Everybody play nice
The News & Observer is, as one of its headline writers phrased it, “cleaning up the online neighborhood.” Anonymous reader comments will no longer be allowed on the N&O’s blogs. Public editor Ted Vaden says the problem is
with language that offends the sensibilities of decent people. Racism, xenophobia and other ills of society, fueled by raw-emotion topics like politics and sports, sometimes infect the discourse.
It’s hard to argue with that. Intemperate language is the coin of the realm in the online world. Still, this edict feels like an overdose of medication for a small ailment. Worse yet, the new system has the unmistakable feel of Big Brother-ism behind it. You may still post comments under whatever name you make up, but you must provide the N&O with your real name, email address, phone number, ZIP code, age and gender. As Vaden puts it:
That means we know who you are, which seems to discourage extreme talk.
The problem, of course, is that one person’s extreme talk is another person’s straight talk. Unless the N&O provides a style guide and a list of unacceptable words and phrases, this system seems custom-designed to snare people in a blacklist: You’ll find out what’s unacceptable only after you’ve registered and tried to comment — whereupon you learn you’ve crossed some vague line and been branded a bigot, misogynist or whatever reprehensible life form makes the N&O’s thought police turn away in disgust.
I understand that a newspaper is not required to provide an apple crate and megaphone to every ignorant crank who wants to share his or her thoughts. The N&O is a private business and has the right to decide what appears on its Web site (just as I have the absolute right to determine what appears on mine). Furthermore, it’s in the N&O’s interest to maintain a site which errs on the side of intelligence and thoughtfulness. But in reality, there will be little change as a result of this new policy. The paper already deletes offensive comments, and will continue to do so. It will also continue to monitor its blogs in order to keep things on a civil level. The only difference is that the N&O wants to spend less time doing so, and has chosen a Big Brother tactic to get you to rein yourself in.
In short, this new edict isn’t rooted in a high-minded concern for “the sensibilities of decent people.” The N&O’s managers simply hope that a vaguely intimidating taking of names will save them some work.
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 am
May we now assume that the N&O’s unsigned editorials will now be signed so we can “know who they are”? Nah, didn’t think so.
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:34 am
But you do know who “they” are. The N&O has repeatedly stated the names of the members of its editorial team.
What’s the matter, have they been using too much salty language for you lately?
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:08 am
N&O’s editorial staff includes:
Steve Ford is head editorial page editor. Everything must be cleared by him. He writes most of the serious stuff—for better or worse.
Allen Torrey is mostly responsible for choosing the op-ed columns so that they conform to the sensibilities of an indoctrinated robot.
Burgetta Wheeler is the person who decides which letters will be printed and how they will be altered—spliced and diced—to suit the tiny world of a Leftist schoolmarm with a constant worried and expectant frown who can’t decide if she wants to scream or have a bowel movement. This woman also chooses the “artwork” often seen alongside columns of local “experts” the staff keeps in their stable. These additions, no doubt, are supposed to provide gravitas and draw the reader to the column as if it’s “heavy stuff”.
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:21 am
It’s very difficult to read anything from Ted Vaden simply because he doesn’t really do what his title at the N&O conveys.
He’s useless.
Did anyone besides me call him when the outrageous, almost unworldly, coverage was taking place in the Spring of 2006? Their front pages became nothing more than a place for editorializing from race-hustlers.
And Linda Williams is still employed.
Two years later, she sends a bigoted memo with an epithet in her professional capacity as an editor of the paper—the written word! Not just something that was uttered spontaneously.
And Linda Williams is still employed.
What did Ted Vaden say about her behavior?
Nothing.
To read his words above about a few morons making comments on a website and how they are going to “git ‘em” is really quite nauseating.
Wonder how it feels to be a man with no balls.
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:18 am
Here’s the problem (or one of the many problems): Is someone at the N&O going to be spending part of their 37.5 hours a week cross referencing the information people submit as their “real” name, age, email, phone number, etc. to the phone book or other public records? Not only is such information easy to fake (oh, gee–I accidentally transposed the last two digits of my phone number), but many people who spend a lot of time posting on internet forums likely already have an alias as well as a junk email account to give the N&O. So no, Ted, you won’t “know who [they] are.” Not even close. Trolls and spammers will always exist, and it certainly won’t be the N&O who figures out how to put an end to it.
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:55 am
What kind of an idiot posts comments on blogs anyway?
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Ha!
Get a mirror, Jimmy.
Hmmm…….my senses tell me that John can’t be far behind.
LIS!!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Debrah,
I’ll keep it simple:
Your roll call and accompanying job descriptions of the N&O editorial department are wrong. I won’t waste my time detailing your errors because you don’t care that you’re incorrect, but others who might wander in here should understand that you don’t know what you’re talking about.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Let me be clear, “Cranky”.
I won’t give details because I said that I would not disclose specifics during our meeting; however, these job descriptions were given to me by someone who ranks much higher than most at the paper.
Your last post to me is illustrative of your usual bullsh!t.
The Diva gloves are off now.
I have obliterated you over and over again when you’ve pulled this kind of crapola on the N&O blogs.
You obviously have some connection to a politically correct element of the N&O. Don’t expect me to comply.
Either buy that person a nice bouquet of flowers or get a room. I’m tired of your irresponsible biases.
Here’s a line from the old gansta film “Gloria”:
You let a woman beat cha?
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:37 am
“Get a mirror, Jimmy. Hmmm…….my senses tell me that John can’t be far behind.”
Nah, Jim said it all. And I think his was a self-depracating post.
Even if, Jim can call me an idiot any time.
As Popeye the Sailor once said, “I yam what I yam. Uk, uk, uk, uk, uk!” “He also said ‘I’m strong to the finish..” which from my more mature, adult perspective carries a whole new meaning for me.
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 am
John,
Well, he was a salty sailor all right, won’t he?
Bru’
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
“He also said ‘I’m strong to the finish..’ which from my more mature, adult perspective carries a whole new meaning for me.”
Very good, John.
You’re always able to conjure up the deeper meaning.
GIS!