Topix, formerly known under the URL topix.net, has now been relaunched under the “.com” name with a new service.
While before they were merely an aggregator of mainstream and blog news, they have now positioned themselves as a news portal for and by the people. You can read news items, discuss them in the forums or become an editor of a country specific page.
The concept is not really new, and they have somehow taken a step back from the “everyone’s an editor” paradigm adopted by pages such as Newsvine, Reddit and Digg.
What they have added in restrictions to the editing part, they have obviously removed from the forum part. There is no need to actually sign up to leave a message, and what can I say, it’s a total, total mess. Check out this thread on the Austria message board.
Or this one, a total gem. Here’s but one of the many comments that boggle my mind:
Hey,
Well I want to talk about Jesus to you all. Most of America may call themselves a Christian but there not.. I hope you all will choosed to belive and trust inthe one and ONLY HEAVENLY FATHER JESUS. I may only be a kid but i no alot more about Jesus then most adults, you have to pray this prayer to go to heaven DEAR JESUS, I NO I AM A SINNER AND THAT YOU DIES ON THE CROSS TO SAVE MY SINS AND I NO AND TRUELY BELIEVE YOU ARE THE ONE ADN ONLY WAY TO GO TO HEAVEN , PLEASE FORGIVE MY SINDS AND COME IN TO MY LIFE, THANKYOU AMEN.. it is that easy to have a great eternal life or you can have eternal life in hell and suffer your choise, i think uit is a pretty obviouse one. look up John 3:16 in your Bible (holy Bible) thanks!
Or this one:
Hey every one!!!How is everone!?!? Yeah so ok it says I’m from Salina or somthin…no thats not true. So can some one right back and tell me b/c i always thought it was chickens who got the flu..
So any ways, I’m supposed to be doing my homework right now on this report for Austria and this came up!! It’s like an msn or somethin.. Well i better go i shall talk to ya all lata!!! Right back!!Byes(is this a nature sight?)
I do propose the Topix people make sign-ups for the message board mandatory. Otherwise it will be totally useless.