful information, or provided answers to questions I’ve posed. Others have posted links to sites or blogs that have expanded my view on on certain subjects.
If keeping it requires a purge, then send forth the inquisitors!
Yay free sprinkles!
Wait, Bandit can read?!?
Garth,
How do you run two businesses and still find the time to write six posts a week let alone moderate this blog every night!?! I have one business and hardly have time to answer bloody emails! I assume you must be a workaholic or perhaps you simply dictate your daily posts off the top of your head to your sexamatary who types them into a stenotype?
I would be curious to learn more about your process and any time management advice.
I am a daily blog reader and occasional comment scanner. I appreciate some of the links posted by other readers. One suggestion would be to cut back to 4 or 5 days a week? Hopefully you keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Adam
I’m always in favour of a middle way. I think moderating the comments section on a daily basis must be a grind for you, Garth. What about having comments allowed once or twice a week, just to keep it a bit spicy, on topics that are bound to create that spice? Just my two cents, but I think we’d all like to continue to contribute in some way – maybe just not daily.
Some other ideas:
– 250 letter limit
– 1 post per reader per day
– 100 comments max
– No comments past Midnight EST
– No “Firsting”
– No Smoking Man
Option: leave the comments section to Smoking Man alone. Good entertainment value (in a train wreck kind of way) for us.
Nuke! Nuke! Nuke! Nuke! Nuke!
#121 Capt. Serious on 09.13.16 at 8:17 pm
Option: leave the comments section to Smoking Man alone. Good entertainment value (in a train wreck kind of way) for us.
….
Lets be honest with ourselves. The slow ride up to the peek of the roller coaster is boaring as shit.
The ride down. Awesome…
Losing it and finaly learning how to spell thanks to this blog And sharing it with random strangers is the best high I’ve ever felt in my life. And I’ve tried everything a few times.
I love reading people’s comments. Some are great complement to your posts. The crappy comments I just ignore.
those first comments are useless. i think you should delete so there’s no first comment. ha
seriously, i got an idea: every comment is submitted with a dollar amount. you d still moderate, but if it passes, then the submitter owes you that dollar amount. due at end of the month. a deadbeat story is posted every month. why should someone take advantage of your site for free anyway , eh ?
Get rid of the comments section if the constant moderation and abuse is causing you burnout. I promise your readers would rather have your blog for 5 years than the privilege of reading the verbal diarrhea that appears in the comments section for 3.
Well, your post from Sunday indicates that the 1% are your main readers.
So do a means test. Or maybe you can get one of those captcha things that require a math problem.
As I have stated on this blog before this blog is my only voice online.
I don’t have Facebook ,Twitter,and all that other garbage.This blog is now part of my daily routine.
I have noticed waves of people coming and going lobbying at election time and such but it is the regulars that I get the most out of reading.
I would be bitterly disappointed if the comments section was disabled as someone as green as myself is with investing needs all the help I can get.
I have learnt a great deal the last two years and I have never understood Canada and Canadians as much as I do now.
You guys in your own special way teach immigrants like myself not taught history,but what you guys thought at certain times in the past and how it effects your outlook on the future.
We all know who has the keys to this blog but I like it warts and all.I have written a couple of posts that the boss thought was too rich and he deleted them,I will never give him crap about this as I respect that it is his decision what stays and go.
Maybe he should get rid of the guy who gives him all these dodgy photos though…
M42BC
Maybe user moderated comments a la slashdot.com. Just a number of trusted lieutenants can be promoted to super moderators too.
Or not
#66 Love my Kia,
Smoking Man and Freedom First are the two you should be listening to the most, but from your name it looks like you suck at making choices. Kia’s are pieces of garbage, not to mention gutless.
Haters always hate those who they can never be.
Stop the hate, and emulate!
Garth, throw out the bullies. They bully because you speak the truth. The rest of us who come to this blog come because we believe in what you say and because we have genuine faith in your ideas and views.
I have learned so much from this blog that I would never have known if this forum did not exist. I came to Canada as a young boy and love this country, but I have seen it deteriorate and now I fear that my children may not grow up in the same beautiful and just country due to the mess ups by the politicians. It is by reading your blog that I realize just why the country is on a downward trajectory.
Canada needs you and your ideas. You who have the heart of a lion and the soul of a poet keep eloquently stating your points against the headwinds of these ridiculous bullies. Keep it up sir!!
And one final thing, your destiny is much more than this blog. Form a political party. Round up a few good people and thrust yourself back where you can make a national difference. Many of us blog dogs, myself included would volunteer our time and efforts and help whichever way we can to see you succeed. This country needs you.
Comments remain a pretty good way for people to get their questions answered, or provide a good way for you to clear up a common misconception held by laypeople (I myself am guilty of searching every comment section for “— Garth” and ignoring the rest).
For those reasons I don’t like the idea of ditching comments entirely, but I like the idea of having a tighter filter, and given how patient you’ve been with the current…ahem, “clientele”, I’m sure you’ll still err on the side of leniency and not restrict the comment section to an “echo chamber”.
Keep up the good work Garth, I’m sure once you apply a firmer hand, many of the bullies will simply give up and stop creating work for you to do.
hats off to garth moderating (any) sort of are-for-all comments board by himself.
Whilst there’s the odd 2nd/100 that’s entertaining or thought provoking.
Still beats the mouldy, bullion licking, tinfoil hatted, doomer ZH site, which reads like it’s lifted straight off “The Enquirer”?!
What is best is all the links that you would maybe not
come across if not for the comments. I mean after your well written blog post.
I vote comments stay edit as you see fit Garth.
We know that you are set in your ways and unemployment
numbers as opposed to work force involvement, its just
old school leaning
Keep the comments. Love that on-the-ground anecdotal stuff people pick up while walking their dogs or whatvs, and what’s the use of a blog without comments? Could do without ‘first’ idiots, Walter Mitty pretend-tycoon fantasists, political mouth-foaming, dumb feuds, and childish bickering. But that’s just me, and I won’t flip out if anyone disagrees.
Anyway, meanwhile in New Zealand:
http://www.interest.co.nz/news/83557/pm-says-wary-policy-action-could-cause-catastrophic-slump-housing-market-points-australia
Relax, Vancouver. Our PM just gave money launderers and speculators an assurance that they’re TBTF and won’t be targeted.
Ha ha 110Capt Serious!
I get it!! Just like a Trump Presidency….
or a Clinton Presidency……
Hit it!!
https://youtu.be/7KNUnLaRekg
PMMF…
I used to read all the comments, when they were more concise and varied. I would be glad if the posting standards were a little more stringent (but can do without a comments section if that’s what it takes to keep the blog going.) Thanks, Garth, for all your efforts to make this site great.
I rarely look at the comments section right now because it seems to be at least 10 useless comments for every decent one.
I always enjoy your posts, and I would read the comments a lot more often if they were limited to useful discussion or questions. The useless ramblings can go.
Nuke the comments section, or install a plug-in to expire how long comments can be published.
Or, install a system that uses a Disqus engine or FaceBook login. Getting rid of anonymous comments will greatly reduce the amount of chaff you need to filter through.
If this is my last chance to post a comment…
Then let me say thank you for the expert opinion, information analysis, and advice you provide to public on a daily basis at no charge. I for one am rather grateful for the service and I’ve gained valuable insights here.
It would be nice to still have the privilege and option of posting the occasional comment or question without having to wade through quite as much muck.
All the best, whatever your decision Mr. Turner.
I am conflicted. On the one hand, I like to ask questions and say thanks. On the other hand I’m not the one who has to read all the tripe from front to back to make sure that something objectionable hasn’t been slipped into the middle of a big wodge of text. On the third hand (think bridge) #146 broke me up. :)
So. I am more interested in what you and your two apprentices (kidding) have to say than I am in the remarks of anybody who posts comments here, so if it is time to flush the great porcelain bowl, do it.
But seriously: #146 – thanks. :)
Love a debate, different points of view and a little levity that can sometimes be found here. I don’t have to read ever comment, or agree with ever opinion or chuckle at ever joke (or at least my hope it was one).
Can’t thank the host enough.
Having said that, I’m not the one that has to put up with ever wacko like me so if the gain doesn’t equal the pain…
Make people register (with an id maybe) if they want to leave comments. Post their real name so there would be less of anonymity on the site. You’ll see how people begin to think before post.
Canada used to pride herself as a tolerant, multicultural country.
The glaze of civilized society was based on the relatively rich economy that provided comfortable middle-class life-style for most people, even immigrants who worked hard to catch up.
Immigrants can tell you that soft racism always existed, pretty much everyone experienced it, based on accent, regardless of skin colour or race.
Nobody was exposed to as much not-so-soft racism as the indigenous people of Canada by the “old stock Canadians”, despite the politically correct rhetoric.
The bottom of the… well, “steerage section” of Canadian society.
Globalization is eroding the Canadian glaze, by economically dissolving the middle-class, creating fewer winners than losers – and everything that comes with it, the views about the banks, since Garth mentioned them.
Globalization has also created record wave of refuges, where the number started to erode the humanitarian-driven, comfortable glaze, forcing governments, citizens to face moral dilemmas they had to face last time before WW2.
It is not just a Canadian glaze, it’s a Western glaze, melting in North America and the EU.
This is what you see on this blog, as well.
That’s partially explained by the fact, that this blog was never written strictly from the point of investing.
It has always touched the “Canadian glaze” some way.
Partially, I suspect, because due to Garth’s source of income this blog, with the comments has never been focused on the fine details of ETFs, stocks, etc.
If we look at sites where investment is the strict focus, we see comments about those details not the “glaze”.
The fact, that there are hard limits of free and fee based investment advice and discussion diverts the comments to the “glaze”.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. There will always be a-holes in life. The smart ones can filter that out with their own brains. In my opinion, there is no need for Big Brother to tell us what we can or cannot read.
These are fundamentals to freedom and from what I can tell, that is what this blog is largely about.
Thank you.
Upgrade the comment section to allow for specific replies to specific posts. Add in a thumbs up/down option. A high thumbs down count should result in auto-censor. Allow for filters, newest, oldest, most liked, etc.
As for the anti-this and that. They are opinions. Who is to judge if they are right or wrong. I suspect they will only get worse as the economy starts to unfold (oops, I am judging).
Kilt.
The blog and the comments are my “morning paper” so to speak – coffee, in my underwear at my computer in the second bedroom office – it’s one of the more intelligent “conversations” I get to participate in….nearly naked!
ISWTC7
Great blog thank you.
Comments can be very valuable at times, I suggest filtering out comments that don’t provide any ACTUAL information. Opinions leading or following info should be welcomed.
My 2 cents.
I read only those comments which you reply to, however brief your reply may be.
Please tell whoever selects your diagrams and tables that white lettering on light green background is practically illegible.
You work too many hours clearly.
Skip the comments……I only want to hear what you guys say anyhow.
Thx for everything…….
Sometimes there are good comments, and good links.
There is also a lot of crap.
I usually CTRL-F: “Garth” or “Ryan” or “Doug” to find the relevant stuff, and check out links.
We can self-police all the junk, so no need to disable it.
JCAL
Ditch the comments section Garth it’s not worth the time or aggravation.
Thank you. I would like to refer my clients (>1000) to your blog, but that might expose them to the vitriol in the comments section. Too risky. I would be satisfied with no comments.
Christopher Mewhort, EA
I’d like to see only posts relevant to RE, finances, and the topic at hand. After all, it IS a financial blog. There are some excellent related links that dawgs post. It would be a shame to loose those.
Bullies should get punted.
The juveniles who post “first” should be deleted.
Irrelevant & stupid comments should be deleted. Start with the drunken self-absorbed smokey who rarely ads anything of value while taking up bandwidth. He has his own blog anyway.
This should be a SMOKE FREE environment!
Garth, been on this blog since the very beginning. (with a diff user name) I really enjoy the comments, but you are right, back in the early days when 100 comments was a lot, it was filled with intelligent discourse and we debated each other with facts and numbers not heresay and drivel.
you do a great job with the moderation, but I know it must be a thankless and tiresome job— please keep the comments section. maybe make a rule or acknowledgment form for all those that post.
the section does provide little nuggets of info not available elsewhere…
Garth, love the site and appreciate all the hard work you put in, without advertising or remuneration. I find that there are useful comments and links provided, although often buried in ramblings. If it’s possible to have a thumbs up / thumbs down system that may alleviate your workload and allow your blog dogs to self-sensor and prioritize which comments get read.
I also think there is value in having a discussion that sometimes goes against the grain of your posts. While it’s your right to not have a comment section, I believe that users appreciate the dialogue, debate and two-way nature of the interaction.
As a renting Millenial, I mostly come here for a little Van RE schadenfreude. Among the comment section crazies, there are some legitimate questions being asked. I think the most interesting line of critique is as follows:
If Canadian Real Estate (and RE bubbles worldwide) have been blown up by easy credit and unprecedented central bank polices, then why do you not apply the same logic to equities? How can a balanced portfolio provide diversification when RE, stocks and bonds are at/near all-time highs simultaneously, and more dependent upon central bank policies than economic fundamentals or risk appetite? Why would you say that I am unwisely trying to time the market by liquidating a portion of my portfolio to hold cash, yet encourage home owners to sell and rent?
In my ideal world the comment section would involve a debate around critiques such as those above and interesting insights that add to the discussion (e.g. last week Ross Kay said we are all pooched and here is the link). We could all do without the tinfoil hat conspiracy theories and personal ramblings fantasized by a few of your frequent nut jobs. However, I think it would detract from your site to remove the comment section altogether, which would be seen as deflecting healthy debate and this is clearly not your style.
Punt the useless comments, but leave the posters up as DELETED. It’ll be interesting to see who you sensor and how hard they work to earn their way back on to the blog. On the other hand, the blog might not be as much fun because there’ll be fewer stupid comments to make fun of.
I guess the proof of the pudding on this approach, Garth, will be how you deal with Smoking Man.
Smoking Man is relentlessly a low-IQ schoolyard bully thug here, demonizing people who disagree with his far right and conspiracy-nutjob views, including women, younger people, non-whites and basically anyone who would feel awkward at a Trump rally. Not to mention his multiple homophobic slurs against Kathleen Wynne.
If you “punt” others, but allow this vacuous, bigoted, narcissistic idiot to remain, then your words ring very hollow indeed.
I will remain positive and assume you will do the right thing, unless you prove me wrong.
Riding through Belfountain last weekend (forgot to ask for sprinkles) gives a guy a completely different perspective on life. I can see the addiction. Better than morphine.
Tough call. I usually read through the first 100 comments or so each evening, separating the wheat from the chaff, learning a lot not only from the blog but usually from some comments as well.
Perhaps a sabbatical is in order, figure out what’s important in life, like walks with the missus and a favourite canine along Humber Bay.
As much as I didn’t care for the man, Peter McKay figured it out.
Had to go to the back up phone , mine died.
What 99% of you guys don’t know. Your opinions , thoughts, and assumptions were planted in your head by dishonest lasy people or stupid people that never went door to door. Or by other people trying to get a leg up on you. For the most parts it works on most of you.
