I have experimented with it a lot, thought long and hard about it, and finally decided to stick with the new Typepad Connect comments feature. Recently, there have been some problems with the basic comments feature of Typepad (e.g., comments are lost somewhere and have gone to Heaven 2.0, including some of my own, never to be seen again).
The only drawback of Typepad Connect is that it is Javascript-based; work is being done currently on a non-Javascript version, but this could take weeks or months (or longer). This means that in order to read and post comments, users will have to have Javascript enabled in their browsers. Based on the stats for the site, approx. 2-7% of readers come to the site with Javascript disabled. To them I say: tough! If you want to make full use of this site, enable Javascript.
Again, also note that readers are not required to create a user profile (despite the message at the top of the comment input form). Readers are recommended, but not required, to do so.
Finally, I have also decided to stick with comment moderation. Unfortunately, too many uncivilized people have use of computers (trolls, spammers, psychopaths, etc.), which is why there must be some sort of gatekeeping control before comments are published.
Filed under: Li'l Ol' Me
