I've been disappointed in the recent breakdown of civility around here. Well, maybe it's not so recent. But lately, it seems to be getting a lot worse.
Look, politics is an emotional, dirty game. Tempers flare, passions run hot. And this is one of the few places online where you might encounter people with very, very different political philosophies than your own.
But that doesn't mean you have to hurl petty insults about a candidate, a cause, a party or another poster. That doesn't further your ideas: it just makes you look small.
One of the reasons I prefer to cover Connecticut instead of the national scene is because comparatively speaking, this is an island of sanity. I like to think that, despite our differences here, we can still get along and treat one another with dignity.
If we can't do that, then we're just making noise.
I won't ban people. I will delete racist, sexist, homophobic or otherwise bigoted remarks. I will decide what those are.
And I'll ask you all now to try and remember that there is a big difference between debating and simply shouting.
15 comments:
Well said. Thank you for your efforts in holding this community together. In the neighborhoood I grew up in, anything went amongst the kids, but at least there were a few grown ups to help us understands the difference between freedom and license.
Hang in there GC, there are more supporters of your vision than detractors.
Some folks ought to know there is a difference between risque humor i.e. "Colin McEnroe and Ned Lamont need a civil union to make themselves legal" and the kind of meanspirited anomymous smears we've seen of late.
hear hear GC, you run a good blog and if your hand needs to steady the wheel on oaccasion, the discussion will be better for it. Keep up the good work.
As long as anonymous is the most frequent poster here this will continue and get worse as election time draws closer.
By the way anon 10:55 that was bigotry Not risque anything
I won't be disallowing anonymous posts any time soon. But I would like anonymous users to think about adopting a handle--even a temporary one. It's a lot easier to figure out who one is talking to. All you have to do is select "other" from the "Choose an identity" menu below the space where you write your comment. Type in whatever you want your handle to be. Then post. That's it.
I think it's a bit easier for us online to say hurtful and cruel things to one another, because the other person is only a name on a screen. We forget there's someone on the other end.
Hats off to you GC!
well, considering all the "brokeback mountain" jokes Colin says on his show we're both bigots I suppose
These days the Left are the ones out with the thought police...try buying a book a Borders that says boo about Islam, for example
Genghis--
You won't disallow anonymous posts. But you will pray that eveyone adopt a handle?
Honestly, you and Aldon should get together for a few rounds of Cum-by-yah's.
We all know that YOU have set up this anonymous forum. And you, also, have encouraged the bigots. What did you think the outcome would be when marrying the twain?
You want civility? Start with the racists and gay-haters! But of course your traffic matters more than basic decency.... The KKK would find themselves well at home at CTLocalPolitics. Bully for you!
...Maybe you should read the post again, anonymous.
What the hell. How much did you have to drink tonight? Screaming nonsense at GC all over the place. Take your meds and lay off the booze.
GC, have you conisdered that some of your bloggers believe in what you consider "racist, sexist, or homophobic" comments. Is there no room on your blog for ALL ideas?
Just so everyone knows:
The McDonald's on Rogers Street in Lowell, right across from Stadium Plaza, now has cheeseburgers for 30 cents every Tuesday from 4-7 pm. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now if they'd only bring back the McRib...
There's an amazing community here at CLP. I've learned so much from this blog. Sometimes you do have to wade through a lot of name calling, insults, and other crap to get to the good stuff though.
GC, I wish you'd consider disallowing anonymous posters. It makes discussions hard to follow, and I do think that it encourages some of the more hostile discussions. Just a thought.
GC, you know your blog has made it big time, when you attract the attention of clowns like these. However, 30 cent cheesburgers is hard to argue with. And everybody loves tony danza!
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