Mark_Wood wrote on 12/05/2009 08:32:06 PM:
pnut, Larry's addicted to this LTE comment thread. He can't show restraint. He has none
Recommend (5)
Good old "Mark". How many people can post at 8:32 and by 8:59 there are five recommends? Now "Mark" is talking about my "lack of restraint" because of an enjoyment of blogging....but five personalities????????? The traffic has been slow on the LTE thread and I was engaged in a discussion with another person.....but you KNOW there HAD to be five other people lurking...just waiting to recommend "Mark's" post about me. I doubt that five other people even care if I post, much less how much I post.
Nope...there is only one and her real name isn't "Mark"......
Hi, Mark! Glad to know you're reading....
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Nice to know you're reading....
RenaissanceMan wrote on 12/05/2009 00:27:00 AM: Larry s blog, lol all 3 members
RenaissanceMan wrote on 12/05/2009 00:30:06 AM:
Funny how larry is always "on the road", at the "hospital","setting up",when peoples posts get deleted. Yeah right larry Butkus, its nice to have a buddy at the Daily O.
Recommend (1) Report abuse
I wonder if I'm supposed to report self abuse on the part of RM?
As to my "whereabouts" last night when IndyJoe got the 86.....I was performing at Great Wolf Lodge. If you have kids, or want to be a kid, come to the Lodge on Friday nights from 6-8pm for their Christmas programming. I subtly perform near Santa and Mrs Claus and get to watch hundreds of parents try to make their kids comfortable for that picture that the kid is saying "no way". I was there last night and will be again on Dec 18th.
Much more important than my music (two of my CDs left the country last night - one to British Columbia and one to Great Britain) was the Great Wolf program, complete with a snow flurry.....INDOORS.
Give it a look! Great fun for kids of all ages.
RenaissanceMan wrote on 12/05/2009 00:30:06 AM:
Funny how larry is always "on the road", at the "hospital","setting up",when peoples posts get deleted. Yeah right larry Butkus, its nice to have a buddy at the Daily O.
Recommend (1) Report abuse
I wonder if I'm supposed to report self abuse on the part of RM?
As to my "whereabouts" last night when IndyJoe got the 86.....I was performing at Great Wolf Lodge. If you have kids, or want to be a kid, come to the Lodge on Friday nights from 6-8pm for their Christmas programming. I subtly perform near Santa and Mrs Claus and get to watch hundreds of parents try to make their kids comfortable for that picture that the kid is saying "no way". I was there last night and will be again on Dec 18th.
Much more important than my music (two of my CDs left the country last night - one to British Columbia and one to Great Britain) was the Great Wolf program, complete with a snow flurry.....INDOORS.
Give it a look! Great fun for kids of all ages.
Gee, Chuck...I was expecting a Christmas, er uh HOLIDAY card
Chuck from Tacoma said...
What the hell did you do? You whine and snivel because you don't like somebody else's moronic comment? You can't really believe that the idiotic crap that you spew day after day, thread after thread has any more validity to it then the other posters.Larry, get your head out of your ass. You are the kind of twit that brings out the worst in anybody.If you would stay off LTE for a month or two, civility would certainly return naturally.Chuck from Tacoma
Now I'm really glad that Chuck brought something of substance to the table. I'm in control of Chuck's behavior, according to Chuck
Let me buy you a decaf, Chuck. Oh...that's right...Sondra won't let you go out to coffee with me....LOL
What the hell did you do? You whine and snivel because you don't like somebody else's moronic comment? You can't really believe that the idiotic crap that you spew day after day, thread after thread has any more validity to it then the other posters.Larry, get your head out of your ass. You are the kind of twit that brings out the worst in anybody.If you would stay off LTE for a month or two, civility would certainly return naturally.Chuck from Tacoma
Now I'm really glad that Chuck brought something of substance to the table. I'm in control of Chuck's behavior, according to Chuck
Let me buy you a decaf, Chuck. Oh...that's right...Sondra won't let you go out to coffee with me....LOL
Gee...and I thought lurkers counted, also.....
Compliments to The Olympian LTE thread:
cheeseburger wrote on 12/04/2009 09:38:53 PM:
Larry, after looking at your latest personal blog, I could see that you were deleting comments from two of your newly signed up commenters.It must be lonely on your blog when 2 of 4 members had been deleted.
Now, listen up people. You have to quit lurking like Cheeseburger and mark_wood and start posting, otherwise I don't get to count you in my quest to be popular.
I encourage everyone to look at who and what I deleted. "mark_wood", Vice President of the Whinery Workers Local #69, came in with a post about "oh boy this will be as fun as a bunch of chained Arkansans: (which frankly didn't make sense, but I did detect someone that was going to piss on the chat......so...bingo.....GONE!). "GothGuy" (has anyone noticed that Sondra has taken to using male names of late?) asked if "his" comments would be deleted if he disagreed with me. I challenged him to post something of substance. He didn't....so.....BINGO......another one bites the dust.
