We have a new format today, along with a new approach to how we will converse on this blog. As I’ve said before, I am excited that we’ve found this new avenue to communicate and deeply grateful that so many are participating. We are fast approaching 200 visits a day – not bad for a community of just over 400 voters.
As our interaction has grown, I have struggled to find a balance between open expression and civility. Until now, I have tipped the scales towards open comments rather than use my own definition of “civil discourse”.
But I have become increasingly concerned that we are using this venue to continue to tear each other apart – except now we can do it anonymously. I recognize that most of you refuse to take the comments seriously when the author doesn’t have the courage to stand behind their words. And I recognize this level of discord has been a part of our community for several years now. There is some benefit to having it out in the open now.
Yet I had hoped this effort would help bring us together ~ that we could find a way to disagree without name calling, that we could express different opinions without getting raked over the coals, that we could work through the differences if we talked openly without fear of attack. I don’t see that happening right now.
I believe I have to address the growing trend of personal attacks and mean-spirited harassment we are experiencing here. So, we are going to try something new. Rather than require all commenters to register, any comment that is out of line will be moved to the Ruston Truth blog. This is a “no-holds barred” site where you can rave to your hearts content. But here on Ruston Home, we will find ways to have civil disagreements ~ and continue to discover just how much we agree on the important things, like how much we love our community!
Thanks for your continued participation and help with this new direction. ~ Karen
UPDATE: 9:53 am: It's clear some people are very concerned about this change. I welcome everyone's input and thank you for participating. I don't pretend to have the balance right. I agree that this is a form of censorship and it does feel a bit like Pleasantville. But I think its a necessary step to allow everyone to participate (not everyone is willing to undergo the recent harassment's).
These negative comments raise some good points. I encourage the authors to drop the threats and personal attacks and make your comment again. In the meantime, the full range of comments is available on Ruston Truth. I'll continue to update things as I have time today. ~ Karen
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
27 comments:
The previous comment was moved to www.rustontruth.blogspot.com
Karen,
Thanks for making an effort to improve the Ruston Home Blog. It seems like some people are unhappy that freedom of speech has lead to open if imperfect communication. I am glad to live in the USA.
The Ruston Truth blog is connected to the Ruston Home blog, and by definition allows almost anything to be printed without censorship. This is the avenue where people can vent, reasonably or unreasonably. They can use illogic, spout venom, etc. However, when it is posted here, the post or comment usually has less credibility. Since anyone can access this blog, then any comment or statement, opinion, or post that is on the Ruston Truth blog has not been censored since it is available. People who insist on anonymously (i.e. cowardly) attacking you or other people or anyone else that disagrees with them--well their comments can be put over there because it is usually drivel that does not advance the debate.
I still think that all anonymous comments should be posted on the Ruston Truth blog. Let the Ruston Home blog be like an open town hall like venue as much as possible. If we all were at the biweekly Monday Town Council Meeting and wanted to make a public comment. We would identify ourselves for the record and make a comment in front of everyone present. Personally, I tend to think of the Ruston Truth blog as either a place to vent or as a place to be silly, entertaining or be nasty.
Anyone who believes in their ideas or their comments can learn to stand up, take pride in their thoughts and place their full name on their comments.
I think it would be tough to sign your full name to stapler jokes, or when you are using nicknames such as "scooter" or when you just want to take a cheap shot at someone. People can do that on the Ruston Truth blog (which should be changed to the Ruston Venting blog since if all of this anonymous drivel that ended up there, likely it would have minimal if any "Truth."
The Ruston Home blog could then be streamlined so that the information, reports, opinions, etc posted there can be discussed by people productively. Unproductive or anonymous comments could still be accessed elsewhere.
Signed,
Anonymous,
(Just kidding)
Thomas J Ferrer
Thanks for the comments everyone. The comments that not civil in nature have been moved to the Ruston Truth blog. Feel free to follow the full discussion if you'd like at www.rustontruth.blogspot.com
It seems to me that those who are critical of how Karen runs this blog are the same one who try to control the private property of others through the town council.
Folks, this is America. One of the things that makes us unique is the ability to own our own property.
The same holds true in this blog. Karen owns it. She gets to set the rules. That doesn't make her a dictator any more than each of you are dictators on your own property.
As for the free speech argument, you are just as free to start your own blog and say whatever you want.
And because it's America, you can even make it so that only your chosen members can view and participate.
I don't know why there is an objection to civil discussion. Do you find it impossible to disagree without getting mean? It's really not that difficult to state your objection, back it up, and leave the name calling out of it.
I encourage you to try it.
karen, let me summerize a post of yours from not too long ago.
basicly, you let people post their opinions on here freely becouse thats how they express themselves.
you dont believe in censorship, so you let it go.
but, if understand you correctly, that is exactly what you are planning on here?
If I wanted civility, I would join the RC group.
PLEASE SEE RUSTONTRUTH FOR THIS COMMENT. Karen, by the way, do you have anymore Swastikas like the one you gave Bradley? You have now earned the right to wear it.
