vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

11.20.2008

Blog thoughts

Thanks for your input on blog control.

As I said before, our goal is to foster candid conversation. We don't like trash talk any better than the rest of you who don't like trash talk.

We are pondering some changes that would allow us more control, but I have to be persuaded first that a different, more cumbersome format will be worthwhile in actually bringing the intended results.

I know you all think it's as simple as a flick of a keystroke, but the reality is that it isn't. For instance:

- If we were to approve or disapprove of each comment as it came in, we'd become drones tied to our computers (those of you who think we already are can just stifle it right there) and the comments would be significantly delayed.

- I tried once upon a time deleting offensive comments as they came in, but I found that it had a significantly deleterious effect on my life. I'm sure you can appreciate our lack of interest in working 24/7, not to mention the laws against it.

- The story chat system on the Free Press main Web site allows for offensive people to be barred, and we might switch to something like that, but if you've ever scrolled story chat I think you'll agree that it's not completely free of rudeness and the conversation is not always productive.

In the meantime, I recommend you disregard JWCoop's comments entirely.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 5:07 PM |

Comments:

"those of you who think we already are can just stifle it right there"

How charming.

How about something along the line of:

"If you think we already can, sadly you are mistaken"

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:14 PM, November 20, 2008

We already dis Coop

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:51 PM, November 20, 2008

HA! Excellent post Terri!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:34 PM, November 20, 2008

I recommend you just ignore the drunken, abusive, lecherous uncle at our wedding. And thanks for coming!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:51 PM, November 20, 2008

If you can't block IPs, you need to switch software.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:38 PM, November 20, 2008

Congratulations, JW. You won. They have handed you the keys to the blog. Big day for you.

As for me, I'm outta here. BFP is not gonna change a thing, which says to me that they don't give a damn what their readers think. I'll spend my reading and debate time elsewhere.

Thanks for asking for our input, Terri. Really. Thanks.

Really.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:25 AM, November 21, 2008

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 7:55 AM, November 21, 2008

Vermont Tiger called it cyberbullying.

http://www.vermonttiger.com/content/2008/11/weve-upped-our-standards-now.html

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:57 AM, November 21, 2008

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 8:07 AM, November 21, 2008

Good luck, Terri. The "I am exercising my freedom of speech, not matter how profane, offensive or abuive it may be to you" crowd will scream "Censorship!"! Its too bad we can't have any sane political discussions without the interference from those who post simply to feed their own egos. Personally, I liked the old days, when the BFP used to vet letters to the editor by call the writer before they would publish. Was that censorship? No, it was simply responsible publishing. Sadly, responsibility, whether online or in life, is a thing of the past.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:11 AM, November 21, 2008

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 8:21 AM, November 21, 2008

I recommend the BFP does find a way to bar offensive people, and soon. I don't mind some rudeness, but a steady diet from one sick mind makes me want to avoid reading the comments entirely.

It would be nice to just disregard the person you mention, but when he posts it hard not to look, just as you would look at a drunk vomiting on the sidewalk if you were passing by.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:29 AM, November 21, 2008

Terri, if you all aren't going to do anything about this problem (and clearly 99% of your readers think it IS a problem), then why the heck did you ask for input on what you should do?

None of the other VT political blogs have this problem. Only the Buzz. Why is that?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:10 AM, November 21, 2008

She's started deleting some foolish posts!

Good start!

Can we talk about politics now?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:20 AM, November 21, 2008

Is Deb Markowitz running for Governor?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:57 AM, November 21, 2008

Racine should toss his hat in the ring again.

He's the only dem in Montpelier with the name recognition to take on Douglas.

Markowitz is great. Spaulding is okay too. But they have been hesitant to jump in and take Douglas on.

If Racine gets in early and fights hard, he has a chance.

The others don't.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:01 AM, November 21, 2008

Didn't Peter Shumlin say he would leave the senate? Does that mean he is going to run for Governor?

Whoa!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:07 AM, November 21, 2008

Anonymous said...

"Terri, if you all aren't going to do anything about this problem (and clearly 99% of your readers think it IS a problem), then why the heck did you ask for input on what you should do?"

Gee, 99 percent, eh?

Never in the course of human events have so many nameless nitwits with bupkis shared so few IP addresses.

Nice try.

"None of the other VT political blogs have this problem. Only the Buzz. Why is that?"

None of the other blogs, eh?

Well, if you're gonna put your anonymous name on the line and say so, it must be true, little fella.

Ask Indy about that, little fella.

Always a pleasure.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 11:23 AM, November 21, 2008

Anonymous said...

"We already dis Coop"

Then what's the problem, little fella?

Always a pleasure.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 11:27 AM, November 21, 2008

Anonymous...

"I recommend the BFP does find a way to bar offensive people, and soon. I don't mind some rudeness, but a steady diet from one sick mind makes me want to avoid reading the comments entirely."

Hey, just be glad he's not posting your name and address and trashin' your wife and kids by name while offerin' google map directions to your house on a regular basis, little fella.

"It would be nice to just disregard the person you mention, but when he posts it hard not to look, just as you would look at a drunk vomiting on the sidewalk if you were passing by."

Ah, so if I say something you don't like or agree with then I'm responsible for my own behavior, but if you say something I don't like or disagree then I must have made you do it, little fella.

Nice try. No sale.

If you can't handle your reality without getting smashed and anonymously vomiting on the sidewalk while posting other people's names and addresses while trashing them and their families in print on a regular basis before turning around and blaming them for making you do it, then you're the one with the problem, little fella.

Get yourself into rehab. Find yourself a 12-Step Program for nameless nitwits with bupkis and then feel free to explain to me how one goes about slandering an anonymous whatever the hell ya are along with your hypothetical family members by name and posting your imaginary address and phone on a regular basis while offering google map directions to your hypothetical home, little fella.

And by all means, anonymous blog administrators should feel free to chime in on that point, too, Terri.

Always a pleasure.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 12:02 PM, November 21, 2008

disregarding.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:38 PM, November 21, 2008

Quit your whining jw. You bring this on yourself. You might try going to the Human Rights Commission. Give those do-nothings an excuse to draw their paychecks.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:48 PM, November 21, 2008

Charming and persuasive as ever.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:58 AM, November 22, 2008