Now, "Chuck from Tacoma" (who I offered to take out for coffee, but Sondra declined for him) had a real nice post full of hateful diatribe that is still standing for all to see. AnonTheGreat and I have discussed a "ShitPosts of the Month" or something equivilant, so we'll see how that goes.
So....to those lurkers that "disagree" with me.....I challenge you to post! Let's see if you can provide enough decorum and substance to weather the shitstorm from Thurstonblog's Moderating Master.
cheeseburger wrote on 12/04/2009 09:38:53 PM:
Larry, after looking at your latest personal blog, I could see that you were deleting comments from two of your newly signed up commenters.It must be lonely on your blog when 2 of 4 members had been deleted.
Now, listen up people. You have to quit lurking like Cheeseburger and mark_wood and start posting, otherwise I don't get to count you in my quest to be popular.
I encourage everyone to look at who and what I deleted. "mark_wood", Vice President of the Whinery Workers Local #69, came in with a post about "oh boy this will be as fun as a bunch of chained Arkansans: (which frankly didn't make sense, but I did detect someone that was going to piss on the chat......so...bingo.....GONE!). "GothGuy" (has anyone noticed that Sondra has taken to using male names of late?) asked if "his" comments would be deleted if he disagreed with me. I challenged him to post something of substance. He didn't....so.....BINGO......another one bites the dust.
Now, "Chuck from Tacoma" (who I offered to take out for coffee, but Sondra declined for him) had a real nice post full of hateful diatribe that is still standing for all to see. AnonTheGreat and I have discussed a "ShitPosts of the Month" or something equivilant, so we'll see how that goes.
So....to those lurkers that "disagree" with me.....I challenge you to post! Let's see if you can provide enough decorum and substance to weather the shitstorm from Thurstonblog's Moderating Master.
Friday, December 4, 2009
They found each other!!!!
Compliments of SondraK.com
"Seattle, we have a problem
The Seattle Blackfoot Soldiers, an offshoot of the Nation of Islam, celebrated cop killer Maurice Clemmons…
JoeBandMember -->-->
Remember that anything posted on Thurstonblog is purely for entertainment and satire, unless it's true, then Thurstonblog shall be held harmless by reporting the truth from the blogosphere.
"Seattle, we have a problem
The Seattle Blackfoot Soldiers, an offshoot of the Nation of Islam, celebrated cop killer Maurice Clemmons…
JoeBandMember -->-->
Remember that anything posted on Thurstonblog is purely for entertainment and satire, unless it's true, then Thurstonblog shall be held harmless by reporting the truth from the blogosphere.
Who you going to blame today?
During the past half hour or so, the Right Wing has exploded again (or would it be imploded?) on the Olympian LTEs.
"Renonsence Man" and Cheeseburger spewing out the regular "Freedom of Speech" line.
I'm betting the comments column will be down by mid-afternoon.
"Renonsence Man" and Cheeseburger spewing out the regular "Freedom of Speech" line.
I'm betting the comments column will be down by mid-afternoon.
Piss Poor Reading Skills
"Mark_Wood wrote on 12/04/2009 09:45:03 AM:
RM: He was just now crying about his post getting pulled"
Compliments of the comments from the LTE on Today's Olympian.
Now as any third grader can read, there was no crying......other than the obvious whining by "Mark Wood" (note that Sondra Kovacio doesn't do the dirty work anymore).
"Mark" was one of the first two people to post on the New Improved Thurstonblog, and of course said nothing other than an intention to disrupt, which resulted in a permanent suspension. Even "Chuck from Tacoma", whose profanity laced diatribe was about the 6th post got in. I want the readers to see just what pieces of slime I'm going to keep from ruining our conversation.
The funniest part is that they all complain about me....but they all follow me here....
Of course "all" is probably just one.
RM: He was just now crying about his post getting pulled"
Compliments of the comments from the LTE on Today's Olympian.
Now as any third grader can read, there was no crying......other than the obvious whining by "Mark Wood" (note that Sondra Kovacio doesn't do the dirty work anymore).
"Mark" was one of the first two people to post on the New Improved Thurstonblog, and of course said nothing other than an intention to disrupt, which resulted in a permanent suspension. Even "Chuck from Tacoma", whose profanity laced diatribe was about the 6th post got in. I want the readers to see just what pieces of slime I'm going to keep from ruining our conversation.
The funniest part is that they all complain about me....but they all follow me here....
Of course "all" is probably just one.
Post pulled
I sent a message via the LTE Comments about this blog.
It was pulled, thus I'm going to suggest that The O took the time to check us out, otherwise why not pull every comment with a blog address?
If I were more paranoid, I'd almost like to suggest that The Daily Olympian IS attempting to pit people against each other. If so, then why close the comments thread at all?
Hey, Olympian staff, I'll post your answer if you are lurking and want to explain why you close your thread but don't want us to have an alternative.
It was pulled, thus I'm going to suggest that The O took the time to check us out, otherwise why not pull every comment with a blog address?
If I were more paranoid, I'd almost like to suggest that The Daily Olympian IS attempting to pit people against each other. If so, then why close the comments thread at all?
