Akismet: ID Settings and WP Plugin

Hi Andrew, I usually recommend leaving both of them enabled/turned on, and here's the reason:

Normal users posting comments on your blog will see IntenseDebate, which is loaded via JavaScript, and comment using that interface. If they are spamming you, then our (IntenseDebate's) install of Akismet will filter that spam and catch it immediately. The comment will then be synced over to your WordPress blog where it will technically go through Akismet again, but it's already passed once, so it will pass again.

If you disable Akismet at IntenseDebate, then all comments posted will be accepted by ID, then get synced over to WordPress and go through Akismet there. Assuming it was spam, it will then need to get synced back over to ID again to prevent it from showing up in your comments. This can take some time, depending on a variety of factors, and in that time the comment will potentially be showing up on your site (depending on your other settings).

Now the real problem is that automated spammers and people using scripts of some sort to spam you will *not* see IntenseDebate, and will be posting directly to the code in WordPress that handles new comments. These spammy comments will hit WordPress first, so it's best to have Akismet there, as your first line of defense. It will mark it as spam, block it, and then it'll never even need to show up in IntenseDebate in the first place.

Technically the only place you *need* it activated is on your own blog, but it makes the whole system run smoother and be more secure if you have it enabled in both places.

Hope that answers your question, and sorry for the long response!

Beau