In response to comment #8, I did indeed say that I was allowing much more in the comments than I am personally comfortable with. But the level of attacks, especially against other commenters, has continued to grow since I made that statement. I think we've gone too far. I will continue to allow comments that are uncomfortable for me, but not when they include personal attacks, name calling or are not civil. I hope we can find a balance that allows free expression that does not hurt other people...
karen, you created this monster. you needed something different from RC and i agree; but let it go as originaly intended or shut your site down.
your spot censorship has steered things in the dirrection you wanted and here it is, your final destination.
you had an opportunity to shut this down and stop it when the horrible pictures of bradley were posted, and frankley all the BS about dan, wayne and bill.
you let it go becouse you supported it and you showed us all, we realy could speak our mind here. to put it another way, you led by example, something we needed in Ruston.
why do care if i find your views repulsive? these are your views and the ideas you are trying to promote.
if that was your belief then, and most likely still is, stick to your guns or your a quiter like everybody else.
Karen, what was such a personal attack in the blog I read that named some of the people who founded Ruston Home and Ruston Truth? You deleted that comment, but not before I saw it.
What I saw were names with no personal information added, such as addresses, phone numbers, or anything like that. You, Beth Torbet, Lyle Hardin, Jim Pickett, Jim Wingard and Craig Fletcher were some of the names I remember that were the people who started the two blogs. I do not understand why you deleted that comment or moved it to Ruston Truth.
I think you are going way overboard. No one will want to write anything if you continue to exercise the control you are imposing now. You may be in over your head at this point. I hope not, but this all feels very shaky.
So this is what your comments post now looks like on Tuesday night's Council meeting:
James Wingard said...
This is probably the most important meeting in the history of the town. With the approval of second Reading POINT RUSTON literally "nobodys gonna stop us now."
The end of disfunctionality.
GO RUSTON GO!!!!!
August 30, 2008 11:16 AM
Comment deleted
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
August 30, 2008 1:47 PM
Comment deleted
This post has been removed by the author.
August 30, 2008 9:08 PM
Comment deleted
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
August 30, 2008 11:14 PM
Ruston Home said...
The previous comments have been moved to rustontruth.blogspot.com
August 30, 2008 11:57 PM
Comment deleted
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
August 30, 2008 11:58 PM
Comment deleted
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
August 31, 2008 12:05 AM
6 out of 7 posts deleted - Karen, there is a strong message here but it's not the one you may think you are sending. Careful, girl; this is not good content for a blog.
Karen, thanks for making the decision to eliminate posts like the ones that crucified Bill Walker and Bradley Huson.
Trial by blog is no good in a real court of law, but trial by blog still does its damage by implicating or even declaring a person's guilt and by damaging a person's reputation.
I thought you were throughly irresponsible by writing what you did about Bill Walker and then encouraging people to comment on the allegations made by Shirley Jones against him.
The same goes for Bradley Huson's photo with swastika. You did allow it to appear on Ruston Truth and allowed all the nasty comments that followed.
I for one, am pleased to see your new direction in providing guidance and oversight. It's healthier for everyone to read more neutral material with less negative comments.
Why, last Anonymous, do you want Karen's 'guidance' about the content? Can't you make up your own mind about what you read or post? This attitude is what got Germany into trouble in the 1930's. Think for yourself.
Comment deleted
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Just saw the new home page. Whitewash will kill this blog.
Just to clarify, it was my decision to start these blogs. I talked it over with a few friends, but several folks you list were not among those I spoke with. But the decision to get this started was mine.
The comment was moved to the other blog because it contained information that was not true.
Change is good, you say. Well, the change you have made may make you feel good, Karen, and probably more safe from litigation, but it does make this a very dull blog spot. What's the point?
Anyone can keep up with Ruston's council meetings from the Town newsletter, the RC, the TNT and Tacoma Weekly. We all know that you love Don's market and hype the nostalgia about the old days here. Why not convert your blog into a local history blog and keep it relevant and still safe?
What you have now is a blog spot with no guts.
I appreciate everyone's thoughts. It is great to hear from so many.
We seem to be forgetting what I said - disagreements are still allowed - with a level of civility here on Ruston Home and in whatever manner you choose on Ruston Truth. We'll just need to find ways to express our thoughts without calling each other names or attacking each other personally now. I believe it can be done and its well worth the effort in my opinion.
the new Rustonhome is pretty to look at but disappointing. bland.
"Hamilton, writing under the pseudonym 'Pacificus'. . . Madison replied as 'Helvidius'. . .
[Monroe w]riting under the pseudonym 'Agricola.'
Marshall wrote under two pen names, 'Aristeds' and 'Gracchus.'"
"John Marshall" by Jean Edward Smith, pp. 172-174.
You can't go [Ruston] home again.
signed, Thomas W.
Looking for a new blog to exchange views.
Those who are disappointed with the new direction can 1) adapt to this new way of expressing your thoughts, 2) continue to commment as you'd like on Ruston Truth, 3) stop paricipating at all, 4) start your own blog (there are several free services - such as Google's blogspot.com). I'd be happy to link this blog to any others that start up.
Thanks again for the comments!
Karen Blog Queen, Doesnt look like the folks are following your directions very well. You need to be next to your computer 24/7 if you are going to change every post that you don't like. Big job but you can do it. Might not have any posts left to read, though, after your finished, just a bunch of 'comment deleted' s.
I agree that this is a form of censorship and it does feel a bit like Pleasantville. But I think its a necessary step to allow everyone to participate (not everyone is willing to undergo the recent harassment's).
Post a Comment