For you Smoking Man haters. It’s time to read balance your beilef system. Although I can’t keep full time job my part time one yields 8 to 10 million a year in a tax free zone. 400 to 1 margin with alien for sight, come get me cra. You’ll never find it. I’m really good at this shit..
Long Branch apprentice is well on his way to his first million. And he don’t own a house..
I like that millennial, figured out his engineering degree was just a cash grab. Realized his identity was not tide to job, and that job was offshored.
Not helping anyone else. Who’s going to serve me my coffee or detail my boat.
There’s a reason your all brain washed.
I quit reading at FREE SPRINKLES I just keep day dreaming about how good that cone would look has I yell at the wife ROAD TRIP
Your call. More public service, or sail away….unencumbered.
2435 is most impressive, good on you!
I think that those whom will show up to gloat after a massive “market correction”, aren’t going to make this place any more fun for you to moderate.
You start your three step recovery programme by saying,
“Hello, my name is Garth, I am an over achiever.”
Followed by the room saying Hello Garth!
How about a thumbs up/down icon to let blog dogs vote up/down comments? At the end of every comment cycle the commenter with the most thumbs down is terminated. It worked for Jimmy Pattison :)
Life is too short and your way too talented to spend your time moderating a DELETE button for the doomed hoi polloi.
Do a documentary on ZIRP a la Michael Moore ,Central Bankers —Who to Impoverish Next.
http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/produce-with-the-nfb/filmmaker-support-programs/fap-filmmaker-assistance-program/
Way back in time, during the Chrétien years, opinionated blowhards mailed letters to the editors of newspapers. Newspapers, in turn, published only a small selection of them, in the interests of space and time. There was no realistic means for trolls to engage with other readers. You can do the same. Publish relevant comments that represent a broad spectrum sampleof the total comments received. Do the right thing, and ensure some of those comments oppose your own viewpoint. Trash the abusive and irrelevant ones. Problem . . .solved.
90% of the comments are off topic to Garth’s post. I enjoy reading Garth’s replies. The knowledge, the wit, the humour. Without Garth’s replies, you can move the comments to an uncensored discussion board.
bullies need to be ignored.
the comment section can be scrolled through quickly
picking and choosing the comments you want to read,
i usually stop at the ones Garth replies to.
itz all good
I enjoy reading your blog Garth, and I enjoy many of the comments, some are very informative and well thought out. But you have to take your blog back and make it yours again, not SM’s.
Please punt the “First” posts.
Good job as always, Garth
Hopefully the comments section is here to stay, but moderation must wear on you. Most understand.
No comments = no fun = less visitors, including me
Political correctness = no common sense
I agree Garth, nuke the steerage section. I’m sure it’s sucking up a lot of your time. Much better to spend the time rubbing your dog’s tummy.
An alternate idea would be to let the comments roll once a week?
I hardly ever comment but please screen out the dross.
Garth I appreciate you fact-checking some of the doomers here, and occasionally find interesting and informative links (discovered Better Dwelling here). I say keep the comments, nuke the bullies.
#100 Smoking Man on 09.13.16 at 7:50 pm
This SM has to be an imposter. Much too coherent and not one spelling mistake, in other words, too well written.
Would the real Smoking Man please stand up…
For all of you that say drop the comments; then why are you reading them?? Seriously you are full of shit! You read the blog and then straight to the comments and deny it, seriously???????
Love your Blog Garth, but the comment section is as educational to me as your blog, I have learned many great secrets from posts on your blog.
Your choice!
presumably Garth you are the poor soul who has to review the steerage section comments and with that in mind why dont you limit it to the few who have something to say about the days topic that is relevant rather than blog dogs with an agenda .
ahem…
forgive me for touting the tt AGAIN
anyway the vast majority of folks come here to see what you have written .
I would love to see an edited version of what the deleted morons have written with appropriate comment from you!
Been here since the beginning: can still remember references to amazons, hummers, squirrel recipes, orange shorts, etc.
After the blog’s “prepper” phase in 2008-2009, by 2010-2012, much lower volumes of comments than today’s delivered an astonishingly higher value to readers. Yes, blog pups, back in the day, spending 30 minutes a day reading comments here actually made you smarter!
Sadly, in the past 2-3 years, the comments section has devolved into a yahoo-infested toxic swamp, in which, occasionally, gems can be found.
So my pathetic suggestion to make greaterfool great again is: comments should be related to the blog topic du jour; idle drivel, personal exchanges, and socio-political debates have no place in a dogs, digs, and dough blog! (this is not Zuckerberg’s place!)
But if the blog has reached million views perhaps it is no longer feasible to moderate, so the nuclear option is fine. Better to lose comments than lose the blog altogether.
So, as this may be my last comment here, thanks to all those who, over the years, have provided valuable insights, articles, advice, and respectful opinions. It was a good ride, my net worth has grown, and I learned a lot. Merci beacoup!
The difference between a “civilized, democratic country” and the opposite is the sustained GDP and the individual citizen’s share of the GDP.
If the comments are nuked, the bullies win.
It wouldn’t be greater fool without the blog dogs. Or the moderation.
182 james on 09.13.16 at 9:06 pm
I guess the proof of the pudding on this approach, Garth, will be how you deal with Smoking Man.
Smoking Man is relentlessly a low-IQ schoolyard bully thug here, demonizing people who disagree with his far right and conspiracy-nutjob views, including women, younger people, non-whites and basically anyone who would feel awkward at a Trump rally. Not to mention his multiple homophobic slurs against Kathleen Wynne.
If you “punt” others, but allow this vacuous, bigoted, narcissistic idiot to remain, then your words ring very hollow indeed.
I will remain positive and assume you will do the right thing, unless you prove me wrong.
……
And they call me a bully..
James I’m not tuned into your working class mind set.. attack with words designed to paint a pictorial without debate.
Wynnee the poo is a slime ball theif that has created huge hardship for young families, I’m sure the Westley street cabal has had a heyday with our tax dollars but that’s coming to an end soon.
And yeah I disapprove of her life style. Hang me for it. I’ve given you all the tools to do it with. Perfect timing for a book launch is what I’m banking on..
I’ve been coming here for a long time because I learn from some of the posts and because the writing is entertaining and sometimes thought-provoking.
Of the comments I’ve read, at least 1/2 are either off topic or silly. Maybe the moderating of comments could be outsourced? Certain monikers I’ve learned to skip over; by now the trouble makers are pretty well known.
Thanks Garth for all your insight. I for one love your blogs and enjoy my daily fix. While I sometimes read the comment section just to get a flavour of what people are saying I feel many do cross the line. I would rather you punt them off then you quit. And I’m saying that as a loyal reader of many years and also as one of your day job clients.
All the interesting stuff happens when my back is turned!
I’ve been reading the blog but only skimming the comments ever since I thought I was banned a couple of months back.
I just discovered I was allowed to comment again, and now this sad sorry state of affairs threatens to stifle me again?
well,
at least I know I didn’t contribute to Garth’s current level of Had-It-Up-To_Here-edness. For that I am thankful.
I say leave the comments section. Refuse to publish whichever comments you want to refuse to publish. Ban whoever you want to. Encourage sensitive readers to grow a thicker skin. And… go back to not taking anyone in steerage very seriously.
cheers, big ears.
More comments all the time! This blog got popular because of the comments and people like Smoking Man. We need more comments from Lewanza and Rowat and I want to see more italics in the comments section.
#154 Long Branch Apprentice on 09.13.16 at 8:32 pm
#66 Love my Kia,
Smoking Man and Freedom First are the two you should be listening to the most, but from your name it looks like you suck at making choices. Kia’s are pieces of garbage, not to mention gutless.
Haters always hate those who they can never be.
Stop the hate, and emulate!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bully right there Garth.
Hi Garth,
I visit greaterfool everyday. I find your articles informative and funny. This is the first time I ever clicked on the comment button. Looks like you get a lot of junk mail to go through everyday. Save yourself some time and ditch it.
Rob
I guess I just don’t understand this. I don’t see “bullies” everywhere…. unless one happens to be one of the easily offended.
If I don’t want to read a post, I use the simple device built into my mouse called the scroll wheel.
Last thing I wanna see is another blog comments section fall to the PC crowd.
When I visit the comment section I only read posts which stay on topic, either for or against the daily post. What if you had two comment sections. On Topic and Off Topic. Then, if one really wanted to wade through all the comments they could simply press On Topic and/or Off Topic.
#154 Long Branch Apprentice on 09.13.16 at 8:32 pm
#66 Love my Kia,
Smoking Man and Freedom First are the two you should be listening to the most, but from your name it looks like you suck at making choices. Kia’s are pieces of garbage, not to mention gutless.
Haters always hate those who they can never be.
Stop the hate, and emulate!
===================================
Amen brother. People who drive Kias shouldn’t be throwing stones. It’s very Canadian to fear and loathe individualists, though. I’d rather see James banned a million times more than Smoking Man. But hey it’s not my site.
I would miss the comments if they were gone entirely. How they are moderated is entirely up to the host. But I haven’t noticed them getting worse, they’ve always been a bit volatile. I think more likely just the volume has increased as the site has gotten more hits. A victim of its own popularity, nothing more.
Garth at his heart is a journalist, before anything else.
The blog is closest to him, it’s a labour of love. Even with with the flood of f’in comments, that just keep growing, beyond a one-man show.
TI is a day job.
Belfountain, with even semi personal involvement was a temporary insanity.
And walking the dog, on top of that.
Keep the comments, but limit it to so,
1) First 20 (that you like–delete the others) ***Keep all the ‘First’… Perhaps motivate them to stop.
2) 150 Words max
3) 1 external link
4) 1 Warning per IP total.
Great blog… but not worth your time/stress to filter it daily. But, as others said, Please don’t stop!
I’m always impressed that you actually moderate the comments section at all. You and I both know it takes more than “a few minutes” to read/check and approve/deny each item in your verbal thrift store.
1. I only read the ones that you reply too.
2. Far out that “Victoria Real estate guy” is annoying. Please tell me he’s at least $$$ you up! If not can you send me his email address and ill make sure he gets spammed out of his mind. For eternity
3. Online people suck, no accountability.
Ditch the comments if you wish, I don’t come here to see what’s others have to say anyway.
Keep up the good work.
I actually like the comment section and enjoy reading anecdotes about the nice lady at the bank or people’s experience with their own investments, real estate, etc…
The one thing you could do is simply to force all comments to be about the day’s blog, else you can delete them. It would make editing much easier for you and the comments would drop down below 50 every day but at least they would be directly related to the day’s topic.
Please nuke those bad posters.
Keep those photos at the beginning of each post. Love them!
Maybe instead of cutting it altogether you could cut the comments to once or twice a month. Something like that.
Garth, I just think people get worked up when you bad talk Adele.
Most comments are worthless…too many that I rarely read most of them.
Maybe cheery picking the best to publish and ban the ip of fools that insist they were first etc.
Firstly anyone who puts down FIRST therefore brings no bloody value to the discussion should be deleted and banned from further postings.
The second thing to enhance this blog is that one would have to register ie: like Facebook etc and there would be an annual cost I suggest around $25 this would eliminate some of the deplorables (Thanks Hilary) from wanting to rant and rave. The $$ could be used to provide a scholarship or two too some worthy individuals.
I for one have always benefited from your blogs and would sorely miss them if you decided one day to shut the site down.
Lets bring in some sensible workable parameters to improve the comment section which I believe does bring value to this site.
Is it odd that so many people who want to nuke comments say they never read them?
Ctrl + F “Garth” is my filter on reading comments.
The comment section is so vital to this blog. I agree with punting bullies but there are so many good opinions and links. Please keep the comment section! Thanks Garth for all the work you do ! I know you don’t want to collect income from this site but maybe down a road you can name a charity that users could donate to?
Go for it, Garth! Edit YOUR blog more agressively
– Get rid of the “firsts”
– Limit people to 250 letter limit. When I see a long post i read the first and last paragraph. Most long posts can be more concise- too long winded
– I appreciate when you respond to someone’s lack of facts. It reminds me of how much is opinion and what is minimal fact. Bloggers need to be called on their weak sources to back up their point.
– I do appreciate comments from other bloggers
– No bulies should be allowed to post. 3 strikes and you are out??? Bullies stiffle those who are on the sidelines with way more to offer.
– Bullies hide behind communication like blogs, emails or telephone. Let’s not nurture their desire for power
I value your belief in freedom of speech. However, freedom of speech needs to be balanced right and responsibility
Thanks to you, Garth, we sold an illiquid country property four years ago and have been renting ever since. (It used to cost us two-thirds of our current living expenses just to maintain our extensive gardens.)
We are of retirement age and still working part-time to finance travels. Our house money is well diversified and has grown considerably since we sold.
As far as the blog goes, we’re addicted to it, but perhaps you need to do something about the comments work load to make your life easier. As for the blog, please don’t stop.
Still, we wonder how you do it, day and day out, and keep it entertaining. That is a real skill, not to be sneezed at. Best wishes to you and yours.
Have a rest for a while – shut down the comments section until you really, really miss us and then open it up again (or not!).
You’re the only one who feels obliged to read all the comments, check the posted sites etc. The rest of us can scroll on by.
Take a well deserved holiday. We will all still be here when/if you decide to welcome us back.
To me the comment section gives insight into other people’s ways of thinking. I’d hate to see it go.
#60 Cici on 09.13.16 at 7:04 pm
Is he awake during that crying, or kind of half-asleep eyes closed crying? When he’s crying like that, wake him up, fully. Our first baby did this. We washed her face (gently) until she actually woke up, eyes open looking at you awake. Then she stopped crying. It was like a crying-in-her-sleep thing. After that you do whatever to settle him down, gently talk to baby, hug, walk with him, feed or change as needed, then try to put baby back to bed.
Also, Only bought one baby book, and it was called Happiest Baby on the Block, something like that, came highly recommended by a colleague, and am now highly recommending to you. You don’t have to wait for it to pass, while you and baby are miserable in the meantime. Talks about the 5 S’s. Swaddle, shush,… forgot other three.
Next baby slept with us. Could not get him to sleep in his crib. But no night time colic. The book notes that in some cultures there is no such thing as colic, but those cultures are much closer to their babies than Western world. Something to note.
Regarding cici
Frugal on 09.13.16 at 7:53 pm
#60 Cici on 09.13.16 at 7:04 pm
I was addicted to the comments section in the past (a love/hate thing), but I haven’t had the time or energy since my son was born (he’s a peach, but cries non-stop from midnight to four in the morning…every morning!)
Desperate times call for desperate measures: do any of the blog dawgs/blog bitches have a remedy or cure for this midnight madness? Breastfeeding is already enough of a chore…but these sleepless nights are getting the best of me. Thank God he’s an adorable angel by day though
———————————————–
Our second son was colicky. Cried for three hours, every night, like clock work. They grow out of it. Stick in there. It gets better.
******* my response for You.
Try swaddling the baby , tighter than you think. We had a problem, it was protein intake! (He’s wearing 4-5 year old clothing, at 12 months! ) Babies are requiring night protein even more as the baby birth size increases! Also might try food intak, combines with swaddling, And show tha baby a closet or confined space to quiet them. 5-25 minutes of peace!! Yay. Strange brew, but let us know what works Cici . ( it’s all related cici). Congrats too.
