Maybe just express the sentiments(text analysis) of the replies if they arent giving you permission. I think that is better, since alot of content is generated here.
On newstilt, we've written the terms of service so that we can publish comments. We said that by posting you give the service permanent, non-exclusive, transferable rights to edit, modify, distribute, etc, the content.
I would ask PG to change the TOS of hacker news, to allow you do this. I think he'd like it, so he may be willing.
And what effect might this have on the people willing to comment?
Comments add value to a site, making it attractive to advertisers. That's the exchange. Asking contributors to also allow the site owner to re-use their contributions for other purposes crosses a line for me.
We feel the exchange is that journalists serve their communities, and the communities help them earn a living. Using the comments off site helps that goal.
> And what effect might this have on the people willing to comment?
You incorrectly (to my mind) assume that this is a major problem for most people. I think there won't be any effect. People don't read T&Cs, though we make it explicit in them that we do this.
This isn't like Facebook changing their T&Cs. This is publicly posted information, not private correspondence between friends. That would be very different.
> Comments add value to a site, making it attractive to advertisers. That's the exchange.
That's not the exchange, just your perception of it.