Several star commenter have noted recently that the troll factor is rising again. This post is reminder that all comments wasting words and the comment moderator’s time wondering about such issues as “why does gizmodo love/hate/get paid by company XYZ?” may result in zero warnings and then a ban. And whatever happens to your comment account, remember: it’s not my fault if you lose your account because you said something stupid. Black Ninja Monday is when the action goes down, so you’ve got two days to turn things around. The obvious choices: You can have fun in troll hell, or join the ranks of the thoughtful, starred, proud and clever commenters everyone appreciates.

Several star commenter have noted recently that the troll factor is rising again. This post is reminder that all comments wasting words and the comment moderator’s time wondering about such issues as “why does gizmodo love/hate/get paid by company XYZ?” may result in zero warnings and then a ban. And whatever happens to your comment account, remember: it’s not my fault if you lose your account because you said something stupid. Black Ninja Monday is when the action goes down, so you’ve got two days to turn things around. The obvious choices: You can have fun in troll hell, or join the ranks of the thoughtful, starred, proud and clever commenters everyone appreciates. Again, Monday: that’s when there’ll be internet blood everywhere.

You’ve learned all you need to know about commenting and our tagpages , so it’s time to have some fun. Come join the conversations in #whitenoise . More

We’ve talked about how to comment , but there’s still some confusion about these mysterious #tags . What are they all about? Well, to put it simply: They’re the most fun you could have with a comment system. #broken , #whitenoise , #tips , #lifechanger , #whateveryouwant . You’ll see plenty of these tags in the comments. Each of them links to a corresponding tagpage which is like a forum of sorts.

Oh, this weird box at the center top still baffles people. Is it where you search? Is it where you submit blackmail? What sort of comments go in there? Find out in this week’s edition of Gizmodo’s Tips Box . Of course tips aren’t the only thing you can submit through that box since it leads you to the wonderful land of tag pages , but let’s focus on the hot-hot-hot tips that came in through it this week, shall we

We often post items from our #tips box, but sometimes things are so weird that we can’t even stick them into our remainders . Things like talk of freaky ads on Craig’s List, free boob job offers, and pure flattery. We’re sharing all those silly things with you because you’re such lovely people. Doesn’t that feel nice to hear? The #tips box wasn’t exactly designed for it, but sometimes a bit of flattery doesn’t hurt

Wonder what happens in that weird #whitenoise section? I braved the insanity to bring you an overview of the laughable rumors, pancake fanboys, and something about a leggy dude in a dress. (Don’t worry, the picture’s hidden behind another link.) I say that #whitenoise is insane, but really it’s a blast. There are silly commenters who make a game of guessing the heights of the Gizmodo staff members . (Hint: Frucci is surprisingly and pleasantly tall.) They play other games , too.

As you might’ve seen, our friends at Engadget have shut down their comments , which had become overrun by troll hordes. Trolls lurk everywhere, but our system—often mystifying to newcomers—is designed to keep them out. Here’s why it’s better. Most comment systems let anybody comment, and have their opinion seen, as long as they have a profile that’s verified as being a real human being. Often, there’s a level of moderation—like digging vs. burying on digg—that hopefully floats better stuff, letting crap sink to the bottom, but there’s not much of a real gatekeeper to keep the assholes out

Yes, bravery and all that goes with it are a requirement for all Gawker Media interns as you’ll be thrown into our crazy communities and expected to keep them clean. If you think you’re cut out for a gig, read on and apply: Gawker Media seeks a few brave interns to work in comments and serve our beloved communities. The interns will work on behind-the-scenes administrative tasks and quality oversight. Applicants should have several days per week to devote to these duties. Strong communication skills, familiarity with Gawker Media blogs and commenting communities, and excellent decision-making abilities a must.

Did you know you can post a tip straight to Gizmodo? Or, start a new conversation all on your own? Thanks to our hashtag pages you can do all sorts of comment related goodness. Here’s how: #Tips : Once you’re at Gizmodo.com, just go to the comment box where it says “Got a tip for us?”, write your tip — and then click the share button. Remember to include #tips to make sure your note shows up on the tips page. So what kind of tips do we like to see?