Regarding blog entries: just mean to thank you Garth and several Dogs for life changing Blog entries. I’ll perhaps thank them by name some time.
Garth, you have changed the lives of many more people than you know, in a very good way!
Regards all, M.
Love the blog and the comments section. I agree with the moderated comments section.
Love the blog for a laugh and advice…though committed financial suicide after 8 years by buying a house.
I support tightening-up moderation of the comments to keep the Blog Bullies at Bay, especially lately. I do, however, enjoy the comments that are relevant to the day’s topic and provide information, ideas, even inspiration. Thanks, Garth
Consideration:
Censorship is your right in this blog but it might be hard for you to control your unconscious bias (we all have one). How about getting your dev to put a few hours into a rating system so shit posters can be down voted out of view. This looks like WordPress so he’ll there’s probably an easy plug in for it. This lets people self police and saves you time. And if the comments are still a cesspool: shut it down
Garth,
You have given fair warning more than once. I say keep the comments but it’s clearly time to cull the herd.
If you close the comments where will Victoria Real Estate Update post all his charts? I picture him very sad and lonely… So many stars, dashes and hyphens and nowhere to paste them.
Ya censorship that’s the ticket.
Just like when Garth got booted from the house for not towing the party line !
I know we can meet at the library and burn books once a week. Oh that’s already been done.
Just a comment that doesn’t need to necessarily be posted.
I’d be fine with just Garth and the Associates posting.
Maybe a few comments or no comments at all, since just letting a few through, which is almost what you have to do now, would be quite selective.
But, you being selective and only letting things you want to show up would be fine as it is your publication….
Enjoying it always, hardly read any comments…
Garth, please keep the comment section. You attract a great crowd because of who you are ! I have learned a lot from you and Smoking Man. I need and want to show my gratitude, I will be at your store soon. Thanks for everything.
Typically Kanadian passive aggressive in most of tonight’s comments. Gartho they wail, these comments attract the wrong sort, or, I never read comment section.
Of course every one of them chose to post here and will check their comment got posted.
What you need is a ‘hide nutjob comments’ button.
As long as there’s no subscription, do whatever you want Garth.
Gotta keep it freeform til Nov. 9..!!!! and my triumphal win…epic craziness til then…… then yeah just build a wall around it. I can help!
Just go ahead and nuke us. We suck.
Have read this blog for a few years, first time commenter. I would definitely agree, you should do whatever works for you but I would suggest that this blog has accomplished exactly what you envisioned, even though the vision has changed. I for one only come here for the comments! Your approach to investing is extremely conservative & only appropriate for hard working employees, who either do not have the interest or the time to manage their own accounts, If you are intested in substantially increasing your actual NW, your approach would take many years & would stilll leave people wondering what their retirement looks like & whether they could afford to retire. I seriously think you should retire, you’ve reached your best before date. Seriously how many more millions do you need? Bottom line, if you cut the comments I would not benefit much from your post, it’s very repetive.
Leftists hate comments because they engender thought within, and reflection. And Lefties hate what’s in that mirror….
I come for the blog posts, stay for the comments. Have learned much from both. This comment section is valuable. Does any other blog have as valuable a comment section?
Tell us the truth Garth, were you fishing for compliments? ;)
#108 Mr. Frugal
Thanks for the encouraging words…I guess the hardest part is feeling like there’s something I’m not but should be doing to ease his suffering…I guess time will do the trick ;-)
Hi Garth
The comments section I find to be a valuable aggregator of information on the wide variety of topics you touch on. (many commentators jump in on your sometime more oblique references).
I would support a light touch, people waste a lot of time deciding how to say something in a polite and “correct” way, often sacrificing the truth or saying nothing when they simply can’t articulate it with the sophistication required to be “correct”.
Many people use the internet and its blogs to offer unsavory opinions and to badger those they dislike or have a grudge or prejudice against.
But by the same token, freedom of speech, as a civilizational value is not about only hearing the voices of those one likes or agrees with. In fact, it is actually meant for exactly the opposite reason, to encourage dissent. No society has ever gained or benefited by silencing the perspectives of the prejudiced. Nor for that matter, is all prejudice irrational in nature.
My two cents…………let’s not follow in Hillary’s footsteps and foster a similar generalization about the blog’s “basket of deplorables”……….but rather stick to the discussion of the key financial issues of our time.
And for those prejudiced against immigrants (I am one) among other bigots, let them keep babbling, they are far more amusing, than frightening anyway.
Sounds good to me Garth. Nuke the violators. If comments abused too, remove the section .
I agree, kill the comments before you go dark. Lots of readership and interest in your angle on various topics. Either block whoever or kill the comments. Not that many insightful comments anyways, just a place to vent. your articles are what keep me coming back. Cheers.
Love My Kia
Yes. I think you need a PC & SJW type safe Blog. Along with the Feminazis, White Knights, and Manginas.
By the way. These Bullies of today are losing. And the Western Governments are in a panic over it. Look at the marriage and childbirth rates among the young in the western world. Censor me. I shiv a git. It’s too late. Freedom First has already won.
USA! USA!
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-13/u-s-poverty-rate-falls-to-post-recession-low-as-incomes-gain
Nuke the comments
I like the comments section for the collaboration, debating, opinions, news referrals and explanations, analysis and wisdom some posters have to offer. Feedback is priceless.
I don’t care for the verbal attacks or yammering. But then again always good to know what nutty is thinking. Lately, the “Your an idiot” comments are getting out of hand.
DELETE, DELETE and DELETE and SCROLL, SCROLL, SCROLL.
Just a thought – Robert’s Rule of Order.
Much as I admire your restraint in not taking ads, I must admit that it is tempting. Why not try it for one day a week? After all, most people use ad-blockers of some kind anyway.
Hi Garth,
Just wanted to speak in defense of the comments section. Moderate it as you see fit (it is your blog after all), but I will say I appreciate the links that many members post so I would encourage you to keep it there and just “nuke” the rude posts.
Also – the comment section requests an email… what for? Is that kept private?
DiO
Keep the comments. They might be banned later.
Barack Obama’s regulatory czar, Cass Sunstein in a 2008 Harvard Law paper called “Conspiracy theories” asks what can be done about conspiracy theories.
Sunstein co-authored a 2008 paper with Adrian Vermeule.
The authors declare that there are five hypothetical responses a government can take toward conspiracy theories: “We can readily imagine a series of possible responses.
(1) Government might ban conspiracy theorizing.
(2) Government might impose some kind of tax, financial or otherwise, on those who disseminate such theories.
(3) Government might itself engage in counterspeech, marshaling arguments to discredit conspiracy theories.
(4) Government might formally hire credible private parties to engage in counterspeech.
(5) Government might engage in informal communication with such parties, encouraging them to help.”
The authors advocate that our main policy idea is that government should engage in cognitive infiltration of the groups that produce conspiracy theories, which involves a mix of (3), (4) and (5).”
I’ve learned a lot of interesting nuggets from some of the better commenters. So I’d say keep the comments, but punt the wing nuts.
I’ve learned some insights from the comments section, and I enjoy the anecdotal on-the-frontlines reporting, as well as some of the humour.
Lately, though, there has been an increase in alt-right (for the most part) “post-factual” nonsense.
I’ve also heard this phenomenon referred to as “informational nihilism”.
When I saw this article, I figured we’d have a field day with it, but perhaps it will wait until tomorrow.
It’s a doozy of a study on our indebtedness.
–“Hundreds of thousands of borrowers traditionally believed to be low-risk consumers may suddenly become risky,” said Jason Wang, TransUnion’s director of research and industry analysis in Canada.
—
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/transunion-debt-interest-rates-1.3759844
I always read the comments at blogs,news , etc. Too much humor to miss if you don’t read them.
This blog is well moderated in terms of the things that offend me, unlike Zerohedge for example.
But comments are really about a chance to moderate you Garth, you need to get called on some stuff, it doesn’t work but your readers at least get the idea there may be another way to look at a issue.
I usually read the first 20 comments the night a post comes out. I’ll go back over the previous day’s post and search for “Calgary” “Alberta” and “— Garth”
Keep the comments but punt all the useless jargon especially the “firsts’ etc…..
Keep the comments.
At your salary, hire students to ensure your rules are followed. If they are unsure, escalate to you.
Garth you have built a community. Now think how will it continue as a legacy.
It would be shame this community dies with you some day.
Keep Smoking man, he is very entertaining with some tips. SM … if you have no contracts these days, you should consider a training session. I might have a low point in October and might wander to TO a few weeks. You have an extra room?
>>? #211 Love My Kia on 09.13.16 at 9:42 pm
> Bully right there Garth.
KIA person, get a life. I am so tired of people complaining of bullies. I told my kid punch the shit of that bully, I am sick and tired of hearing complaints. Do what you need to do.
I hear no complaints. My kid took care of his issues. He didn’t use his fists, as I recommended. He used his mind and ensure the bullies’ parents had to drive the kid to school since he was not allowed on the bus.
Now that is evil/political in the making. Much smarter than me.
As my kid, Smoking Man probably had lots of bullies make fun of him as he grew up.
As my kid, he probably had stupid teachers sticking to the curriculum.
In life, there is no curriculum. If you get paid the top 5% you better get shit done.
I’d never drive a KIA.
Those are for losers.
I appreciate your blog posts and all of the information you provide for free. I am continually amazed at the patience & tolerance you have for some of the commentators on your blog.
These days, I mostly Control+F for some key words related to the topics I am interested in. I skip a lot of the comments like: “First!” (What are you like 12 years-old?) or the rambling walls of texts some through up after copying and pasting the latest doomtard post from zerohedge.
Thanks for the blog and much appreciated…comments or no comments in the future!
Oh look the majority of Canadians blindly supporting Big Brother and censorship – dont do it – keep the comments – audit them – but dont dont succumb to more nanny state controls
#180 Kelsey
Nicely Put!
Not sure if the blog would be the same without the comments.
Smoking Man – no need to get riled up today, ignore the finger pointers (they need to grow some thick skin). I think you are insightful and I have been following Trump to see if you are right…but no need to carry on man. I know you recently lost your father – I recently lost my mother and she was fine the when I last saw her. Shit happens, concentrate on your book, be well and live. Nothing else really matters, and stop the JD man.
I have been here from the start, back in the day it was Devils Advocate who was punted and he’s back but with a different outlook.
#123 Andrew Woburn on 09.13.16 at 7:59 pm
“More proof that inflation is just a memory, interest rates will never rise again and the middle class is in terminal decline.”
————————————
You are very selective in what you quote… I noticed you ignored:
1) “In addition, the poverty rate fell by 1.2 percentage points, the steepest decline since 1968. There were 43.1 million Americans in poverty on the year, 3.5 million fewer than in 2014. The share of Americans who lack health insurance continued a years-long decline, falling 1.3 percentage points, to 9.1 percent.”
2) “The numbers appear to run counter to Trump’s contention that America is in decline and working people’s lives are getting worse.”
3) ““The highest income growth was in the bottom fifth” of workers, “which is very welcome news,” said Lawrence Mishel, president of the liberal Economic Policy Institute think tank. Furman, of the White House, credited wage-boosting policy initiatives for some of that increase: “The fact that millions of workers have gotten a raise, as states have raised minimum wages, has definitely had an effect there,” he said.”
4) “All told, the gains brought median incomes nearly back to their levels before the recession, after adjusting for inflation, though they remain below 1999 levels.”
Special attention needs to be paid to the “after adjusting for inflation” because your whole point is that inflation is gone, but ignore that these numbers are adjusted for inflation.
#204 – win what? Only those who cross the line will be nuked.
One model you could follow is James Fallows’ blog on The Atlantic. He doesn’t allow comments, but he often features email exchanges with readers in his blog posts. Since he’s a senior journalist with a very well written blog, the people who email him tend to be pretty well informed themselves.
Writing about that mail lets Fallows bring enlightening perspectives to the fore, without forcing readers to wade through a cesspool to find those gems. You already invite a lot of mail, so that wouldn’t be hard to do.
Has this got to do with the plausible chance of Trump succeeding?
Let’s he honest, Garth’s knowledge is why we come here daily. I just wish he would spend more time on asset allocation and tax avoidance tips. Less time on the real estate downward spiral. We get it. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.
The comments section is to feed your own ego….vast majority spewing garbage, speaking on topics that are purely speculation or know nothing about.
And then you have smoking man. I scroll through the drivel for his entertaining posts
#1 rule: never read the comments. Ever.
Garth, you keep reminding us that time is the ultimate limited resource. I suggest you stop spending so much of yours curating the comments section – either delete most of them, or nix them altogether.
# 60 CiCi
Breast milk digests very easily and as a baby grows it often is an empty stomach that creates the scenario you describe.
Absent illness or some medical condition you may try this…it sure worked on all our kids.
The last feeding of the night was a bottle feed of very thinned out pablum. (we used Milupa). Takes a bit longer to digest as opposed to mom’s milk.
You have to enlarge the hole in the bottle’s nipple a bit to allow the slightly thicker food to flow.
For us it meant sleep from 9 pm until at least 6 am.
Hope this helps…off topic as it is tho, eh?
Let’s just keep things respectful as we talk. If someone has a different view of things than you their views should be examined not condemned. You would be surprised at what you can learn with this technique.
Thanks for doing this blog Garth. You don’t know me from Adam but we go way back. I started reading you in the Sun in the 70’s. Jeez a fellow geezer. Thanks again.
For reasons mentioned in this Blog Post, I stopped reading the comments.
154 Long Branch Apprentice on 09.13.16 at 8:32 pm
#66 Love my Kia,
Smoking Man and Freedom First are the two you should be listening to the most, but from your name it looks like you suck at making choices. Kia’s are pieces of garbage, not to mention gutless.
Haters always hate those who they can never be.
Stop the hate, and emulate!
============================
agree, i am a Smokey’s fan too; sometimes send him email with questions, he almost always replies, shares thoughts.
I can imagine how daunting and time consuming it would be to moderate these comments. However, I think it is a great (and sometimes amusing) way to immortalize the brilliant (and sometimes moronic) views of your readers.
The comments also add a level of conversation and contribution to this blog that I think is important to some of your readers. We feel like we know you – and all of that other warm and fuzzy crap. I read, or at least skim, the comments daily knowing that I am free to add to the discussion if I wish.
To minimize your pain, perhaps set a limit to the number of words we can post (some are way too long – like my post right now) as well as a limit to the number of times you can comment on the same post. That should frustrate us enough to eliminate some of be nonsense. Blocking the abusers from commenting after two deletions would also work. Bam!
Yes, clean-up please, the mindless chatter is wearing out my scroll bar. And besides, like #2 Blobby, I search for “Garth” and only read the ones you’re replied to.
Garth, Keep the comment section, but require that commenters truly identify themselves. HD
Keep the comments section but only publish those that add to the discussion in a meaningful way. I seldom post and have found the comments pretty distasteful not long ago. Some people confuse a call to be respectful with being censured for political correctness. Which I find weird because being mean is just mean. Saying one doesn’t want to be politically correct is not an excuse to be rude. And a low tone does put me off of the comments because I’m wading through drivle to get to some great stuff. It would be nice if there was a “like” function on the comments. As for the “firsts” I find it both tedious and endearing.
