Does it make sense to disable comments on a blog because some comments are abusive? Apparently, some people think so.

Professor Mankiw says rude comments on a blog are like party poopers at a party: They're a small number of people trying to ruin the rest of the party for everyone else. He doesn't want to have to police the comments, so he's decided to disable them.

I see big problems with this analysis. First, does the cost-benefit analysis really add up? Would you rather go to a party where you might bump into a few rude people or would you rather not go to a party at all? Apparently Mankiw thinks that it's better to not have a party at all. I think if I had the option of going to a large party with a few rude people I would still go. What large party doesn't have a few jerks?

Maybe Mankiw thinks the jerks are just too numerous to make the party fun for anyone. But why not let the attendees make that calculation? Mankiw's readers don't have to go to the "party." They can "stay at home" by not reading the comments! I regularly read his blog, and almost never read the comments, so I know this is possible. Why can't Mankiw's readers decide for themselves whether or not they want to "go to the party." Maybe they have a high tolerance for jerks, or are good at avoiding them. It seems pretty authoritarian to make a calculation based on your own taste and enforce it on everyone else, even if it is only a blog.

I think what is really happening here is that Mankiw is offended by some of the comments on his blog and thinks that he has a responsibility to control them because they reflect badly on him. He may believe that if he allows nasty comments that someone will interpret his tolerance of those comments to mean he endorses the them to some degree. But most people realize that anyone can post a comment on a blog and that the blog author may never even read the comments. Therefore, in the spirit of open discussion and free exchange of ideas, Mankiw should continue to allow the comments, and simply ignore the nastiness. No one will think less of him.