Posted by Neighbors and friends, excuse me please while I grumble a bit.
I have three main concerns about comments on the blog.
Posting in a thread using multiple names (aka Sockpuppetry). This is a real peeve of mine that I have mentioned here and there before in comments. I don’t like it when a user posts multiple comments under one post using multiple names. One comment might say, “Joe Smith is a great candidate.” The next might say, “Other candidates like Bob Brown don’t have the experience necessary.” And while they are posted using different screen names, they come from the same person.
I ask that in the comments to a post you pick one screen name and stick with it. You are able to leave 20 comments or more under a post, but it is reasonable that the rest of us know that it is one person leaving those 20 comments, not 20 people.
- Plain ol’ meanness. Political and policy disagreements are to be expected, but let’s be civil about it. I simply don’t like it when this blog gives one person the venue to call another an idiot, a moron, what-have-you.
People are passionate about political campaigns that are heating up, and I understand that. However that is not a license to be mean.
- Unfounded and/or irrelevant allegations. The comments section here is not the place to ask if so-and-so had an affair or ever got over the drinking problem. Well-meaning folks may be trying to get to the bottom of a traveling rumor, perhaps to put it to rest. But it’s just as easy for someone malicious to start such a rumor by posting a comment like that.
Sometimes people are trying to find out more about a situation and have emailed me to ask if I have heard anything. I am willing to share what I know, and that is nicer than jump-starting a rumor that may not be true by posting it in the comments section.
Several readers have suggested that it is time to require readers to register with a valid email address before they may comment. For now, I prefer not to do that. I invite you to make the case for or against that in the comments section below.
I like for the Political Parlor – including the comments – to inform, illuminate, challenge, amuse… to bring out the best in us, not the worst. I learn a lot here and am grateful for that opportunity. I hope this really will be more like a political parlor and less like a middle school lunchroom table.
If you are unable to be mindful of the three concerns above, you may find that your attempts to post comments will go into a moderation queue to be approved (or not) before they are posted.
Most folks here could not be more pleasant. But with campaign passions and readership both on the rise, I feel like the atmosphere in the comments was beginning a slow, downward spiral that I wanted to intercept.
If you feel like you are somehow being stifled and that I am trying to create an environment that does not appeal to you, then feel free to start your own blog. I’ll even help you if I can.
And if you feel like any of this is unreasonable, I’m glad to hear that too.
As I said, I was feeling grumble-y. Carry on.
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Thanks for the interception and thanks for The Parlor, which gives all an equal voice.
Agree with everything you said Danny. The comment portion of your blog is something I seldom even read anymore because so many of the posts are untruths and bickering with no value to add to the related subject. Maybe after your remarks it will get better.
Here’s hoping so, Jeff. I, for example, have had many disagreements with bhmhomeboy, but I still always like to hear his opinion, if for no other reason then I like to know what the other side is thinking.
In my experience, election season always raises the stakes, namely the number of people (or at least screen names) posting regarding their candidate of choice. If I had to wager, the respect this site garners throughout the state leads individuals to want their story to be carried here. In a roundabout way, Danny, consider it a form of flattery.
That said, I think it would be unfortunate if we had to register. Certain websites that will go unnamed require registration and than wantonly use that as a way to keep only those comments that coincide with the opinions of the owner. Granted, I know Danny would never use such tactics, even if we were required to register. That said, there is something to be said for a place that anyone is free to come and go as he wishes and say what he wishes to say. There will always be problems with that environment. For a system of free speech to work, however, fair minded people must be willing to accept the rudeness of others. Usually those people merely want attention anyway. The best way to get them to leave is to just ignore them. Like a fire deprived of oxygen, it will burn out on its own.
I certainly wouldn’t mind if you required regisration. I don’t even know you personally, but the way you’ve ran the parlor so far leads me to believe that you’re trustworthy. If you should find it necessary to register commenters, you’re motivation would be to keep political hacks from gaming the parlor for political advantage, I’m sure most of us would understand.
The anonymity of the blogosphere is both a blessing and a curse. As an elected official, I believe that I have a responsiblity to put my opinions on the record; but the anonymity allows many a greater freedom of expression. Of course there are those who will abuse the cloak of anonymity.
As the influence of the Parlor continues to grow, more political hack will try to abuse it. You’ll just have to adapt as you go to keep honest dialogue going. This might be the only time I ever agree with bhamhomboy, but his previous comment is right on target.
Good post. I finally got around to creating some commenting policies for my site recently after a spate of, uhhhhh, unpleasant comments.
In my mind I equate posting comments anonymously or under an unidentifiable screen name (or names) with PAC-2-PAC transfers of funds that prevent voters from knowing where a candidate’s financing is coming from. I pay far more attention to comments posted under a person’s actual name, such as Mike Ball and a few others do.
I do not agree with everyones’ position on this forum but I respect everyones’ right to express their opinion. Our brave soldiers died for us to have that right. As long as we ALL show respect for our troops and each other there shouldn’t be a problem
I also believe that people can agree to disagree without being disagreeable and resorting to name calling or personal attacks.
I don’t agree with Mike Ball’s position on certain issues but I have tremendous respect for him as public offical, this is why:
“As an elected official, I believe that I have a responsiblity to put my opinions on the record;”.
However you decide, Danny, is fine with me.
I appreciate the variety of opinion expressed here–no one has all the right answers. I’m all for less polarization, more respectful listening and a search for common ground rather than constant parsing of differences.
Do you hear that Senators?
I learn a great deal here but would prefer to remain anyonymous because of my name in the community. I would not mind your knowing, just not the rest of the people. I generally ignore people like Anonyomous who just can’t stop himself. I will not put up with vicious attacks. I don’t in person and certainly will not put up with any here. My pet peeve is the number of people who call themselves anonymous. Now I understand they generally are from a campaign.. There may not a be a way of remedying that problem.