The Guardian: now kind of irrelevant?

[CrotchBurn]

I mean with the online version. There used to be a time (only four or five years ago I'd say) where almost all articles were open for comment, and you could really get stuck into reading users' debates. You'd get some smart and informed posters discussing stuff in detail, it was really interesting.

Now it seems basically one out of every ten articles only ( if that) has comments enabled. There used to be a weekly thread where some posters even had their own little community. What's going on?! For a few years now it's felt like a proper ghost town.

To be honest the hounding of suzanne moore was the final nail in the coffin for me personally. But even putting that aside - you used to have these articles ("the UK is an evil place!", "why men should hate themselves!" Etc etc) but at least "below the line" was a laugh.

Anyone noticed the same?! Where else is good with an interesting collection of posters comments?

I can't stand the Guardian. Far too 'woke' for me.

Yep I was out a while ago. I go to online articles if linked from somewhere, but don't seek it out.

When I do end up on their page, they alsways ask me if I'll subscribe.

I'd love to, but as I'm a woman and therefore don't exist in Guardian-land, I'm not able to. So sad

It's a shame the but the Guardian has gone right downhill over the last few years. I don't really know how it happened but I don't feel I can trust them or even take them very seriously any more.

I used to read The Guardian amongst other papers but I’ve totally gone off The Guardian now, it’s too woke, anti women and tedious. The Suzanne Moore incident was the last straw really.

I subscribe to The Times but that’s gone off the last few months. I think it’s demographic seems to heavily include older, well off, insular types and the comments reflect that.

Also Lucy Mangan, where did she go?

Stylist magazine?

The Suzanne Moore incident. I mean WTAF?!
Who makes these batshit decisions?

@VinylDetective The Guardian moderation is shit. I once had a comment deleted for saying Brooklyn Beckham is no oil painting.

Just sat down after an exhausting day at work, read this and guffawed.

It was more of a group thing. Moore wrote an article that didn't uncritically affirm that TWAW. Staff- many of them from the American operation, presented a petition, and it was discussed at a big staff meeting with all the big shots present. Moore wasn't present and wasn't told in advance.

It was impossible to comment on Moore's articles for some time before, but I've always assumed that was her choice.

Comments full of virtue signallers clambering all over one another to be the most woke. It was infuriating

The actual articles are the same. I read its (online) headlines but trust very little of its content.

Suzanne Moore's take on it all:

unherd.com/2020/11/why-i-had-to-leave-the-guardian/

Thanks for that link @TomPinch. I really should have read it before, but now I have, that’s made my decision, and I’m going to cancel my subscription.

I might look at Byline Times, I’ve seen good things come from there.

Says it all when the mail online has unmoderated comments but the guardian is so precious that it heavily moderates and often removes the ability to comment at all. Certain columns used to have their own comment communities which I enjoyed.

I find that the Guardian still isn't bad as long as you keep away from the opinion sections. I tend to stick to news (mostly straight down the line), sport (comments community still good) and other pieces not related to politics.

I haven't bothered with any columnists for ages. I find that mostly they're just running the news through an entirely predictable ideological lens and I don't learn anything new from them. I think it's true that they're London-centric even though ones like Owen Jones are from elsewhere. They reflect the interests of the world's big cities, of which London is one.

Just read Suzanne Moore on unherd. Awful. So disappointed in the Guardian.

Which paper is better than this?

That SM article is very sad. Would love to know who other than OJ was actually involved

The FT is very good and you really feel you can trust the writers, however it is pricey. I guess good journalism comes at a cost. I read the paper version once a week but would love a digital subscription.

FYI I think I spent too long over on you know where. This banner came up on the FT website and I read it with my Guardian goggles on 😂 Took me a while for my eyes and brain to readjust!!!

@VitreousHumour

I feel completely betrayed by the Guardian's contempt for women who won't swallow the idea that sex is irrelevant to women's oppression/male bodied people can be women.

Do they really think that liberal women, many of whom have been involved in progressive/activist work, suddenly and simultaneously became right wing bigots?

I think it's a giant misogynist fury against their mothers, since features now seems to be run by kids in their late twenties whose mums will all be gender critical as fuck.

Hear, hear.

@Childrenofthestones

I read the Guardian for over 20 yrs. It's shite now.

Me too. I feel quite betrayed, TBH.

i detest the guardian commentors, apart from on the strictly blog.

if a film is recommended, on here for example, i read the guardian review, not always the best idea tbh

All the other papers are much worse surely?

My dad says the FT is good but I’ve never read it.

I like the Guardian- it’s not perfect, no but definitely the best of a bad bad bunch.

My husband subscribes and I use his subscription to access it on my phone. Except at the weekend where I read the lifestyle type articles and check out the recipes, I just do the crosswords!!

Have never been a huge fan of the Guardian (though I like John Crace).

However, it's anti-woman stance is appalling. Owen Jones in particular seems to have lost the plot. It is in thrall to its American audience.

I rarely click anymore, and would never buy it.

Its not it's*

The Guardian doesn’t like women. I’m very left wing but it’s betrayal of women and obsession with Owen jones has made me stop buying it. I did actually go and buy it but not anymore.

Another MN thread bashing the Guardian

Who ever thought it would come to this?

Ten years ago you couldn't move for MNers gushing over it and clinging to every word as absolute truth.