It’ll be interesting to see if this model catches on. Many blogs comment boards, though open to the public, are dominated by a hard core of users. The Guardian’s Comment is Free site, where frequent commenters are often too busy arguing with each other (or commiserating each other on the deaths of loved ones) to talk about the posts they’re commenting on. The site has occasionally promoted an arch-commenter to contributor. But any attempt to let commenters produce posts without moderation would be a disaster because the site is open to anyone who registers.

A serious current affairs blog with a wide range of contributions both from full-time bloggers and members of the public - but with processes to ensure only serious, thoughtful people can register - that might be really something. In the meantime, I’ll just have to keep trying to pass my ‘audition’ to be an approved commenter on Lifehacker.