Soon a significant number of posts, and the bullies behind them, will be punted from this blog. So get used to fewer being published. While we’re at it, maybe the whole section should be nuked.
Got a comment on that?
reading the comments section takes a lot of time. Someone screens them and then then you have to review the ones he screens. Your background in the newspaper business lets you decide which are libelous. Your background as a politician and MP adds a lot of depth.
I add my comments to see what I write. here’s some posters that I like:
Andrew Woburn
Chaddywack ( even though he moved to Calgary )
Bill Gable
Boom
Washed Up Lawyer
Ace Goodheart ( I liked his story about a couple making $600,000 who are mortgaged to their ears )
Linda
Cici ( on raising children, it takes energy and stamina )
Aggregator
Victor V ( mostly)
right now as long as a post isn’t libelous and doesn’t really offend you, you let it go. It could be stupid, inane or just plain wrong and you still let it go.
I only read the comments to see if Josef made it to the first post :) Oh yeah baby!!!
First time in a long time I read most of the posts and agree with the majority of the posts.
Your decision
Why spend so much time yourself?
my nickel
Delete anyone with the word first,
If you don’t like someone don’t read their posts
Just don’t read what you don’t like
I think comments should only be allowed on the topic of the day why rant about everything under the sun.
That should cut the comments by 90 percent.
And in all honesty you written over 2 ,000 posts predicting a housing correction, to sell a book.
Time to give it a rest move onto a new topic?
New topic for the bog dogs
There will be no more pensions in 30 to 50 years here’s a strategy to protect your retirement and wealth.
How to buy a house after the crash and reap large profits.
ha ha it should have recovered by then. Maybe?
Nictonite hybrids.
https://youtu.be/ls_ZtM1Itzs
time is too valuable, sounds like so much work to go through all the chatter. Perhaps a trial period with no more comments at all for a month or 2, see how much more time you have without having to moderate anymore. Been reading your posts since ’09 – imo quality of the commentary is not the same anymore, so I now often skip them. Thanks for all the time and devotion you have put in – Whatever you decide, I’ll still read the posts.
Gawd! And I thought you were a capitalist!
Supply and Demand!
If you want to limit the amount of stupid posts, charge people for posting!
If the idiots think their posts are so brilliant, let them pay for their conviction.
Charge $5000 per post to start. If you have no takers lower the price. If you have too many up it.
Economics 101.
Hillary should do the same for media press conference questions they all whine about, but start at $100000 per question. Then donate the cash to the Clinton foundation. That should shut up the bitching about a lack of press conferences. That is if Hillary can crawl out of her death bed and survive the second amendment people.
There are a lot of blogs on the Internet. But only one greater fool.ca! The comments are part of the fabric of this blog in my opinion. I like reading about the anecdotals, the links, and back and forth debate. One request: if you do nuke the comment section give one warning post so Joseph vs. Jimmy can be settled once and for all.
What you could do, if you have a decent website developer, is to add a ‘moderation section’ to your website. You would get volunteers from your website to moderate the comments. If a majority of moderators vote ‘no’ to the comment, it would be automatically deleted. If the majority vote yes, then it gets added to the pool that are waiting your final approval. You can refine the rules obviously. You would significantly reduce your workload that way. I’ve seen it working on other websites and it’s pretty effective.
There is. Reason only 1% leave com,nets!….. And that’s because only 1 % read them.
99% of it ispretty low value stuff…..sorry, but true.
Love the blog, though!
Your not alone my dogs, including bully. James, the truth is coming.
Full disclosure in November. Here’s a teaser.
https://youtu.be/GyeFIuNX7NI
I love the crazy comment section here.
Charge 5 cents / or ten cents a comment. Where you can buy like comment tokens.
I stopped reading the comments years ago – too much chaff hiding the wheat.
I hope you keep the comments section the way it is. It wouldn’t be the same without it… Although, if you do decide to nuke it, you’d be making me more productive by eliminating the hour of my day I spend reading the comments.
A word of caution Garth, your bounce rate will skyrocket if you nuke the comments… Ask your SEO/web guy how that could impact your traffic and google rankings.
Michael Savage just released a great eye opener book today called Scorched Earth.Its what Obama left behind for the USA.Garth,you should write a book what Harper left for Canada.
How many visitors click through to read the comments? I do so only about 5% of the time.
About time to sort out the riff raff…getting very laborious, including SM, let’s have a completely new program on topic without any predudice or off tangent subjects.
In fact, I’d say the ridiculous comments might be half the fun!
Garth, I’ve seen carefully curated comments sections that are a joy to read, and then I see the sewers that are the CBC and Globe and Mail comments section. I know that more careful review will be a lot of work, but I would definitely read more comments. It might be worth implementing a hints page showing bad comments vs good comments, highlighting the difference and in cases where a bad comment could communicate a good idea, show how this is could be done.
Punt away, it’s long over-due.
which is worse, an exhausted general or an exhausted army, neither is ideal but one can be fatal.
Please keep the comments. The fact you moderate means most of the crap gets deleted. Most discussion is informative. The comments also seem to give us an idea of what the average person thinks about any particular topic.
MF
Garth, I agree with you that some of the comments are of little value, but many are gems, please leave the comment section in your blog, it brings a great deal enjoyment, laughter and learning. Thanks for slugging it out over these years, you’re a treasure and in my mind deserve the “Order of Canada” :-)
Garth, it is your blog. Nuke if you want to!
#112 – re Calgary, lots of anger out there it seems. I can understand being upset that life is currently more lemon than lemonade, but don’t understand how acting out that aggression does anything but make a bad situation worse. Because if the acting out is supposed to end the aggression, all I can say is it isn’t working.
I agree with Bytor the Snow Dog. No one forces you to read the comments. I hate how many publications are banning comments altogether. It makes the article/post feel more one sided. Take the CBC. Any article that is not about a neutral subject like Facebook apps has the comments enabled. Yet when they post Liberal propaganda we have no way to tell them it’s crap.
MF
Correction: any article that is not about a neutral subject has the comments removed**
MF
Vancouver is dragging down all of B.C. housing market numbers, new data says
http://www.financialpost.com/m/wp/news/blog.html?b=business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/mortgages-real-estate/vancouver-is-dragging-down-all-of-b-c-housing-market-numbers-new-data-says&pubdate=2016-09-14
Metro Vancouver’s housing decline dragged statistics down for the whole province and consensus from the industry is the pullback in Canada’s most expensive city is far from over.
The British Columbia Real Estate Association said prices across the province dropped 8.1 per cent on average in August from a year ago, while sales rose 1.5 per cent during the period — despite a 25.6 per cent pullback in sales activity in Vancouver.
Garth, you are so pathetic and so is your blog.
No way you’ll shut it down.
It’s addictive.
Come here every day.
Delete the firsts, limit the amount of comments per person (as in your Helpful Reminders), any rude, distasteful remarks ban for any length of time.
It would be a sad day to see the comment section closed.
Nuke the comments. I come here to read what you have to say, not what Jimbob has to spew from the ozarks.
Adopt a Twitter format whereby comments are restricted to length. Say, 500 characters. You decide on a suitable number.
Many of the long winded comments are drivel, soapboxing, or blog-arguing. Not only do you have to screen them, they aren’t constructive and/or a poorly thought out ramblings.
With a character limitation contributors are forced to make their point succinctly.
Don’t nuke it. Instead monetize the blog and use the proceeds to pay a student part time to filter the comment section.
Do what you need to do, Mr. Turner. I come here to read your words of wisdom/advice. I made the choice not to read the comments a long time ago. Unfortunately, it takes too much time to sift through the bullsh*t comments to find the worthy ones. I would rather spend my time doing something else. If the comments section were closed for a few months or a year, this is one reader who wouldn’t mind.
The press out here led me to believe that Garth Turner started to blog from inside government & the Control Freak freaked out & put him on notice; no blog. Resistance led to Garth’s demise.I didn’t know what a blog was then.
I took notice because John Cummins was my guy & I was one of his bagmen. John was the first MP to get the Hairy Eyeball. Watching another believer marching to the gallows I found morbidly fascinating. Maybe I wanted vindication that it wasn’t just us that had made the mistake of investing time & money into a representative, only to be crushed by a cruel leader. This was our second failure as we had watched helplessly while John Fraser was eviscerated by fearful eastern apparatchiks. Somebody from back east getting ground up by the PM comforted me. It wasn’t just western stubbornness that led us to the gallows, we had nobler shared goals.
I still like to come to this blog with the feeling we haven’t lost. Garth is leading us on a mission, even tilting at windmills. Thats why I think that he’ll always have a blog & input from the great unwashed in some format. Imagine what the Conservative Party & the country would be like now if MP’s like Garth & John had prevailed & we had had open government.
Garth,
You are the brain of the blog and the comments are the soul.
You can’t have one without the other.
Advise: ditch the Saturday boys.
Booring!.
I never use the comments section of your blog. I have nothing to say myself, and I come here to read what *you* have to say, not to read the hateful stupidity of random internet idiots, and I’ve often wondered why you bother providing a platform for them at all. Seems like more work than it’s worth.
I haven’t posted or read comments in years… Perhaps a few weird comments from smoking man creeped me out. Some sites have moderators so the blogger doesn’t have to do all the work. I am sure there are a few you trust?
My 2 cents
#205 Phil Indablanque on 09.13.16 at 9:33 pm
It wouldn’t be greater fool without the blog dogs. Or the moderation.
2 thumbs up. Most of the comments that said he should kill the comments also said they never read it. Well, they don’t have to if they don’t want to.
I’ve noted that although Garth is obviously moderating tonight he’s been careful not to comment on comments. Well, whatever he does it’s his choice, certainly the comments section isn’t drawing in the 6 million visitors a year probably only a small subsection as he said 1%, but isn’t that still 60,000 views or something? I don’t know if I had 60,000 ardent fans I’d probably release an album if I could sing.
Anyway, Garth, it’s your sight and you can do what you want. You might even be able to find a few people to do the moderation for you. Maybe you can add that to your receptionist’s task list. Although I think I get it, why would you pay for that, so the message tonight is the same one you have had to issue a few times before: Behave, I only have so much time to sort through your crap! That’s a fair message given the site is free and you’ve done all you can to help people make better decisions for free. We should make it as easy as possible on you.
(And PS I was right you went over 200 comments tonight. Well it serves you right you threatened to cancel our favorite blog comment section.)
Garth,
I really like this blog with your narrative and the blog dogs comment.
Tired though of your constant threats of closing it down because some poster goes over your line.
Close the comment section down and see what happens.
Original blog dog. Been here since the heady days of the greater fool book. I’ve noticed it’s much more difficult to sort the good user comments from all the idiots operating their sub-blogs through the comment section on a daily basis. Just send the “First!” and hater commenters packing.
Please delete all the white noise “Firsts”. They add zero to the conversation yet fill up space. I can’t imagine how empty of achievement one’s life must be that posting “first” on a blog means something to them, yet they persevere daily.
I propose a sabbatical leave for the comments section. At least until the U.S. election is over.
Nah G, the comments are useful. Sometimes people make good points and there are so many times you offer great rebuttals to comments. Also, some commenters provide great links to other useful information. I really hope you keep the comment section
Disappointed to see you dismiss the commenters contribution to this forum. OK, ‘man up’ and turn them off and see what happens to this forum.
The elephant in this room is that the housing downturn didn’t come, and instead a boom came.
Keep the comments section but punt those who post insulting or bullying comments. And make the expulsion permanent.
I’m almost tempted to quote that old mantra about a good column being somewhat like a warm bath, that seasoned readers like to climb into once a day…
Regardless, I enjoy the column and the comments; tho I must admit that sometimes I don’t have the time to read all of the latter. Definitely more meat in the column, but I enjoy hearing other points of view.
In fact, due to my erratic work schedule (mostly based upon my self-imposed quest for semi-retirement, and/or afternoon power-naps that have overextended themselves) I sometimes don’t show up for weeks or even months at a time.
I’ll vote for keeping the comments section, but will continue to read the column as often as I can even if they’re nuked. As far as “anonymity” goes, I’m not sure that’s much of an issue to anyone who’s advancing an opinion they believe in, and can elucidate the reasons for doing so. People looking for flame wars and/or trolling for recreation aren’t going to stick around long if the veil drops; maybe that’s yer solution right there?
Whatever you decide, hope the column continues in it’s opinionated, bombastic, and sometimes irreverant style. Coherent and honest writing (backed up with solid reasoning) is an extreme rarity in a politician, retired or not; and the ability to explain the do’s n’ don’ts of financial investing (without putting people to sleep) is another scarce talent…two reasons why I keep coming back.
In addition, you obviously have a few other interests in life besides overpriced housing (Dorothy, dogs, HD’s, etc) that show up frequently, so the prose doesn’t wind up hammering the same nail day after day.
Keeping this up for 5 days a week (plus moderating) is more of a job description than I’d want…
Whatever you decide, keep the silly pics!
I like the suggestions for better commenting software. A system of upvoting and downvoting would allow the comments section to somewhat self moderate, something like Reddit.
Nested commenting would also do a lot for encouraging interesting discussion that is specific to the point at hand. When the conversation is in sequence instead of disjointed it creates some interesting dialogue.
With the current system it is hard to find the worthwhile comments in a sea of crap. I commend you for making it ad free and for all the time you spend moderating but I think an upgrade in your blog tech could do wonders.
My guess is all the “First” posts would be downvoted to oblivion, along with the rest of your regulars.
I agree with Bytor the Snow Dog.
“Last thing I wanna see is another blog comments section fall to the PC crowd.”
Sorry Garth, it is tough to be a moderator and time consuming as you’re well aware of but you did sign up for this by starting a blog with moderated comments.
When I’m pressed for time and can’t read and or skim the comments, I just ctrl F “— Garth”. There’s usually a good retort that makes me think or smile and on the day goes.
Garth,
Looks like most of your readers want you to “nuke” the comments.
I dare you to follow their advise.
It will spell the end of The Greater Fool.
Can’t shut down the Smoking Man!
I know you don’t do adverts Garth, but where do you suppose I can get an LGBT t-shirt like that?! Super cool haha
How ironic. Yesterday I almost commented on the large number of tin foilers on here. I could not believe some of the fear mongering and hateful BS spewing like a fetid ruptured sewer pipe all over the comment section. I think some of the commenters need to try saying some of the crap they write here to their friends and colleagues faces. I am sure by the horrified looks they get that maybe they should go back on their meds! I am not for political correctness as I believe it creates it’s own ignorance but I do believe in respecting one another. So please Garth, do what you must and hit that delete button.
I read your blog because I am interested in what you – and now 2 of your associates – have to say.
I used to read the comments a lot more, but now I basically scan for links to other sites, if I read them at all. Searching the written content for something worth reading has become very difficult to justify on a timespent/benefit analysis.
I will continue to read your blog for sure. If you are prepared to edit the comments that would be fantastic. If you wish to delete them entirely I would certainly continue to read your blog.
Thanks for doing this.
