Last night, I enabled TypeKey authentication for commenting on this blog. If you go to any post to leave a comment, you’ll notice this new line of text above the form fields you fill in with your name, etc:
If you have a TypeKey or TypePad account, please Sign In
It’s purely voluntary – if you have a TypeKey account, you don’t have to sign in if you don’t want to. Equally, if you don’t have a TypeKey account, this won’t prevent you from leaving comments to any post here.
So why have I done this if it’s not compulsory?
Well, it’s party because such authentication is now possible on a TypePad blog. But making it possible doesn’t mean I wanted to implement it in a way that adds hurdles to anyone who wishes to leave a genuine comment. I could have done that – one of the features of this implementation is to require a TypeKey login before anyone can comment.
I don’t want to do that unless it becomes absolutely necessary. That would happen only if the levels of comment or trackback spam simply made it so.
Making it voluntary is a good compromise for now, I think. Do you agree?
Note that TypeKey is an authentication system, not an authorization system, designed to help you verify that you are who you say you are (more info in the TypeKey FAQ). I think such authentication procedures will increasingly become common on blogs and other places on the net as more people implement protective measures against spammers. So now would be a good time to sign up for TypeKey if you’re not already registered.
Hi Neville,
I am TypeKey user and tried to sign in but it appears not to work well I think, because nothing changes. On my weblog I also implemented it and when I sign in I see that I do not need to fill in my details. And that is not the case here…..
TypeKey
I just started with the TypeKey option in TypePad. Some minutes ago I ‘installed’ this option. Rather say, checked the check box with one click. That’s all and quite simple. But what is the functionality? Steve Rubel thinks that using TypeKey gives mor…
Hans, I see from the post from your trackback link that you’ve successfully implemented TypeKey on your blog. And your post is a good assessment of its features.
You’ve also implemented comment moderating. I decided not to do that. Unless you have a major spam issue, I think it’s overkill. Unless there’s a compelling need (because of spam, for instance), I wouldn’t do it. Just a big hurdle. Plus, you have to review each comment before deciding to post it which takes time.
Hurdles!