Epilogue

And so it comes to an end. 15 months, 416 posts and over 8000 unique daily visitors were part of this blog, and we had countless debates I found fun, enlightening, irritating and thought provoking. Those who have been a part of this since the beginning: Thank you for your invlovement. The best part was hearing behind the scenes from people how they learned something that changed their minds.

I disagree with the recent comments that somehow I should simply endure anonymous comments; that those in power (LOSAC?) should put up with heckling misses the point of what this forum was about. Potshots from the darkness may entertain, or rile, and add spice to a debate, but they also cause people to walk away. We had over a year of people commenting anonymously making their points without the types of messages that recently poisoned the blog.

By the way, I never received any kind of commission check for any ads on the blog; I never hit any threshold of clicks to qualify. This blog wasn't about making money.

While the ants at the picnic may have caused me to pack up from this spot, the great thing is I can be more choosy on my next cyber debate locale with the wisdom of this experience. Those willing to debate in good faith, I'll see you in the blogosphere again.

So Weird...

The comments under New Mayor For Lafayette demonstrate the saddest side of blogging. The open forum combined with anonymity has degenerated to an inane waste of time for all, and driven away the bulk of interesting commenters. To what end? Why bother pushing a debate forum to voluntary extinction? It's just so weird....

Update - I've removed the commenting function from Intense Debate, which removed the last couple weeks' comments completely. If you weren't reading then, you didn't miss anything valuable.

Just Testing Ya

Swapping Chamber/City Hall leases in Lafayette.

Revenue Sharing Options narrowed in Boulder County.

Louisville's StorageTek property redevelopment.

Superior's mailbox rules (sorry, the best I could find...)

Erie's impact fees.

Longmont's lodging tax passes this time.

Any ideas? I've brought up the commenting function again; it has some bugs I need to work out. Please comment away!

I'm Not The Only One Wondering...

I found today's print edition of the Camera's editorial section very interesting, as both attributed and anonymous sources have commented on the issue of whether anonymous blog and other internet postings are helpful or hurtful to public debate.

Given my recent experience with my blog, I found a few articulate defenders of the policy of allowing anonymous posts. I also felt a few people nailed the reasons why on balance such posts are not worthwhile. A few samples:

"I post anonymously because some years ago, in a different online forum, someone took such umbrage at my comments (under my real name) that he figured out where I worked, and attempted to get me in trouble with my employer. None of the accusations he made were true, of course, but I still had to defend myself, take my time, and my supervisor's time, to address his charges. He later gloated that he could make my real life a mess - just because he couldn't successfully debate me online." - moniker: derecho64 .

"EVERYTHING on the INTERNET blogs/comment boards is "anonymous". It's the nature of the media. You'd have to be one deluded fool to believe that just because someone claims to be John Doe online, and asserts that John Doe is their true identity, that said poster really is John Doe." - moniker: Reality_Check.

"Blogging in general is addictive, and anonymity in particular is a crutch. To speak up anonymously is important for those in vulnerable situations such as working for a hostile employer or being targeted by a criminal. Anonymity is the game of the predatory minded when they go sniping — which is to harm someone from a position of cover. But for most, the risk of writing anonymously on a routine basis is to lure oneself into thinking it is done for personal or political “safety.” The ultimate face of anonymity is the hooded jihadist. Few bloggers, named or anonymous, are self disciplined. They give in to the haste that is the hallmark of blogging, and by misstating and then attacking others’ remarks, they put up straw-man arguments that ignite cycles of anger that go round and round. That’s addictive." (Read more by Anne Butterfield, a member of the Camera's editorial advisory Board.)

"The good side of this virtual war of words is stones don’t actually hit bodies. The bad side is that in this virtual world, victims still fall. Heading the list of victims is truth, fairness and civil discourse. Particularly when participants post anonymously but not solely when they do, discourse is much harsher and emotional rather than civil and thoughtful. Rules of decorum in only some places hold off ad hominem attacks, obscenities, lies and the like." (Read more by Shirley Scoville, a member of the Camera's editorial advisory Board.)


The Camera also provides several links to articles about the general topic of the worthiness of anonymity on the internet.


Now it figures with my new blog template I'm having trouble having the comment function re-activated. As I post this I'm going to be working on making this post a "live" debate as in the past with the comments function.

Where Have All The Good Times Gone?

You can see I've shut this all down except for my posts. If you were visiting over the last week or so, you know why. I'm making this a one-way online journal for now, thanks for checking in. I look forward to worthwhile discussions in the future.

The Joys Of Blogging

For those readers following along with all the comments, I want to say my general philosophy is not to censor any comments. However, if they are direct slurs on an individual I am likely going to remove them. If they are comments about me posted by an anonymous source, I'm not going to spend time answering them. There's plenty of otherwise interesting debate happening here, the noise of the anonymous voices are just part of the deal with blogging...

Post/Comment Trouble

Ahh, technology.

I have seen the glitches with the new commenting system and been contacted behind the scenes by a couple people on this. I'm in touch with the Intense Debate guys and trying to learn how to correct the multiple comments and failure to allow other comments.

I've tried making a few comments and that part works for me. I'll keep working on it -

Say It Loud And Proud

For the regular visitors of this blog, I am especially happy to describe to you the new comments function I've been fortunate to install from Intense Debate. As that name implies, this cutting edge blogging tool will facilitate more valuable commenting based not only on my posts but between yourselves as well. The point is to elevate online discussions to a whole new level.

In order to better organize the discussion, Intense Debate allows for comments to be threaded off of any given comment, not just the main post. You can provide more focused comments this way.