Love the blog Garth. Read it every day. Read the comments everyday as well. I don’t see the bullying, but then again I don’t see every comment.
Whatever you decide I’m with you!
With that said, if you’re using a tracker on your site you can easily figure out how long it takes an average person to read your post (# of words in the post / average time for a person to read a word). Anything above that, they’re reading the comments. Quick and quasi-intelligent way to figure out how many people actually read the comments section. You can also use something like Disqus or many of the other free automated commenting tools as many mentioned above.
You can set spam words and rules so it automatically moderates the comments.
Your blog, you choice but vitrol serves no purpose except to the poster hiding behind his/her crap…
I’ve been a daily reader since 2009, and though the comments section has degraded over the years, I have found it useful for the following reasons:
– some mindful commentary, and links that were informative that I otherwise would not have encountered.
– exposure to alternative viewpoints, that I might not have otherwise encountered
– sharing stories and offering advice, while pulling my financial future out of peril, knowing that I’m not the only person in this situation
– continuous validation that my BS detector is working
– as a warning.
If the comments are to be lost, i’ll still come back for the editorials.
But if the comments can stay, I’d suggest one comment per IP address, per day, to cut down on the taunting and bullying.
A refreshing few paragraphs of truth in the Canadian media concerning the CMHC and Canada’s banking system. Very few mainstream media outlets have actually argued against the CMHC (RE interests spend big $$ on advertising), so its quite unusual to see stuff like this:
http://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/savingandinvesting/canada%E2%80%99s-banks-are-a-big-reason-our-economy-is-in-the-dump
“In truth, Canada’s big banks have a lot to do with our economy experiencing the worst growth in the past six decades. Historically, when Canada’s economy is growing and not in a recession, we typically average 5% growth or more over any two-year period, yet here we sit with just 1.2% growth since May 2014.
But why blame the banks?
Because they’ve lobbied and cajoled Ottawa into giving them free rein when it comes to residential mortgage lending. If a homeowner with an insured mortgage defaults and the bank can’t collect all of the funds owed by foreclosing or other legal remedies, the mortgage insurer, whether CMHC or one the two private insurers in this country, steps in to repay the banks.
CMHC currently insures $520 billion in mortgages and Genworth another $197 billion. Canada Guaranty doesn’t reveal numbers. However, I’d guess it would be around $100 billion, perhaps less. That’s $800 billion or so the banks have loaned with little or no risk to their own shareholders.
Forget the implications of this for the Canadian taxpayer and consider what this means from an entrepreneurial, risk-taking perspective.
Could you imagine what our economy would be like if the government didn’t backstop $520 billion in mortgages, but instead put that money toward loans for new businesses? It would be so much more diversified than it currently is and arguably in much better shape.”
Basically mirrors much of the argument that Mark has been making for years. That Canada’s economy sucks because CMHC subprime mortgage insurance has removed most incentive for the banks to do anything but sit back and be lazy writing loans against RE. Knowing that the CMHC will pay them off, in whole, when the bubble inevitably crashes into deflation. The CMHC thinks they’re selling one-off mortgage insurance. ie: Johnny and Suzy are an unlucky couple, lose their jobs, and default on their mortgage. CMHC’s ~$20B of capital does not anticipate masses of people running into financial distress, creating a systemic housing and financial crisis for which the CMHC is obliged to pay on loan guarantees.
I read this website daily, but I rarely read the comments. I find the total number of comments a useful indicator of interest in the topic. However, so many of the comments are on the fringe that I don’t find any value in reading them.
Yeah, I’m with you on this.
Until people are willing to back up their comments with their name – and reputation – anonymous posting will always be mostly a load of crap. Being unaccountable for what you say can produce an astounding amount and array of really horrible stuff, not worth the bytes they’re (screen) printed on.
It’s worth remembering: if you read the comments, that’s your fault.
please keep the comments, get rid of any that say ” first “. Keep the smoker if he is willing to moderate his wilder ass rambles. Possibly limit the size of posts. Haters got to go, they only waste time. You do great work here Garth and the comments have the potential to improve on it. Thanks.
CTRL+F: – Garth
Thats how I read the comments section.
Garth thank you so much for writing this blog, it’s been a pleasant constant in my life for many years now and I recommend it regularly to young and old. My kids are addicted to it as well and have a made great decisions based on this pathetic blog. I enjoy the comment section and would like to see it stay however, I would agree that you should just nuke any comment that is spurious or rubs you the wrong way. This is your castle and you can do what you want.
There are some very intelligent Commenters to your Blog – likes attract.
Throw out the nonsense, off topic and off color Comments.
Keep only those that add value to the arguments you present or off-topic but provide new information worth disseminating to the rest of us.
I can glance read most days of Comments within a few minutes and I know so can you.
Cheer up Garth. Your Blog is the highlight of my morning read of the news and you keep me informed about what matters more than the MSM put together.
Because of you, I have become far more aware of the world around me.
This is who you are, the guy that wants to be honest with Canadians about what is really happening and why Harper gave you the punt – you believe in truth and honesty, never stop believing and know that many of us love/admire you for that.
-your acolyte bsant54.
It would be a shame to lose the community that is the comment section, but at the same time, it must be a big slice of your day to police it. It is also a pain for the rest of us to sift through the firsters and other undesirables.
It has always struck me that the structure of the comment section encourages virtually anonymous drive by commenting. There is no login, email addresses are not checked and most ip addresses are dynamic, so banning is only going to last as long as the ISP’s lease time – perhaps a week to a few months.
I presume this must have been discussed before, but maybe one of the many blog platforms available might make things easier. They all seem to have their pros and cons, but it is possible that there are one or two that would be a good fit.
I will throw in a quick suggestion for features that I would like as a reader:
Threading
Like/Dislike/up vote/down vote
Hiding comments with too many down votes
Report spam/abuse
Ignore user option
I am not an expert in this, but maybe one of the other blog dogs is and could step up?
Great Blog!
Before just nuking the comments, is it possible to limit character length of each comment and/or introduce a Reddit-like voting system that moves interesting comments up and nonsense to the bottom?
Good post, Garth. What you call bullies are what I broadly refer as ‘naysayers’. There are plenty and I have had to block comments from many such people on my website. They can’t seem to believe that it is possible for normal blokes in a professional job to achieve financial independence and early retirement. I got especially nasty comments when I posted about how buying a house can hamper your career growth. Vindicates my choice of moderating all comments!
I almost never read them, a) I am only interested in the main article, b) I don’t have time, c) There is often a lot of negative, abusive nonsense. Up to you what you do but a code of respectful conduct is as important here as anwhere and certainly if this behavior is likely to stop you from doing what you do, I would rather see you delete the comments section.
Take a look at http://www.mrmoneymustache.com.
I found that blog from reading the comments section here.
He has similar rules as yourself regarding the nature of comments that will be considered. The difference is that he sticks to his rules. I noticed that you allow virtually everything to pass. I can only imagine what the content of the “DELETED” comments are.
So, perhaps the idea of more vigilant moderation is the route to go, as opposed to the more extreme path of total elimination.
Extreme measures rarely lead to anything good. The Middle Way is always best. Compromise is wise.
http://www.sgi.org/about-us/buddhism-in-daily-life/the-middle-way.html
Sorry Smoking Man. I love your stuff, but it’s time to go.
Hi Garth, please keep the comment section open. It is even more entertaining and funny than your posts.
People make the choice to read comments or not since we have to click on “comments” to see them. It’s not like it’s right there in our face when we access your blog.
Hey, you may even condiser inserting publicity in-between comments (only).
#22 Happening now:
They say one of the “canary in the coal mine” events portending a correction in the value of residential real estate, is a lot of fraud and misdeeds in the market. Usually this fraud and wrong doing revolves around, yup, shady real estate deals, mortgage fraud and tax evasion relating to capital gains.
WRT comments section: It’s your blog. I am surprised by the stuff that DOES get by the moderator.
I have to agree with with banning the non-constructive comments. Too many of the comments offer nothing more than narrow-minded ego-driven drivel.
But once the drivel is flushed – it would be good to reward the thoughtful and constructive comments by allowing readers to approve or dissapprove of the comment and then sort by highest reader-rated. This would be similar to what the Globe and Mail comments section looks like. Often commentators add perspective and value to an article.
I know this has been suggested for this site before and may not be easy to implement – but it is the best way to bring out the best out of the comments sections which will add value to this blog.
I always read the first few comments of a G&M article – and sorry Garth – but I’ve stopped reading the comments on this site a long time ago.
Oh another interesting thing about high residential real estate valuations and “bubble bursting” events….if you want to win an election in a democracy, do not cater to the 1%. Avoid appearing to do that at all costs.
So if the 1% happen to be a bunch of newly minted millionaires hoping to cash in tax free on their recently acquired, heavily mortgaged multi million dollar crap shacks….don’t be too surprised if the government steps in and ruins the party.
There aren’t enough home owners in Vancouver to win an election with (assuming any of them even vote – usually the over 60 crowd is the target audience of any election, because they have nothing else to do)
The Globe and Mail is doing an awesome job investigating the housing bubble in Canada. It seems Garth was right Canadian were the problem. Canadian Banks and Governments. Todays article from the Globe and Mail will really piss a lot of folks off.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/canadian-banks-mortgage-guidelines-favour-foreign-home-buyers/article31869946/
Exclusive: Canadian banks’ mortgage guidelines favour foreign home buyers
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/canadian-banks-mortgage-guidelines-favour-foreign-home-buyers/article31869946
Canadian banks allow foreign clients with no credit history, including students, to qualify for uninsured mortgages without proving the sources of their income – a practice that exempts non-Canadians who have money in the bank from the scrutiny domestic borrowers face when buying a home or an investment property.
Those exceptions to the regular rules are outlined in internal documents from Scotiabank and the Bank of Montreal reviewed by The Globe and Mail. Scotiabank’s guidelines specify that loans officers do not need to verify foreign clients’ sources of income if they make down payments of 50 per cent. At BMO, such clients need only 35 per cent down to qualify for mortgages up to $2-million. The criteria from both banks show income verification is also not required for new immigrants who have been in Canada less than five years if they put 35 per cent down.
The comments do sometimes get off topic, but there are gems of value or amusement. I agree with other posters that anyone who posts ‘first’ should be punted. The real annoyance are the ‘multiple posters’, and I refer not to two or three posts, but sometimes upward of 10+ lengthy posts. (Mark, Smokey, Freedom First, the Floppy Guy). Smokey can be funny, but there should be an ‘off switch’ at a certain point.
Hey man, it’s your living room.
Great value in the blog, although some info does get repetitive. Surely you can see how much traffic the comments section draws, so it would be nice to keep it. Requiring posters to use their real names would likely improve the discourse. I’m all for ditching worthless posts and bullies! Thanks again for the excellent work!
Blog Dawg and Smoking Man Fan #27 here…
I check out this site for pearls of Garth’s wisdom… but stay for Smoking Man’s colour-commentating…!
Smokey if you are booted off this site half the readership would follow you over to your own blog!
Which one of you good for nothing basement-dwellers is willing to stand up for the slave known as Smoking Man?
….. I’m Spartacus!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKCmyiljKo0
Garth, if you have time or can find someone (usualy some of the participants) to moderate, do that.
Otherwise if you’re fed up close the comment section.
unless you are generating some marketing + clients with the blog, then I’m with Dorothy, no idea why you continue with the same message and peanut gallery year after year. yeah, I know, I’m part of the peanut gallery but still.
I think the reality is this blog has become like a dopamine for you and a little part of you will die or be left unfed if you close it
if it is a time issue, what you could do to save time is just start recycling old posts and eliminate the comments section. the relevance has not changed, you just cried wolf too early b/c you underestimated the nimrods on the hill were so hellbend on looking great after the crash (with RE bubble as the fallout)
if I am ever passing through Belfountain, I will be sure to check out the general store. free sprinkles? who could say no?
The comments make the blog
Without them I don’t think this would have become this popular as not to take away from Garth’s vibrant style, the message got stale eons ago.
Excellent idea – This blog is worth it, in spades.
I skip through a ton of relevant and informative comments because of lesser fools posting “first!” (delete them first, please) as well as biased and crazed re addicts.
Definitely nuke the comments that have nothing to do with the daily post.
The thoughtful comments in the past have added interesting perspectives, but have gotten too hard to find among the useless ones.
Let the drivel writers start their own blogs. If people want to read it that badly their readership should flourish.
#47 Danforth on 09.13.16 at 6:57 pm
….”There is also no need to apologize for such an editorial approach either.”
Completely agree. The quality of this blog merits preservation.
#60 Cici
I haven’t had the time or energy since my son was born (he’s a peach, but cries non-stop from midnight to four in the morning…every morning!)
Desperate times call for desperate measures: do any of the blog dawgs/blog bitches have a remedy or cure for this midnight madness?
Congratulations on the new addition to your family. Sorry to hear about the exhaustion you’re going through.
With my first born I went through something similar. Baby cried for the first month at night time, medically nothing wrong. The only remedy was to put baby in the car, drive a couple of blocks so baby would fall asleep, and off to bed. I called La Leche League out of desperation, because I didn’t think this was normal. The first thing they asked me about foods in my diet that might a be an allergen for baby. It turned out that it was that one cup of tea in the afternoon (hadn’t had any caffeine during the pregnancy). When I eliminated the tea, the gradual transformation over 4-5 days was mind boggling.
Hope you find a solution fast and let us know how baby is doing.
Sleep when baby sleeps!!!!!
#2 Blobby on 09.13.16 at 6:35 pm
I only ever read comments you’ve responded to. So I doubt I’ll even read this.
I do the same. I suggest you only keep the comments that you respond to!!
I listened to your advice and stopped reading the comments a while ago. I’ve felt bad for you being “forced” to read them ever since. If you don’t enjoy it, it’s not worth your time.
Thanks for the blog
#63 Smoking Man on 09.13.16 at 7:04 pm
Smokey, you are a truly unique individual, but you would likely never abuse the privilege of free sprinkles. ;-)
#60 Cici on 09.13.16 at 7:04 pm
is this what Garth doesn’t want in the comments?
ensure the last feeding before bed is good old formula – a little thicker than usual. then pick one of the night time feedings you want to eliminate. water down the formula for that one until it is basically water with a hint of formula. He soon won’t bother waking for it. Then wait a week and repeat for the other night feedings until he sleeps dusk till dawn. worked for us. your mileage may vary. if he feeds from you, you’re on your own
Low interest rate is the norm. Garth, keep dreaming about the interest rate going up:
https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/09/14/bank-of-canada-warns-investors-to-adapt-to-slower-growth-low-interest-rates.html
Read the first para: “those in the financial system need to adapt to the reality of slower growth and associated low interest rates”
“Capital Preservation is Education”
You must maintain the main principle of this blog which is education.
Education and learning is the key take away for the readers. Sometimes commentary from posters is also educational.
You can refine the environment in which learning takes place here.
You could edit and control the comment section by only posting the “top 5 or 10″. These comments would be picked by you based upon their relevancy to the topic. The comments could be either pro or con but fair and informative.
These selected comments would also contain your accompanying commentary and hopefully your famous Wit!. These are the only comments I read anyways.
