We all get into it here somewhat, and several of us reveal our true identities, while others create at least some type of running reputation and consistency through their nicknames. In the various Hometown News papers, the "town talk" section is this blog-like printing of various rants that are unattributed and often get personal. I can't quite understand the value beyond sensationalism for such a section, especially one that so dominates the amount of space on the editorial pages.
In today's Lafayette News (this stuff isn't available online) I noticed someone pointing out that "Kerry Bensman is complaining about traffic on Baseline Road backing up for miles in the morning." It goes on from there.
I don't think a newspaper should indulge in printing someone's unattributed comment that specifically identifies another person. At least on this blog, there is a method of challenging people back and forth with comments, defending your point and adding more facts (ideally!) as much as you want. The fly-by nature of Town Talk doesn't even serve the vicarious thrill of debate like we have here. It is just a blast, and move on back into the shadows.
There was also an argument in support of Louisville's ballot issue 2A. It was a solid argument that should be printed with the advocate's name. There was a letter getting into it about the wrongs of assisting illegal immigrants - does the debate advance when the writer is left anonymous?
I know this blog isn't the perfect debate forum, however those of us who have maintained a certain identity consistently make it worthwhile. Where is Spicoli, anyway?
As a side note, I love the police blotter from Erie: "A 26 year old woman reported to Erie police a series of strange events ...which culminated in the woman finding corndogs on her car."
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The fishwrap factories are starting to get desperate for sales. Yellow journalism just isn't good enough - now we have ASTROBRIGHT YELLOW JOURNALISM!!!!!! (extra sclams available!!!!)
I've asked repeatedly when several local papers will offer a full-text PDF version. I'd pay MORE for that. They're already creating it electronically, it's actually FEWER PRODUCTION STEPS.
But those big iron dinosaurs have mortgages on em... so they'll be around for another generation.
The problem is that the old-school print-only folks still fear/hate the internet when they SHOULD be embracing it. The two media working together could produce something quite magical.
Waiting to see which house buys a vowel first and blows their competition off the page... so to speak. And those weak-tea little 'companion websites' don't even come CLOSE to cuttin it.
It's called SYNERGY boys. Look it up.
/rant
sorry, caffeine hasn't worn off yet
Dan, I had the same thoughts way back when the Hometown rip off artists started Town Talk. (Rip off artists explained in the next paragraph.)
Doog - agreed. If I didn't get my Hometown News edition delivered for free, I'd not get it. They changed from subscription only to free several years ago so they could continue to rip off local businesses. Look at how many people we reach!
What they fail to grasp is the online revenue they could be getting in addition to the print version. Until the print version goes away completely.
More often than not I throw my Hometown News in the trash, there are better sources for local news. I'm really not interested in reading fluffy articles written by recent journalism grads. So, how many are they really reaching via print?
Years ago I asked the LN editor why Town Talk was allowed. The response was that some readers would not come forward if they had to supply their names. I've never used it but have been accused of using it.
This is the written policy but...
"Calls that are highly critical of local individuals or organizations may not be used. Calls that cite statistics, facts or figures that are not generally known or easily verified may not be used."
Anyway, traffic is now backed up at least a half a mile in the morning on Baseline/Hwy 7 in the a.m. and p.m. from 287. To my surprise it is backed up going WEST from 287. CDOT reconfigured the lanes and there is only one lane going east and west across 287. Every time I head east into town, I get cut off by someone who finds themselves in the turn lane wanting to go straight. City hall tells me they did not not about the reconfiguration.
Vacation season is over.
It's election season so more of this will happen. Goes with the territory. What I wonder about is if there will be a reaction to the visitability article in which Ruggeri infers that Strungis was "too young" to understand the issues.
The Saturday before that vote change, I talked to both for over an hour. Strungis had a better grasp of the issues than Ruggeri. I had no idea Strungis was going to reconsider by the way.
Town Talk encourages potential libel and it gets people around town talking about the issues. Does the good outweigh the bad and therefore justify publication? I don't know, but in the end it's more or less the precursor of a blog. Presumably it sells papers too - I always buy the LN knowing that I can't read Town Talk or the legals on-line.
Dan, you can't be serious. You really think your blog is better than town talk? At least half your posters don't use their real names. City Staff is routinely slandered in this blog and they cannot defend themselves because the slanderer is their boss. Would you walk into your company cafeteria with a megaphone and publicly degrade your employee? As a publicly elected official I am fair game and I have no problems with that. But excuse me if I don't see the distinction you are trying to make.
Perhaps Councilor Phillips should reread the city charter:
"City Staff is routinely slandered in this blog and they cannot defend themselves because the slanderer is their boss."
All city employees work for the city administrater. The only city employee that reports to the city council is the city administrater.
To repeat, city personnel are protected by law and the council has no input to their being hired or terminated, performance appraisals, compensation, or promotion. The CC has no access to personnel records either.
Any council member must direct all communications thru the city administrator. Any conversation and its content held with a CC member must be reported to the city administrator.
Putting facts and analysis on the table that challenge the actions of the city government is the responsibility of any oversight body, which is what the city council is. Elected officials challenging the actions and decisions of city government is part of their responsibility.
As for the term "slander", you all can be the judge.
Frank,
What?!?
Now I'z did wanna be thank'n y'all fer the change to th' charter 'n all. That wuz nice of y'all to put that one to the voters. And m' bondin' idears too. Thanks fer puttin' 'em to the voters no matter wut ya think. Shucks. Y'all sure are nice.
Now just you wait here with that Spicoli...
I stand by my statement.
Frank,
I am sure the allegedly slandered appreciate you jumping to their defense.
I want to make sure I have this straight, Frank.
Are you are suggesting that Gary Klaphake is anonymously slandering city employees on this site and that city employees are too meek to anonymously defend themselves?
I love it. What a hoot. Would you please be kind enough to provide specific examples?
Consider me officially dazed and confused on this one.
Totally, dude.
Opinions are one thing, personal attacks are a whole different animal. An anonymous posting on this blog that launches a personal attack is just as bad as a personal attack in Town Talk.
I wouldn't put any stock in an anonymous posting that included a personal attack. Including my own postings.
Some of us have been accused of getting personally nasty on this blog. When accused, I apologize, as I think it's out of line to do so if anonymous, and I sure haven't done so intentionally. There is no such tongue lashing in Town Talk.
However, anyone who is willing to put their name out there should have a little more leeway as far as I'm concerned. They've earned it by taking their mask off.
On the other hand, posting under a screen name, or such, has it's benefits as well. Since no one (I don't think) knows who I am, they don't come to the conversation with prejudices about my agenda, or intent.
For those who put their name on the postings - their opinion is sometimes discounted simply because of who they are, and the "baggage" they bring to the conversation.
The exchange of ideas and opinions is good. Personal attacks have no place. If we can keep those out of the mix, the anonymity of some allows for a more open discussion. And, unlike Town Talk, we should be able to police ourselves.
I'm getting that this TownTalk (Wasn't that a segment on Weird Al's UHF movie?) is sort of like the TC Line the Times-Call does. Annonymous short comments via the phone? I've never really been a fan of it, but it sounds like this TT is more abrasive. As far as screen names/aliases, anyone can find or figure out who I am, I use this more of a way to get to and remember my site address. Besides, plenty of people share my name, some infamous, and typing it in a browser wouldn't send you to my site and frankly, it's not as snappy. ;)
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