Faced with the aggressiveness of readers, MétéoSuisse shuts everyone down

There are only a few days left to publicly criticize the analyzes of weather specialists, hiding behind your screen. “As a cost-saving measure, but also due to an increase in comments with a negative tone,” explains MétéoSuisse, which has decided to remove the possibility for readers to express themselves under its blog, the main communication channel of the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology.

Since 2014, interested parties have been able, on the site, to react to articles dealing with weather phenomena or even climate change. But from November 30, they will no longer be entitled to it. According to a study carried out in the spring by the Zurich University of Economics, around 15% of readers have written at least one comment on the blog. MétéoSuisse also reports that, among the more than 30,000 posts listed over the last two years, 8,000 were rejected because they did not comply with the conditions (discriminatory comments, sexist, obscene or inciting violence content, or even personal attacks). .

In addition to processing, activation and responses which take time, the office says it will have to apply the federal economy guidelines in the coming years. But the increase in “more aggressive and negative” reactions over the past five years has also tipped the scales. “Today, the comment function is unfortunately increasingly used to spread conspiracy theories, hatred and intolerance. It is therefore becoming more and more difficult to offer an objective, useful and enriching forum for everyone,” says MeteoSwiss with regret. However, the specialists will remain reachable on social networks.

“I regret this decision”