It might incent people to write commentary that is relevant, mature and respectful and related to the posted topic…….and not try to take up space by writing their own blog or trying to launch their own political party.
And please…..”No likes”. The whole internet world has become addicted to this.
re:#365 Message for Cici
try this one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2C8MkY7Co8
good luck and congrats
i am reading GF probably for over 5yrs steady, and posting ad nauseum comments daily.
I would hate to see comment section gone. Plz dont kill comments section.
Due to fact tah very few people read and engage in my comments i will gladly volunteer to post less, and stick to strict self imposed rules before i do. hopefully that will alleviate some pain from moderation.
If i cant sqiuze at least of 4 from following 10 things in my future posts i wont post.
The List
-Give
-Advise
-Warn
-Amuse
-Inspire
-Amaze
-Unite
-Educate
-Celebrate
-Start Conversation
-Show Gratitude
-Make readers laugh
—–
@ kia
can you kindly go and point out 5 ofencive FF comments, so we can know what are you talking abut.
@all those people that came out of woodwork and wrote something around line ” i dont read/post in comment section, nuke it”, plz go back where you guys came from.
Garth, I really don’t know how you do it all in a day! Being a wife for 40 years to someone who was very dedicated to his prof
Whoops cut off, that never happened before, what I was trying to say, you have dedicated a lifetime to all your different projects and careers, maybe it’s time to enjoy more walks and time with Dorothy and Bandit. Please keep your blog, while I enjoy the comments, in order for you to have a home life, without all the distractions moderating comments, can the comments section.
I’ve been a daily visitor since 2012, this is only my 2nd comment ever. I used to read the comments, but the quality has gone way down, haven’t read them in at least a year, now I only scan the comments section for italicized text, If you don’t care to respond to it then I don’t care either. Delete away! Thanks for all your help Garth!
I never read it. Get rid of it.
Last!
The only comment I have is that when people don’t like the comments, it usually means they are in direct disagreement with what someone has to say, even if it is 100% correct.
It’s obvious to me that you are no better than Hillary Clinton…..after all you were a liberal first, before you changed sides to stay in office.
I rarely read the comments. No love lost if it’s scrapped.
Garth, I ready appreciate your effort and time dedicated to this blog and all the extra time needed for comments’ moderation.
As you stated, most of the comments over time deteriorate and become useless bagage for the main article.
Some comments are useful, some comical but lately most are useless rants (not Smokey’s :)
It is your blog and if you cannot afford time to clean someone else’s mess, kill the comments section.
I don’t think that people will moderate themselves :(
How about a comment rating system?
OMG!!!
So many “new” posters coming out of the woodwork only to say NUKE the comments?
Its your blog Garth but I like the comments section. I can’t even go to the CBC website anymore as it makes me want to throw up when I read all the (Lefty) comments.
I love your posts Garth but I also like the fact that you allow people to post their opinions (as long as they don’t cross certain lines).
And those of you saying “Ban the Smoking Man”… Go back the CBC website and post their if your “sensitive” feelings get hurt.
I hear they have a prize for posting by the most special snowflakes. Hurry…
Smokey does get real close to the line sometimes… but at least he speaks his opinion which is his right. Which I happen to agree with most of the time.
My vote is keep the comments alive! Don’t let the SJW’s win Garth! Keep Cannuckistan Free!
Gonkman
Every blog probably gets the comment section it deserves.
Ontario’s ” car czar” says: We have the talent
…” There are 19,000 IT companies in Ontario, more than 264,000 IT specialists and every year another 39,000 science-technology-engineering-math specialists graduate from the province’s universities and colleges.”
“Our pool of skilled labour and engineers is a very big selling point for us,” Tanguay said.
===========
mexico 8/hr
robots 2.50/hr
energy cost for robots etc ? see Link below
complexity
over 100 million lines of code in a sophisticated car, and a Boeing 787 has 8.5 million.”
====================
ROI
http://www.robotics.org/content-detail.cfm/Industrial-Robotics-Industry-Insights/Calculating-Your-ROI-for-Robotic-Automation-Cost-vs-Cash-Flow/content_id/5285
I find the occasional comments noteworthy, there are some folks who provide substance, just need to grumpier moderator perhaps.
Garth, I read the comments daily and yes many of them are silly,rambling or completely off topic. However, there still seems to be a core of cogent thought and discourse that is valuable; especially when a link is provided.
I also appreciate when dog’s share personal stories. And sometimes there are some quite funny side conversations. Your blog your rules: I would really miss the comments.
Onf51
my name is jess…and i am a readaholic
“If a man points at the moon, an idiot will look at the finger.” – Sufi wisdom
First off, thanks for all the hard work. Notwithstanding any element of self-promotion (of which there is almost none).. this blog serves a great purpose, and fills a void.
Regarding the comments section, heavier moderation sounds like more work for you, but would probably result in a better forum.
My only thought would be to please not silence all dissent. There is a hugely valuable role for “well articulated” arguments that offer different viewpoints.
Keep up the great work!
not sure how complicated it would be, but you could replicate Reddit’s method of auto-moderation.
If after a 10 votes more than 50% are ”downvoted”, a [remove] tag appears.
Just an idea to save you time and keep this section relevant.
Seems Garth that you might just see for yourself the effects of foreign $$ on your local market ???
Toronto luxury home sales heating up as B.C. tax diverts foreign buyers: Sotheby’s
Toronto’s housing market should brace for more interest from foreign buyers, as the effect of British Columbia’s …
http://www.bnn.ca/1.566555.1473853106
keep the comments, delete the bad ones, there is value in knowing what people are thinking and useful info from different parts off the country
Why is it that real estate can’t go up forever, but stock markets can?
Delivering Alpha Conferance concludes that “60-40″ accts ” are the most dangerous investment”. But hey, these are only the brightest suits in the world, what do they know, right?
#265 Corban on 09.13.16 at 10:44 pm
I usually read the first 20 comments the night a post comes out. I’ll go back over the previous day’s post and search for “Calgary” “Alberta” and “— Garth”
———————————————————–
Ditto that.
Plus Garth, come on, it’s not all bad comments – you must enjoy some of the ego stroking you get from here.
I’ve said some good things about you.
#358 Steve French on 09.14.16 at 7:27 am
You are the reason we need SM out of here… it attracts the likes of you.
Fingers crossed we can return to discussing the Blog Post and not the daily sh!t show
First time I have ever read the comments…
I prefer to read the good info you provide and be on with my day.
Please nuke the blog Garth
Garth
I for one enjoy this website and the comments section. Your blogs are useful, entertaining and love the pics you use to set the pace of your blogs and consequently my day. I would prefer that you leave leave things as is though. Sure you get the usual virtriol, mayhem, idots, bullies etc through the comments section but hey “Its your house and you can invite whomever you want and throw out the trash”
For me the comments section is extremely interesting and useful because it delivers a small cross section of our society in such a pure way. I usually just skip over the trolls who have so much to say behind the security of a computer or cell phone but there are many readers who have something to offer. Like you, we have experiences in life and can offer it freely in the comments section. If you or your readers can help just one person from getting that extra % or saving a few bucks then YOU have accomplished the goal of your website.
I love your work and it would be a “sad day if you changed the content and delivery of your website”
Thank you,
US economy is kicking Canadian ass
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2016/09/14/with-record-income-gains-what-excuse-will-the-fed-use-now/
Sucks to hold dollarettes
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/save-more-for-retirement-or-plan-for-less-income-boc-official-says/article31874836/
Read carefully.
I only bother to read a comment when it is my own or when I post a question that never gets answered :-). In other words, I don‘t find the comments section too useful.
A side note: Garth, you need to find another way to run your surveys if you close the comments section.
Another side note: I have noticed a pattern lately; Garth threatening to close the blog. I would hate if the blog gets shutdown (I really think it is very useful); but if it’s really meant to happen, just get it over with.
By the way, this pattern is contradictory, on one side we have *the take down threads* and on the other the blog is *now running now 7 days a week*. Please, make your mind. I don’t appreciate being bullied.
Respectfully,
Yanniel (not anonymous)
Good riddance to the comment section.
Seldom read the comments so wouldn’t miss them.
Banks are enabling the bubble with foreign money…
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/canadian-banks-mortgage-guidelines-favour-foreign-home-buyers/article31869946/
#382 Gonkman on 09.14.16 at 9:02 am
OMG!!!
So many “new” posters coming out of the woodwork only to say NUKE the comments?
Its your blog Garth but I like the comments section. I can’t even go to the CBC website anymore as it makes me want to throw up when I read all the (Lefty) comments.
I love your posts Garth but I also like the fact that you allow people to post their opinions (as long as they don’t cross certain lines).
And those of you saying “Ban the Smoking Man”… Go back the CBC website and post their if your “sensitive” feelings get hurt.
I hear they have a prize for posting by the most special snowflakes. Hurry…
Smokey does get real close to the line sometimes… but at least he speaks his opinion which is his right. Which I happen to agree with most of the time.
My vote is keep the comments alive! Don’t let the SJW’s win Garth! Keep Cannuckistan Free!
Gonkman
…
DITTO
I’m always amazed that you have the time to moderate the comments. I think it’s wonderful that you are banning the bullies.
I’d still come here to read your blog without the comments, I find it very entertaining and informative. There are very few comments that I find add any value.
With respect Mr. Turner – do it. It’s yours and, really, some of the comments are simply trash or baiting. I do read the comments and there are some informative ones that bring a difference of opinion so, I hope, it doesn’t get trashed but given the bullying or silly nature of some of the comments, especially of late, is understanable.
#383 Ralph Cramdown
Hey! Ralphie is still here. Good to see ya man
Re comments/ just ban all those who say nuke the comments. Don’t ever let them read or comment ever.
RE bullies . I was once in a farm area and cut thru a cow pasture. A large bull came out of nowhere and charged at me. Once up close he proceeded to bully me with taunts and name calling.
Kindergarten advice: sticks and stones…..
+1 in favour of punting the obvious trolls and seeing how it goes, but keeping a finger on the trigger if things don’t improve. This blog entirely changed my perspective on how to manage my resources; it would be a travesty to see this light go out thanks to a few nasties. No comments is a miniscule price to pay if the alternative is no blog.
How about following half-measure to cut down the moderation burden and limit senseless spewing?
Don’t axe the Comments section, but limit each blog dog to a fixed number of comments per day. I’d suggest 3-4.
It may seem like too restrictive to many, but it’s reasonable when you think about it.
IMO, 1 post to throw down one’s initial two cents followed by 2-3 rebuttal posts to respond to others’ counterarguments is more than enough for anyone to express themselves fully on any topic in the world.
Beyond that it tends to gets tedious and repetitive.
I say any decent communicator / debator needs no more than that and running beyond that is good indication of either a troll or a compulsive windbag that ought to be restrained.
First time to comment.
Shut down the comment section!
Dump it, Garth. It’s become a Chat Room (remember those?) for the terminally disaffected to reinforce each other’s opinions. A few intelligent folk and some sensation seekers might be briefly upset, but they probably have real lives.
Hello I am Kanadian. All content I read must be approved by CBC, T2 or a university professor.
Anything which does not validate my boring existence of shopping, Netflix and mindless white collar busy work and office backstabbing and preening must be de facto excluded.
Stay outta my Safe space
For god’s sake yes…please delete the noisemakers, anonymous provocateurs and anyone, everyone who shouts “First…yeah yeah first!”. Free speech? Hell no. This is your blog.
When all is said and done, this blog is your baby. How you choose (or if!) to allow commentary on the articles you post is entirely at your discretion. As you pointed out, you are beholden to nobody; you have not monetized the blog and you continue to give us the equivalent of a full time job’s effort to post and moderate on a daily basis. How many of us blog dogs work six days a week???
My preference would be to see you keep the comments section and if more rigorous moderation is what you wish to do, then go for it. Personally, I could do without the daily raft of “First!” posts, but as they are not bullies, it doesn’t stop me reading through the comments section :)
I will support whatever decision you make. Just please keep posting your blogs!
Drop the big one Garth!!
Removing comments altogether sounds extreme. Why not upgrade the comment system to
* allow for people to up vote/down vote comments
* support (nested) comment threads vs individual comments
It is quite hard to follow a conversation with the way comments are structured right now.
By allowing people to up vote/down vote, you can minimize the upfront overhead of moderating comments. Community voting will also help surface good quality content for other readers I hope.
I don’t bother reading the comment section because there’s no ranking system. Usually 5 of the first 10 comments are something like “FRIST PSOT!!!1”
If users could upvote and downvote comments, I would read the most popular comments at the top and ignore the crazies at the bottom.
In my estimation, this blog and the comments are the single best repository of information about Canada that exists. If we wish to assist in its preservation, it is incumbent upon all of us to do our part and ease Garth’s load somewhat. Such a step is easy. He lists his guidelines. I hope it is a mere tightening by Garth (his judgment is sound and he favours free expression) and not an abandonment of the comments or the blog in its entirety. I will try to do my part, cure my compulsion to comment every day and remain relevant.
How ’bout those Stampeders, eh?
could be my last comment here :)
I do not read all comments nowadays, but sometimes people put links to interesting sites here. Will not miss the section much.
That’s right dementos. It sure looks like master gave up on sleep. This isn’t about you, only if you want to fight like bitches with hydrophobia. Get over with it by the end of this post. Saturday comes you pay respect to affiliates. Be kind! That’s where Garth time to sleep is concealed.
I always figured Smoking Man was actually Garth, using the moniker to stir up discussion.
Otherwise I just feel bad for the guy. Thinks he’s so enlightened by being an insufferable asshole. Let the ego die buddy, you’re not really impressing anyone.
Ahh, I love the smell of fresh censorship in the morning
If I visit a website with no comments allowed or only Facebooks spying comment plugin, I usually don’t read very far into the article
The internet is a public place. If your blog is public and you refuse to entertain comments then you are the same as Hillary Clintons lack of press conferences and pre approved questions
I’m surprised that Garth thinks that as the housing market in Canada begins to roll over that the discourse quality drops.
Nothing like a 40yr bull to keep comments civil. But civility is a luxury when one condo sale just canceled due to the 15% BC tax and now your banker is tightening your line of credit.
This blog is a moderated reflection of the market. Start censorship and lose that reflection.
Of course, truly abhorrent posts should be deleted but you could chart the negative posts against the housing price collapse and data mine that to monetize the site.
Best of luck. I don’t do censored sites
#60 Cici on 09.13.16 at 7:04 pm
——————————————–
As some other commenters have indicated, you may want to take a close look at your diet. Some vegetables like cabbage, brussel sprouts and broccoli can cause infants to get gas. Best of luck. It really does get better.
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-eating/breastfeeding/common-problems/colic-causing-foods-breastfeeding
Couple thoughts on shutting down the “Share your Comment” section:
1. Investment Turner clients should get a free pass to post comments. After all, they are practically TI family and have certainly “paid” for the right to voice an opinion.
2. You know the saying “when one door closes, another opens”? A single, or group, of influential and motivated Blog Dogs could open a secondary blog to Greater Fool. Comments related to the GF daily blog are not just permitted but encouraged — uncensored. Of course, most of us are far too busy to manage a daily 2-step ‘read-one-blog-then-post-to-another-blog’ process but it surely could be accomplished. Kind of like what some investors having been doing in Van & T.O. — skirting the roadblocks very, very successfully.
