---
title: ‘You can’t just add comments and expect a community to emerge.’
description: I can see why a site like Re/Code might drop comments. You can’t just add comments and expect a community to emerge.
image: https://blog.disqus.com/hubfs/63.png
---

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# ‘You can’t just add comments and expect a community to emerge.’

 December 10, 2014 | [Tony Hue](https://blog.disqus.com/author/tony-hue) [... comments](https://blog.disqus.com/you-cant-just-add-comments-and-expect-a-community-to-emerge#disqus_thread)

![‘You can’t just add comments and expect a community to emerge.’](https://blog.disqus.com/hubfs/63.png)

> *"I can see why a site like Re/Code might drop comments. You can't just add comments and expect a community to emerge.*
> 
> *And if one doesn't have the resources to cultivate a good commenting community, what usually emerges is a mosh pit of trolls (and people foolish enough to engage them). The equivalent of graffiti all over your site (not the good kind of graffiti).*
> 
> *I agree that if they don't have the will and the resources to tend to comments, they're better off without them. On the other hand, I often feel it would be worth the investment for sites like that to build a positive commenting environment."*
> 
> ![add-comments](https://media.disquscdn.com/blog/community-blog/add-comments.jpg)

Good comment from [Kirsten Lambertsen](http://avc.com/2014/11/comments-are-dead-long-live-comments/#comment-1708457303) in wake of [Re/Code's decision](http://recode.net/2014/11/20/a-note-to-recode-readers/) to remove commenting. 

A more accurate formula based on vibrant communities I've seen would look something like:

[Active moderators](https://help.disqus.com/customer/portal/articles/466238-moderating-your-community) + [Community Guidelines](https://help.disqus.com/customer/portal/articles/1616430-guiding-your-community-from-good-to-great) + [Author participation](https://community.disqus.com/post/95129359096/3-tips-for-sparking-rich-discussions-in-your) + Comments ≈ Community

Lesson learned: building communities is hard but as Kirsten said, the investment can pay off.

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