The Internet version of local ABC affiliate WJLA had a problem. On too many of its articles, the comments sections were, not unlike those on any other news organization’s website, filled with nasty, hateful drivel.

But no longer. WJLA, which, like DCist uses the commenting platform Disqus, says it is disabling comments on most content going forward. Blake Sabatinelli, the station’s new media director, writes in an online statement:

It was our goal to give viewers the ability to express their opinions on every story. Unfortunately, many stories began to be filled with mean spirited, and at times hateful comments. These comments provide no value to our readers and are time consuming to moderate.

The page containing Sabatinelli’s statement is itself open to comments. But, judging from the widespread agreement that WJLA’s decision is meeting, the move was made for the best.

“I wish more news sites would do this,” one commenter writes. “Who needs all the ignorance and hate below just about every news article you read on the Internet nowadays? Let these trolls do that on their own Facebook pages.”

Indeed, WJLA is remaining active on other social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube, and Google+, where there is just as much bile, but those platforms, presumably, can be moderated by the companies that own them.

There could also be another benefit to removing comments from all but the most harmless human-interest patter. WJLA’s parent company, Allbritton Communications, which also owns Politico, is seeking to offload the station and seven others it owns around the country. And a sanitized website is certainly more attractive than one drowning in trolls competing to come up with the most tasteless comments.

Politico, for what it’s worth, has no shortage of rambling, voluble, tinfoil-hatted comments sections.