Personally, I read posts where GT has commented AND posts less than a few paragraphs. I never read SM’s posts (not even going to say his name) nor anything more than 3-4 paragraphs. Would I miss the comments? Maybe.
As Garth is keen to remind us, time is truly our most valuable asset.
Opinion: In the housing market, foreign buyers are given a different set of rules
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/in-the-housing-market-foreign-buyers-are-given-a-different-set-of-rules/article31870554/
Garth
Remove the comments section all together!!!
Gives you more time to write more postings without wasting your time reviewing the comments.
Again, R E M O V E COMMENTS!!!
Yes, nuke the entire comment section. Few comments ever have any merit.
I actually was amused at the comments today – majority say nuke the comments because they don’t bother to read it ?? Huh, so why even comment, and after Garth writes about the Bullies – there was one in here that was constantly calling out Smoking Man to be kicked out (talk about calling the kettle black) geez! Comments for the most part add value – it’s nice to sense what others are thinking or disturbed thinking! Yes, I get annoyed with “first” but that’s why I can scroll down. I believe in 2 simply rules – stop with the first, its such a waste and those who don’t like other comments, should be deleted if they openly attack other posters. Garth, long time follower who has watched the housing bubble brew since 2005 – great job – but if this site were axed tomorrow – I would say he had an excellent run. All the best, life is too short to worry about what others think of ourselves – keep it simple, you’ll smile more.
hi Garth, LOVE your voice, opinion, intellect, ideas, wisdom, etc. But I feel the comments section is the garbage that I feel bad afterwards that I dug into it. I think you should value your precious time and do with it what you want. Lose it if need be. I will still read every day.
displacement /disrupters
fingerprint requirement for uber and lyft spent 8m. to persuade and lost
http://www.govtech.com/transportation/Examining-What-Happens-When-Uber-Pulls-Out-of-a-City.html
Uber and Lyft supporting a statewide bill that would legalize and regulate TNC’s. This would override Austin’s regulations on fingerprinting. Texas State Legislature is out of session until 2017. Can they hold out that long?
no drivers
In the US, self-driving cars are currently governed at the state level, and Uber is taking advantage of a regulatory void in Pennsylvania, which has yet to enact autonomous vehicle legislation.
==========================
tax breaks?
meanwhile many have taken their place along with this interesting entry —non profit Ride Austin
http://www.rideaustin.com/
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/ride-austin-uber-lyft/
I have no useful comment on the comments. I like the weekend guest contributors. I get the real estate message but what I really crave is the financial assessments and the blog photograph.
99% of the comments are terrible.
Close them down Garth, you’ll be happier and more frisky.
Please leave it as-is Garth. The comments are quite entertaining. Besides, it wouldn’t be the same without Smoking Man.
I read virtually all the comments every single day, but I’m admittedly addicted to this blog.
My suggestion: look at the G&M’s comments format and adopt something like it. Thumbs up/down. Good comments rise to the top, the rest are shamed to the bottom of the heap.
I have learned a lot from the comments so I wouldn’t like to see them go.
Garth, dear.
I say keep the comments but limit to two posts per day per poster (tracking IP so name changes will not circumvent restriction).
This will limit it’s use as a chat line and allow the poster an expression of opinion and a rebuttal, if required.
I was actually taking a look at the comment section back a few years ago… about 200 comments a day.
The major difference is how the world was reflected then and now in media, politics.
There is truly absurd US election, absurd refugee situation, absurd economy, absurd changes in governments, privacy, society as a whole – they set the tone all over the world.
The comment section of this blog reflects exactly the same changes, nothing unique here.
The world has been changing. You either go with the flow or drop out. Your choice.
Hey hey! I really only read comments once in a while, looking for word on the street in local markets, lots of interesting stuff from people who live in Vancouver over the years about the empty houses, endless Asian investment. Same with Calgary and the job Market, as far as bullys, I just skip over the rants really quickly, this comment format is really hard to read, or reply to people anyways. I think you give more credit to the bullies then they deserve, you can’t exactly reply to them, the endless rants by people, I doubt anyone reads it. I can understand if you wonder that it’ll be searchable and affect Turner Investments, to which I’d say sure, delete anything that sounds racist or whatever you want. The Question is, is this blog someone just to promote your investments? Is it something else? is it for Personal satisfaction? Sounds like you’re hitting that Stage.
Quick update on the streets of Calgary, people still buying houses, rentals soaring, no good data on layoffs, StatsCan numbers are confusing (fly in fly out #’s, who actually collected a T4 last year that now doesn’t compared to contractor %) I suspect its quite Dire and people are living off HELOCS. (caps for some reason there) You’d forgive anyone for thinking things are normal, as on the street its hard to see. My Bike club has mixed results, some of the laid off guys in their 40’s have still found work after getting laid off, some people avoided layoffs, some people are hit hard, but don’t like to talk about it for obvious reasons.
My wife doing resume writing on her Mat leave just got a request (not abnormal now) from a guy who was at the same job 30yrs and got laid off, wow!
Honestly I don’t even know if anyone reads these things I read, i doubt it, just words in the wind! maybe it just feels good to write it down? Similar to you Garth?
Garth, thanks for all the work you do running this blog. Where can I get t t-shirt like that? Price Les
Nuke the comments section. You already respond to people’s direct e-mails (sometimes politely). If you didn’t have to spend the time moderating anonymous comments, maybe you’d have more time for e-mails that seem to help you create content.
My only gripe is the repetitive nature of some of the posts. I’ve been reading since the beginning and sometimes feel like the content is copied and pasted. Unfortunately, it looks like Canadians need the repetition.
Love the site including comments – SM too!
So many bullies want to nuke it.
I love their vocabulary, screaming fear and inability to face changes.
They got the standard bully solution: nuke it. Make that reptilian brain feel secure and comfortable.
Fortunately, there are no revenues here. No income stream. No profits to protect. So why should there be compromise?
Soon a significant number of posts, and the bullies behind them, will be punted from this blog. So get used to fewer being published. While we’re at it, maybe the whole section should be nuked.
Got a comment on that?
___________________________________________
If the blog has ANY mention of conspiracy theories, homophobic slurs, racial slurs, personal harassment, promotion of offensive individuals and or their rhetoric then NUKE them or BAN them. Keep the ship on the straight and narrow. This blog is here to discuss the mutual advancement of investor wealth and the betterment of our investing knowledge. Please delete anything that is off topic or is heading toward lies, deception, mistruths, misinformation or subjective personal opinions! I am here to learn from others investment experiences not their personal issues, foibles or follies.
BTW this is an excerpt of the guide we use in our office.
Examples of different types of harassment
The causes and forms of harassment are wide-ranging and complex. The same behavior may be inoffensive to one person and deeply offensive and intimidating to another. Unintentional or misinterpreted behavior may cause feelings of harassment.
The examples given below, which include unacceptable physical and verbal conduct, are not exhaustive.
Sexual harassment
Examples include unnecessary touching, jokes of a sexual nature, inappropriate use of suggestive visual display unit material, intimidating behavior such as asking for sexual favors in return for positive academic assessment or promotion.
Racial harassment
Examples of racially motivated actions and behavior include inappropriate questioning about racial or ethnic origin, offensive graffiti and intimidating behavior such as threatening gestures.
Personal harassment
Examples based on lack of tolerance of personal difference include making fun of personal circumstances or appearance.
Bullying
Examples of this form of psychological and/or physical harassment include unmerited criticism, isolation, gossip, changes to job duties that are detrimental, responsibilities delegated but without authority, essential information withheld, or behavior that is intimidating or demeaning.
Harassment on grounds of sexual orientation
Examples include homophobic remarks or jokes, threats to disclose sexuality and intimate questions about sexual activity.
Harassment of disabled people
Examples that undermine the dignity of people with disabilities include discussion of the effects of a disability on an individual’s personal life, uninvited touching or staring, and inappropriate questioning about the impact of someone’s disability.
Age harassment
Examples include derogatory age-related remarks and unjustifiable dismissal of suggestions on the grounds of the age of the person.
I vote to keep the comments section, but punt worthless comments aggressively. The comments are occasionally insightful and/or amusing, though it does get tiresome scanning past all the idiotic “First” posts and racist/sexist/xenophobic ones.
Garth: I think the comments section don’t provide enough value to make it worth anyone’s while to maintain or read. I’d even say that those who read comments often will be feel better if it doesn’t exist.
Today: “Canadian home prices rise 11.4% in August, led by Vancouver, Toronto: Teranet”
I thought Vancouver prices fell 294k from 1.4M? Wasn’t it what the chart you posted said?
Considering so many comments here are “biased” and posted or “not” posted I would agree that removing the comments section would finally make this blog “equal” to everyone.
Dump the comments Garth. It takes too much time to moderate it. Focus you and your team’s time on improving your clients portfolios.
Cici (#60):
Two pieces of advice (I have two kids that both sucked at sleeping initially):
1) Don’t let feeding be the last thing you do to your kid before bed. THey associate feeding with sleep and that’s spells disaster. Feed 30 mins before bed. Get ready for bed, read ’em 2-3 books and then put them down. Works like a charm.
2) If #1 fails, “Cry it out”. It’s takes 2-3 nights, but I did it with my #1 and it worked like a charm. Don’t worry. The kid loves you every morning anyways. Short-term memory….like house buyers in Vancouver.
Garth, your efforts on the comments have kept people coming back to the comments, but, frankly, how much off-topic (baby sleeping) tips do you want clogging this mother up?
Cut the cord!
I think bond yields are really going to move higher between now and the end of the year. This should be very interesting.
It’s your site, so your rules. If the comments are taking too much time away from hot wife, Bandit and motorbikes, then blow them away.
I’m sure many folks wouldn’t say what they do, if they weren’t hiding behind pseudonyms.
I read many, if not all, comments almost every day.
Why not keep the comments that are directly relevant to the discussion of the day as opposed to get rid of them all?
Some of your readers offer subtle and different point of views that add to the discussion……..but many don’t – I would be happy, for one, to see them gone.
As a chronic offender, I find it ironic that lala’s advice to you is to “shut it down”. That is one example.
Also, anyone attacking directly another person should be deleted. So, following this logic, you should delete my comment :).
Seriously, I am looking forward to these changes.
Keep only the comments you respond to? I agree there are always a handful of interesting perspectives.
I don’t see a big problem. Your deletions up to now seem to be balanced and reasonable.
What gets through is mostly worth reading.
Sure there are lots of useless opinions but that is just MY opinion. We should all remember this quote:
I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.
Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/evelynbeat109645.html
#421 Alex on 09.14.16 at 11:27 am
I always figured Smoking Man was actually Garth, using the moniker to stir up discussion.
Otherwise I just feel bad for the guy. Thinks he’s so enlightened by being an insufferable asshole. Let the ego die buddy, you’re not really impressing anyone.
————————————————————
Alex, try not to take it too seriously.
Those of us with a good sense of humor find Smoking Man both hilarious and educational!
Good to see so many of you guys imploring the boss to keep the comments section open for business.
I am proud to be included in this basket of implorables…
M42BC
My “vote” would be to keep the comments section as I find it a useful barometer of opinion and have learned things from a few savvy posters over the years. That said, the signal to noise ratio is sometimes fairly low so a heavier moderator hand (e.g. removal of any “first” comments) would be acceptable.
Good Afternoon Garth,
Rarely comment, often glance at the comments for helpful additional info and links. As noted by others, easy to spot and avoid the useless, off base and irrelevant nonsense posing as comments.
Lately I have enjoyed the guest posts by your colleagues as well.
If you have to dump comments to save time and sanity please do so if the alternative is no blog.
If you decide enough is enough, thank you for this blog and advice! On the positive side, no blog will leave me more time to walk my Schnoodle in the prettiest part of Oakville and your former federal riding.
Provide tidbits of useful information and someone is bound to misinterpret or disagree with it. Especially when they let their bias prejudice get in the way.
I say toast the whole comments section
from the 28 years I’ve plagued this earth there are two people.
leaders and the herd.
I can see the herd is strong in todays comments. quick to point out what is and isn’t acceptable. conditioned to think one way and enforce the act.
what a sad life you must live but cannot admit it. if you did… then that would mean your peers are the same. lifeless zombies.
I’m eccentric, egocentric, hedonistic, and opportunistic. everything school told me to do in moderation or not be I decided to say f- that and I will live my own life.
Garth, it’s your blog but the insight that everyone brings is very interesting to say the least. I’d miss the comments but if you took the blog down that would be the truly devastating. you can’t just expect a crack addict to cold turkey!
Good on you!
The over-familiar nasty cracks are tiresome, suggesting that those fleet fingers are powered by very little in the way of brain.
However, I am delighted to encounter a witty sneer, originality, reasoned argument, even abuse articulated with grace and elegance.
I do skim even illiterate and mindless snarls, though, considering that it all eontributes to my understanding of man–and I don’t mean mankind.
Not quite sure how you link conspiracy theories to bullying…
The Death of Socrates: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/socrates.htm
“As the chill sensation got to his waist, Socrates uncovered his head (he had put something over it) and said his last words: ‘Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius. Do pay it. Don’t forget.'”
Also I would never use CIA Facebook to comment. The war is for our minds so why give them ammo?
We can post on Smoking man’s blog.
I think Garth played the Trump card on this post? Are you building a wall with the blog dogs?
You see the Trump card worked, check out how many comments he got now, so far: 447 that is double of the daily doze. I see how this works!
Long-time lurker, I say get rid of all comments. If you want feedback you can open it up like once a month. Or do a Google form for surveys. To be honest, I have no idea why you continue to spend all your time moderating comments anyway… no one deserves to do that unpaid!
Firstly, thanks for maintaining this free service and I admire your desire to freely educate the public! And why would you not plug for your day jobs. It’s very discretely done to the point where many people probably don’t notice the links on the side.
I think I’ve read comments 5 times over the past 6 years: I don’t have time to read hundreds of comments. If something is debated significantly, then you usually blog about it the next day or two.
I’d say nuke the comments if it means keeping the blog open. I’d miss reading your views for free!
I bet Smoking Man has written more than 32 books if he tallied up all his steerage section comments ….
And now some dawgs say they want to remove Smokey’s primary online platform to his loyal readership…
Et tu, Sir Garth? Who’s being the bully now?
#447 Shawn I think bond yields are really going to move higher between now and the end of the year.
Who knows? But yes something seems to be happening, long term yields are up and investors are pulling out of negative rates.
This could mean that rates have bottomed or in other words that the bond market has peaked (provided we don’t end up back in square one in two month…).
I think the FED and other central banks still want to be simulative but now would rather see this happening via less risk aversion and more appetite for riskier assets and business investments.
When the FED raises the rates it pays on banks excess reserves interest rates will go up, the value of current bonds will fall and some investors may begin to scare away from the bond market (rightly so in my opinion). As a result a lot of cash may end up on the sidelines and with luck some of it will make its way towards business investment.
