While Google’s OpenID integration on Blogger has received much praise throughout the blogosphere, it has also led to some bitter criticism from users recently.
Previously users were able to link their domain next to their comment name on Blogger without the need for registering with either Google or OpenID. Now it seems that in order to link their domain, they have to register with OpenID, which is creating some unforseen backlash against the search engine giant.
While most of the opinions posted on Blogger in Draft have been positive regarding the OpenID change, a growing segment seem to be expressing their frustration over the “lack of openness” with users being forced to use OpenID.
(MS) I am extremely unhappy about the dropping of the URL field, which gave bloggers the option of directing anyone interested to a specific blog. There are a number of Blogger users at BlogCatalog who are considering leaving Blogger for this reason.
If you are going to force someone to have an ID, then open ID is good, but I think no one should be forced to make their users log in, and I think that those who don’t log in should be able to put a URL in a URL field marked “(optional)”.
(jodi) I’m not happy at all with what has been done to blogger’s comment form. People who visit my blog like to be able to have their name link back to their own blog URL even if they’re with another blogging system, and now suddenly that’s not working for them.
I think this is shortsighted of Blogger, and like others, if this facet is not reinstated I will in likelihood look at moving my blog to a more user- and visitor-friendly site.
(Lynn Sinclair) OpenID has effectively closed my blog to comments. No one needs the hassle of having to sign up (or whatever hoops they must go through) in order to leave a message on a blog.
As a relatively new blogger, I’m still trying to entice readers, and OpenID isn’t helping the situation. And being about as techno-savvy as a slug, I don’t relish the thought of taking my blog elsewhere and learning something new.
Please give OpenID to those who want it, and let the rest of us return to the way things were.
While some may wonder why on Earth Google would remove this feature (which was really popular on Blogger blogs), it probably had to do with the fact that the Blogger team saw OpenID as a way to not only eliminate fake commenters, but also help reduce the amount of comment spam on Blogger’s servers by helping them identify the person (or machine) trolling the comment section with their tasty opinions and links.
Google has not indicated whether or not they will reconsider opening up the comment section again. Hopefully they will consider as many blogger users are seriously considering outsourcing their comment section elsewhere, or even switching blog hosts completely.