If you choose, you can create an identity that spans across all blogs powered by Intense Debate.

Why bother with an identity? Along with your identity is a reputation value, based on the
quantity and quality of the comments you make - quality as voted upon by other readers.
This voting serves to move the best comments to the top.

Plus your identity goes with you to all Intense Debated-formatted blogs, making it easy to track users across the blogosphere by providing email and rss notifications. In short, Intense Debate has completely transformed the commenting experience. I am proud to be one of their early adopters. (I am not involved in any way with them financially for you skeptics out there.)

Heard of Boulder's TechStars? They're one of them. Read more about them here.

Now that this capability is part of my blog, next comes the election predictions and endorsements. Let me know what you think.

Imminent Ranting...

Okay, faithful EastBoCO readers, its been an especially crazy week. I'll return tomorrow with several items, from many towns. Hang in there and re-read the posts and comments you missed before - Only a couple weeks til the mail ballots go out...

Search Function Update

The Ligit Search bar to the right has changed in its operation, I know many of you had used it earlier last week - I'm working with Ligit to re-establish its functionality. You'll be able to search for your name and/or any pertinent topics once that's done. I'll let you know.

Plus, I'm contacting the various candidates to offer them a chance to post a statement on this blog. I will offer each space for a 250-word posting of anything they wish to highlight. If you are a candidate reading this, contact me at budanddakota@yahoo.com.

Offline For A Couple Days

I'm not going near a computer for three days as a brain break with the family. I'll return to posting on Monday. Watch for new candidate announcements in the Council elections, and you know, talk amongst yourselves. Chat with you soon -

No, Kerry Didn't Take Over The Blog

Before you get all worked up, the string of 25 comments attributed to Kerry is another recurring glitch with the comments widget I use - my email box was flooded with exact replicas of comments from Kerry and others over the last few days, hence my reference to the new commenting function I'm testing now.

Get ready, your comments will be ranked and you can easily spin off into side conversations with each other. Oh yeah, it will be sweet.

WIll The Real Bonnie Star Please Stand Up?

Okay, I am correcting my correction. It has been pointed out that Bonnie Star is indeed the Director of Community Development for Lafayette, not the asserted Economic Development Director.

I plead baby brain. No sleep + poor judgment & gullibility, with a dose of wanting to believe. From now on all info I post can be assumed to be my truths, with no reliance on any of yous guys!

New Posting Mechanism In Testing

Hello everyone: I'm investigating a new system that allows posts and comments to be rated by visitors and sorted by commenter , so you can collectively rate what a given person has to say, both individual comments and in general. This is an open forum, so people can say what they want, however I've learned of technology that makes the commenting more valuable.

Where Have All The Good Times Gone....?

The Van Halen version of that song popped in my head as I read Councilor Bensman's question about the drop off in blog banter. There is still a good amount of conversation with me behind the scenes, however the verbal "mosh pit" (as one reader has described it) has taken its toll on several readers.

I like the metaphor and hope after people who stepped out catch their breath they'll feel energized to return. I like having solid, passionate voices interested in vetting themselves. At the very least, blogging is an exercise in strengthening your own thoughts. When you slow down (relatively speaking) and write out and then re-read your thoughts, you get a chance to second-guess yourself and also become more precise in what you're trying to say. Using the blog as a tool for personal skill building re: your own thought process is worthwhile.

Blogs are open slates in the wild wild west - frontier justice, anonymous vigilantes; a 24/7 free-for-all on ideas and opinions. Not everyone is comfortable riding into the frontier...thanks to those of you who've stayed.

Retiring From The 'Scene

For those who may not have seen it yet, the June issue of the Yellow Scene has my last article; I've retired from the publication on good terms. It was simply time. You can read my nostalgic overview of the last five-plus years' and 80+ columns online here.

I have grown along with the Yellow Scene, which was literally on yellow paper and featured entertainment and pizza coupons over muckraking back then; Shavonne Blades has continued to grow the reach and value of the free publication into the most relevant and useful publication in east county, I dare say.

I have coupled my sincere citizen interest with my research for articles on a variety of topics and this enthusiasm continues with this blog. The immediacy and interactive nature of online conversation has attracted my interest. I like the potential for my editorial comments to be challenged almost immediately with facts and context by those familiar with the situation.

More than just my chiming in once a month on an issue, I see this blog as a useful tool for officials and activists vetting a decision or topic. Thanks to the years with the Yellow Scene, I am more educated, connected and interested. I hope you continue to join me in building the value of this blog.

And thanks to all of you for reading me - and providing info and quotes! over the years.

A Fantastic New Addition to Boulder County

Folks, my three-day delay in posting ends with a proud announcement that our first child, Kyla Powers, was born Wednesday afternoon. I will return tomorrow with more typical EastBoco commentary.

Technorati Now Part of The Blog

More blogging updates, this time with Technorati. Technorati Profile

New Feature - Most Comments

Check out on the right under the Recent Comments list, I've added a feature that lists the posts with the most comments. While I'd like to think my posts are the absolutely most compelling, thought-provoking and insightful groups of words on the blog, you may want to see what others have said. My job is to get the ball rolling - and the readers take it from there. Chime in - you know you want to.

Comment Listing - You Get What You Pay For

You'll notice the Recent Comments list on the right shows comments dated in June. Something about the widget that collects and lists recent comments messed up over the past weekend; it appears that comments made to posts since last Saturday appear under the respective post topics but aren't listed here. As this is a free program I use, I don't have much technical understanding of its capacities. In the past the folks running this feature have fixed the problem. I'm working with them on this one too.

I bring it up because some posts continue to be commented on, please check them out individually.