As I have chosen Civil Beat's interface to comment, I too will share with what Choon and Ken say and bemoan the lack of reach our comments make into the general population. With that, I do know that many who are not commenting, but read Civil Beat, are also reading the comments nonetheless. 

However if one is going to engage in commenting on news, one should have the ability to have as much reach as possible for their unique voice, or unique perspective, to be given its fair exposure.