For many readers of online media who need to share information, the case of the quadruple murder in Rupperswil must be like a birthday, Easter and Christmas all in one day. The comment function allows them to express their opinion on the crime of the century without any prior legal or psychological knowledge. This is rarely constructive. The range of comments extends from the classic "introduce the death penalty" to the wish "lock him up and throw away the key", which basically leads to the same result. The comment field thus becomes an outlet for excess pressure, which in most cases probably did not even arise from the crime itself, but rather has to do with the general state of mind of the writer.
It is actually honorable to give usa rcs data the "ordinary citizen" a voice. A debate on the content is also desirable. But this is not to be observed. The exchange of blows does not take place on the level of argumentation, but is limited to the crude "my opinion - your opinion" - and of course the other is always wrong. Contributions that point out the current legal situation or other facts have no chance at all. This is not what most readers of the online portals "20 Minuten" and "Blick" are looking for. On the contrary: the more well thought out and factual a reader's comment is, the greater the outcry from the rest, followed by the "thumbs down". The work of a court expert with decades of experience can be written down in two minutes at the keyboard, based solely on media reports.
Most online media do not allow for comments on all articles. It is unclear what criteria are used for selection. But a sample shows that the editorial team is not particularly interested in allowing complex and profound articles to be openly discussed. The more abstract a topic, the less likely readers are to be asked for their opinion. Comments are permitted where everyone can have their say - even if they have nothing substantial to say. Crime is the best playground here. In other words, the virtual regulars' table is actively managed. This also makes economic sense, because the comment function generates clicks, and a murder trial generates more opinions than regional elections in Zimbabwe.