Recently, we've had a spate of issues around people getting very personal with each other on The Batavian.
In some cases, I've acted quickly to remove the posts. In a few others, I've been slow either because of other work, the need for sleep or trying to decide just how appropriate or inappropriate a particular post might be.
And in at least one case, I let a blog post make it onto the home page that contained a clear personal attack. Even though it involved a person who was not at the time a member of the site, he is a private individual in the community.
This person was called out by name and slammed pretty hard.
It was an oversight on my part to let the post go. The topic was worthy for community discussion. Ironically, it was on sportsmanship. Ironic, because it wasn't very sportsman-like of me to let the comment go by without at least asking the author to edit his post. My cringe factor when I read it wasn't attuned highly enough.
I've apologized to that individual and unpublished the post.
Going forward, I am going to try to be even more attuned to the personal attacks. We want to have productive discussions about community issues (and sometimes national and world issues) on The Batavian. It should be possible to do that without making it personal or mean spirited.
If you ever feel an attack has made it onto the site and I haven't reacted quickly enough or judged it correctly, please write to me at howard@thebatavian.com. I'll review all such requests and do my best to make the appropriate decision in each individual case.
Howard, you do good work.
Howard, you do good work. You actually care and work very hard at this website. It's sad that some posters feel they are 10 feet tall and bullet proof while behind a computer and say things that they would never say to anyone in person. I was told when I was young that words can cut deeper then knives, as I've gotten older I've come to understand what that means.
Thanks Howard..I totally
Thanks Howard..I totally agree with what you are saying..Personal attacks do not make for a good debate on issues..If you have to do that then maybe you don't really have a point to make..good work..
Yes Howard, I understand your
Yes Howard, I understand your point. I have been trying to be a kinder blogger. At times I get uptight, when I observe the silly arguments, on the site. I tend to go for the jugler vein. Sorry, I just have a passion for life, and justice. I appreciate your toleration, and Im sure, I make you giggle, once in a while.
Much Success Howard
Howard,why is it that certain
Howard,why is it that certain people get to say things about my children and it is ok.Cause it is on my blog is that it?About baseball i said what i thought.And i was threatened with physical harm.And yes i would say this to the individuals.But not at a kids ball game.People say on there that winning is most important.May be you and others do not get the point.I was on the Batavian that day.And i saw the article about exactly how i felt.About how adults act at a kids ball game.Or other sports.It was not a personal attack.
May be i worded it wrong.I was not taking sides.Why did people get so angry?I'd never have known about the bats had the person not told me.In sports there are rules.In the USA there is supposed to be freedom of speech.If you were not there how do you know what happened?Is it ok to teach your children that winning is the most important?No matter what?What happens when you lose then?How do you know the same person you defend isn't one that says you watch and see what happens when the kids vote?And may be they said it should go by the statistics of play?Do you know the situation like we do?
Some people are like a salesman.They say one thing to one person and another to you.Do you really think they are sorry for threatening me on my answering machine?Or are they just sorry a couple people saw it?And then they said they were sorry to not be arrested?
And if they do attack me, and i am in jail again for protecting myself then what will you think then?
Maybe you should have deleted the whole thread.To be fair right?
Howard, I don't think you
Howard, I don't think you know how rare it is that a journalist cares more about the people than the discussion factor. When I say discussion factor I mean the want for people to talk and post as much as possible. I think every member of The Batavian appreciates your dedication to people. However, don’t regard it as your mission to be the discussion police. People need to take it upon themselves to talk about the central issues and not about the people that they are angry about. I think people also need to step back and think, “if this person was standing right in front of me would I say this out loud?”. If the answer to that question is no than the post certainly shouldn’t be made by the creator. It is our job to remember that what really matters and initiates change is events and issues not personal slams. Thanks for your dedication, Howard.
"In the USA there is supposed
"In the USA there is supposed to be freedom of speech."
That is only a protection from the government. Private Citizen running a website do not have to abide by this.