In other words in order to stimulate the economy the FED need to scare away investors from the bond market which has been inflated by risk aversion which is presumably no longer justified nor sustainable. For that it needs to raise rates.
Keep writting just remove the comments section, no body reads them, theynadd very little
Alternatively read all the comments and only publish the ones that add to the discussion, what 2-3 per week
I find the comments as useful as the blog. No disrespect intended Garth. I have learned to quickly move past the noise so I don’t read them all but I always find some gems in the comments. I am sympathetic to your challenges of bots and/or paid posts that captcha’s don’t slow down that can make one question their sanity by allowing anonymous comments. Hope you keep the comments.
Love the blog, and visit daily. I’ve learned so much. Many of the comments are worthwhile, but they are harder to find these days, so yes please punt away the riff raff. Perhaps it will encourage a higher level of discourse. Regardless, I always look forward to the awesome dog pictures! Thank you for all of this.
Well it’s Garth’s site, he can run it however he sees fit. I’m all for booting the rude and uncivilized, but I’d hate to see it go the route of most major “news” sites these days and eliminate comments entirely since it’s really a full-time job to deal with trolls, never mind people just relentlessly poking holes in the narrative.
But civilized disagreement over politics and economics, has been in increasingly short supply over the past few years. I’d love to see that start to come back.
Reading bullies? Occaisionally the gene pool could use a little chlorine. Party on Garth!
The comments are mostly terrible. I skim to see the ones you respond to and read those, skip the rest.
I barely bother to comment anymore as its a big a waste of time as there can be – happier for it.
I’d just ditch them all together if I were you.
Who would ever have thought that they would see Bernanke making the case for negative interest rates?
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/ben-bernanke/2016/09/13/modifying-the-feds-policy-framework-does-a-higher-inflation-target-beat-negative-interest-rates/
I come here for the comments…
And the anonymity
I’m a celebrity yknow
RBC: Canadian economic growth will snap back after a Q2 contraction, getting further lift in 2017 from rising energy prices, low interest rates and federal stimulus. Learn more in the latest Economic and Financial Market Outlook, visit http://bit.ly/2cesTpz
Hi Garth
just use federated comment section where posters have to post using their social media profile. This will reduce trashy comments and most likely eliminate them.
Keep the comments – it’s a really great way to converse with others on the topic and sometimes there is some value in that.
Like everyone else has said, get a voting and registration system in place and also an easy ban button for users who abuse.
It would also make it way easier for us as readers to find the really valuable comments when they rise to the top due to ‘upvotes’. Right now its a really crappy way to search for anything of substance by having to read everything and replies are also difficult to find unless the comment calls it out.
I read this blog through an RSS reader so until you started complaining about the quality of the comments I didn’t even know the comment section existed. It’s irrelevant to me. And to most I imagine.
If only 1% leave a comment and the average person is just staying here long enough to read the article for the day… why you getting so worked up?
not sure what your trying to say here. This is the internet, it isnt going to change for you… so do what your thinking of doing, cause you’ll be waiting a long time otherwise.
Been reading since Day One.
Punt the comment section — it’s useless self-aggrandizing masturbation for trolls and those with no life outside of online forums.
Most comment sections should be deleted.
I enjoy the comments that link current news of the day and give their views on that. I find myself gravitating towards those comments. Usually very insightful. And a lot of the time those articles posted and commented on are used as the topic of that night’s Garth Blog Post.
But yes, perma bans for regular trolls and bullies is warranted. And the first-ers.
Hello Garth,
I love your blog and visit daily because the insightful content helps weed-out the mainstream propaganda.
Keep the blog thriving…ditch the comments !!!
Edit the comments section for length as well as appropriateness. Two or three paragraphs is plenty and any one who has more to say can post a link or start a blog.
You deserve more time off – take it and enjoy it while you can.
“The road to hell …”
I’m sure your intentions were good when you started moderating.
But life is very messy and you are not God nor are you Solomon.
Perhaps somehow it’s best to allow a free for all in the comments section and let the chips fall where they may.
People will be outraged and offended but hey , the universe cares not about hyper sensitive hurt feelings.
I despise PC and how it crushes creativity.
If the comment section is going to be further sanitized then shut it down.
Gartholomew,
Africa here. Yes, the motherland. So listen up.
1. all the chicks love you and your buddies
2. the blog as you know is pathetic, and many comments provide insights, perspective and laughs
3. do what you need to do to make it more manageable
Canadian homes are still cheap, at least in foreign currency: Bank of America
http://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/mortgages-real-estate/canadian-homes-are-still-cheap-at-least-in-foreign-currency-bank-of-america
A major U.S. financial institution is telling clients that the Canadian housing market is still cheap — especially if you’re not using loonies to buy.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research on Wednesday launched coverage of Canada’s mortgage finance system, policy infrastructure and securitization channels and one of its findings, which may shock some Canadians in Toronto and Vancouver, is that the market is not all that pricey.
“Homes are cheaper on both a U.S. dollar adjusted and Chinese renminbi basis than in 2010-2014. Despite the high rates of home price appreciation, the continued appeal of Canadian real estate is reflected when adjusting home prices for the substantially weaker Canadian dollar,” the firm writes in its report.
I only ever scan the comments to see your retorts, which would be missed if the comments section was removed. If I were you, though, I’d nuke it and spend some more time with your original readership!
A huge round of thanks to Mr. Frugal, Mixed Bag, Spectacle, Metaxa, Message for Cici, fancy_pants, The Unhealthy, Vern in Cowtown and anyone else I’ve missed. I’m going to try all of your suggestions…hopefully some, if not all, will work ;-)
And sorry for hijacking the blog Garth…I actually didn’t think I’d get any feedback (it was a last-ditch cry for HELP!; the nurses said he was healthy, but fussy, and that I’d just have to deal with it)
OK, I have to be honest Garth…I love the comments section again, and for selfish reasons, I can no longer recommend cutting the cord.
Besides, for every stupid comment, there’s usually at least one smart, if not life-changing post.
If you keep it, I promise I’ll donate some free time (as soon as the colic stops and baby starts sleeping through the night) as a volunteer administrator (I’d love to axe some of the bully posts ;-))
I vote for nuking the comments. I wouldn’t miss them, and I can’t imagine it’s worth your time to read and edit them all!
to those that don’t know
garth is a celebrity on redfladdeals.com in the personal finance forum
you can post comments there on the days blog
or
sm can repost the daily fool on his blog
and
moderate the comments section daily
that would be fitting
Since your readers are largely among the 1%, how about you crowdfund to get them to pay for an intern to moderate the comments. We’d be contributing to our sluggish economy, and helping out a Rye High Journo grad get their first gig.
edit to redflagdeals.com if you choose
Breaking news: Vancouver’s empty homes tax to be self-declared, up to two per cent of value
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/vancouvers-empty-homes-tax-to-be-self-declared-up-to-two-per-cent-of-value/article31877255
Vancouver plans to tax its vacant homes by the end of the year, the city’s mayor said on Wednesday, announcing the second government move in as many months to address foreign investments that officials say have helped drive up home prices.
The tax on the city’s 10,800 known empty homes will increase costs for foreign buyers and owners who have helped make the west coast city Canada’s most expensive property market. It could also send investors elsewhere.
According to Padmapper the median one bed rent rate in Vancouver is $1750
T.o comes in a distant second at $1310
And the bronze medal surprisingly goes to Victoria who edged out Calgary at the tape.
One of my work buddies is being renovicted with two months notice and cannot find anything reasonable.
Maybe he will start sleeping on the job.
At least the coffee will be ready when I get to work…
M42BC
Is it just me, or are the vast majority of the comments with an identifiable female moniker in favour of axing the comments?
#stopthebullying
I skip over all the garbage comments and generally read only the ones to which you’ve replied (in italics).
If you do decide to keep the comments section–and I don’t care either way–is there a way to limit one email address to one name? i.e. to eliminate the same person having 2, 3 or 4 user names?
Love your humour, Garth.
Absolutely priceless.
#493 Victor
“Breaking news: Vancouver’s empty homes tax to be self-declared, up to two per cent of value”
—————————
Petty cash.
Maybe just allow one comment per blog dog per day. This might reduce the sometimes nonsensical banter back and forth. And dogs would have to think hard to summarize what they have to say before posting.
Wow, a lot of hate towards Freedom First and Smoking Man!
Let me just say, if you are legitimately offended by Freedom First’s post’s, it says more about you than FF. I’ve gathered from his messages over the years, he knew from an early age what he wanted from life and he’s unapologetically living it. I’ve never read a FF post that attacked anyone or was offensive in any way. If his lifestyle doesn’t fit your paradigm, with all due respect, that’s your problem.
As for Smoking Man, I’m a fan. A unique perspective, albeit often off topic.
How about: having a special “Unmoderated” comments section. Comments that are too offensive for the regular section can go to the Unmoderated section, but you would charge the bullies $5 ($10? or more?) for each comment they want to leave there.
The money can go to a charity, the bullies get to post, and the readers of the regular comments can avoid being exposed to bad comments. Everyone wins.
Get rid of the comments section, i read the blog every day for the past 4 years and i could careless about it.
Perhaps limit the comments to specifically on housing and finances. Your blog, your rules.
Garth,
I am a multi-year reader and only read the comments that have your italics. My tolerance is for about 50 comments, and I tire/fast fwd through the firsts, seconds, and majority of comments that 1) have nothing to do with your post which are useless use of bandwidth, and 2) intolerant exposes. I have learned a lot from your blog, appreciate the new posts from the two colleagues, and what keeps me coming back of course your succinct opinion, combined with the absence of advertising. Sell out to advertisers and I am gone, because who knows then if what you will write will be truly from your heart. I look fwd to your comment someday on the Royal Canadian Mint’s decision to sell advertising space on our coins and bills starting in 2017.
Let free speech reign.
What makes a magazine letters section better than, say, Facebook is a higher standard for publication. This comments section often has thoughtful and interesting contributions, but it’s mixed it with a lot of nonsense, which turns me off looking. I would love to see a heavier hand on editing, if you (or an employee) can take on the job. It would increase the value of the site.
It’s possible the blog has gotten too big for comments. I used to read them but now there are too many (and too many low quality ones), so mostly I skip them. Maybe just open the comments section on days when feedback makes sense (like when you are giving advice to a young couple and you directly solicit blogdog views)? This would also take less of your life in moderating.
My first thought was that you should keep comments open but just scrutinize the heck out of them and only keep the ones that are relevant to markets, finance, and housing.
But I realize that this is very time consuming.
SO how about
1. Disable comments
2. Disable comments except for a 1 day per week free for all
I like #2 because some small % of the comments are quite valuable, mostly ppl posting links to current houses for sales and talking about their local market
RE #485 Victor V:
“Homes are cheaper on both a U.S. dollar adjusted and Chinese renminbi basis than in 2010-2014. Despite the high rates of home price appreciation, the continued appeal of Canadian real estate is reflected when adjusting home prices for the substantially weaker Canadian dollar,” the firm writes in its report.
-what I keep saying……you have to adjust Canadian home prices to reflect currency devaluation. High government debt combined with declining economy = currency crash. This is going to get worse if the US economy fully recovers. The USA has a huge national debt, yes but they are also a massive economy, powerful military country and they pretty much dominate world trade. If we can’t find something to sell them (or if they build trade barriers) we are pretty much doomed up here.
#488 Cici on 09.14.16 at 4:42 pm
Cici, for what it’s worth, here’s my 2 cents about colicky babies.
My two adult children each have 2 kids. The very day each of those grandchildren came home from the hospital, their parents began to play, very softly, classical music tapes in the babies’ rooms when bedtime arrived. Remember, softly is the important thing to remember because a baby’s hearing is much more acute that an adult’s. Something about the white noise was soothing and settled them right down.
Mind you, when my own babies came home from the hospital and were a little hard to settle, I used to rock them while singing softly to them. As adults they both told me that they went to sleep quickly as sort of a self-defense mechanism since I can’t sing a note worth hearing. ;>)
Also have to remember something very real and very interesting about which governments are generally elected in democratic countries:
Usually, on an economic upswing, you will get Conservative governments as the 1% are seen as being productive, useful and contributing to the wealth of the masses. People start to believe in “trickle down”.
When the economy starts to collapse (1% generally remove all the wealth, nothing trickles down and then things start to deteriorate), then you get socialist left-ish type governments coming in to pick up the scraps left behind by the departing conservative 1% ers.
These left wing governments usually make use of the good credit ratings left behind by the right wingers, borrow like mad and tax the crap out of everyone. Business and capital flee the country and seek out more friendly terrain.
They eventually get voted out, right wingers get back in again and capital and business flows back in and the whole process starts over again.
We are in the downswing right now, with all of our governments heading left. So likely our economy is not going up anywhere any time soon. In this sort of situation one purchasing investments wants to purchase items that cannot be given up by the masses no matter how broke everyone gets and items produced by businesses that generally enjoy a friendly relationship with the Socialist left.
Sure. Delete the comments. The Internet is finished. Google, Facebook and Youtube are happy to delete or prohibit comments they don’t like. It’s a trend. It’s cool and fashionable and adorable and cute. Join the club and get your free virtue signaling t-shirt now.
a blog without a Comments section is naught but an echo chamber.
FWIW I drive a Kia and I love Smoking Man and I only occasionally throw stones.
Why not turn off comments for a week and see what happens? I think you’ll be amazed at how much your blood pressure goes down and Bandit will love all the extra time and attention he gets.
But if you decide to keep around the riff-raff, definitely put some limits on it… no more Smoking Man, Flop, Freedom First or that Victoria stats guy, add a length limit and no more than 1 comment a day (by IP). Maybe go comment-free on weekdays?
I occasionally learn something useful from skimming the comments, but I also get whiplash from shaking my head at all the childishness. In the end, turning them off entirely might be the best thing.
This is the End.
My only friend, the End.
Please keep the comment section it makes for a few minutes comedy at the start of my day.
I usually just read the 1st 20 or so as they set the theme for the day then I scroll down only reading the ones you answer.
To make moderation easier why not just block the IP addresses of idiots like smoking man and his ilk?
The 2 cents worth of an expat Kia owner.
It’s unfortunate that the idiots ruin it for the rest of us but hey, that’s life! I don’t think you should be wasting your time with comments. If someone has something important to connect with you on they’ll email or tweet or (god forbid) start their own blog.
The value I get in your blog is reading what you wrote, not what’s in the comments. There are too many any way, so I often skip right past them.
In a nutshell – shut the comments down.
The *only* time the comments seem to have any benefit are when people are being instructed by others on how specifically to buy low-cost ETFs and what the fund names are. Otherwise, it’s a bunch of bile by anonymous people treating your blog as their own blog and shouting nonsense about “free speech”. I say get rid of it entirely.
You don’t have to post this – it’s just for you. It’s ironic that the first time I post a comment is to concur you post less, if any, comments. Frankly I don’t know how you have tolerated them to this point, and it makes me sad that you have been subjected to such vitriol. The only problem with the approach is that you are still subjecting yourself to reading all of them, and it is only the rest of us that would be spared from the bullies. Thank you for the service you provide.
Keep the comments. Add a few trusted moderators. Add a login for your favorite commentators. It can work.