Hey, Olympian staff, I'll post your answer if you are lurking and want to explain why you close your thread but don't want us to have an alternative.
New Day, Same Song
It is obvious that today's LTE comments are heading down the same sewer as usual. Let's not get sucked in.
I have a bunch of duplication of CDs to do for a show tonight, so I'll be on computer to modertate and enter your comments.
So far, I don't know any way of letting others enter topics, except how I did it with 98507 - copy and paste his comment as a new topic. Bear with me and the format of the software.
Post away.
I have a bunch of duplication of CDs to do for a show tonight, so I'll be on computer to modertate and enter your comments.
So far, I don't know any way of letting others enter topics, except how I did it with 98507 - copy and paste his comment as a new topic. Bear with me and the format of the software.
Post away.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
LTE Comments Closed again
For what ever reason they have chosen. The Olympian has closed the LTE Comments.
I'll do my best to keep up with the moderation and get your comments posted as quickly as possible, but since we already had party crashers, I'm still requiring all posts to be registered.
Comment on!!!
I'll do my best to keep up with the moderation and get your comments posted as quickly as possible, but since we already had party crashers, I'm still requiring all posts to be registered.
Comment on!!!
From Comcast.net:
RICHMOND, Va. — One of the nation's oldest Medal of Honor winners was back in the fight Thursday, this time against a neighborhood association that wants him to take down a front-yard flagpole.
Supporters, including a U.S. senator, have been falling in behind 90-year-old retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot, a World War II veteran awarded the lofty Congressional honor for actions including standing up to three German tanks with a bazooka and stopping their advance.
Barfoot put up the 21-foot flagpole in September in front of his suburban Richmond home. He raises the American flag daily at sunrise and retires it at sunset.
"It's really ridiculous to want to keep the flag from being flown," he said in a telephone interview. "I've heard some terrible excuses out there."
The Sussex Square homeowners' association says the flagpole violates the neighborhood's aesthetic guidelines and ordered him to remove it by 5 p.m. Friday or face a lawsuit. The group has said Barfoot can display the flag, as long as it's in a way that conforms with association rules, such as from a pole mounted on the front of the house.
"This is not about the American flag. This is about a flagpole," the association said in a statement.
Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., is among those offering to help break the impasse, Warner spokesman Kevin Hall said. Warner and the war hero became acquainted at veterans' events when Warner was Virginia's governor from 2002-06. Others are backing Barfoot on the Internet, including with a Facebook page.
Barfoot won the Medal of Honor for actions while his platoon was under German assault near Carano, Italy, in May 1944. The award citation says Barfoot, then a 2nd lieutenant, crept up alone on German machine gun nests, killing and capturing enemy troops in three of them, stopped their three-tank advance and helped two seriously wounded comrades back to safety.
He also won the Purple Heart and other decorations, and served in Korea and Vietnam before retiring from the service in 1974. The Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center, a state nursing home for military retirees in Richmond, bears his name.
Barfoot's daughter, Margaret Nicholls, said her father has been moved to tears by the outpouring of support, and hopes the nine-member homeowners' board will use its discretion and let him keep the pole.
"A house-mounted pole? That is not an option," Nicholls said. "The flagpole is definitely what he's fighting for."
While Barfoot's service is admireable, he, like all of the other homeowners agreed to covenents for their development. There is no reason he cannot abide by the agreement that he made and honor his flag from his home, as is allowable.
Your thoughts?
RICHMOND, Va. — One of the nation's oldest Medal of Honor winners was back in the fight Thursday, this time against a neighborhood association that wants him to take down a front-yard flagpole.
Supporters, including a U.S. senator, have been falling in behind 90-year-old retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot, a World War II veteran awarded the lofty Congressional honor for actions including standing up to three German tanks with a bazooka and stopping their advance.
Barfoot put up the 21-foot flagpole in September in front of his suburban Richmond home. He raises the American flag daily at sunrise and retires it at sunset.
"It's really ridiculous to want to keep the flag from being flown," he said in a telephone interview. "I've heard some terrible excuses out there."
The Sussex Square homeowners' association says the flagpole violates the neighborhood's aesthetic guidelines and ordered him to remove it by 5 p.m. Friday or face a lawsuit. The group has said Barfoot can display the flag, as long as it's in a way that conforms with association rules, such as from a pole mounted on the front of the house.
"This is not about the American flag. This is about a flagpole," the association said in a statement.
Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., is among those offering to help break the impasse, Warner spokesman Kevin Hall said. Warner and the war hero became acquainted at veterans' events when Warner was Virginia's governor from 2002-06. Others are backing Barfoot on the Internet, including with a Facebook page.
Barfoot won the Medal of Honor for actions while his platoon was under German assault near Carano, Italy, in May 1944. The award citation says Barfoot, then a 2nd lieutenant, crept up alone on German machine gun nests, killing and capturing enemy troops in three of them, stopped their three-tank advance and helped two seriously wounded comrades back to safety.
He also won the Purple Heart and other decorations, and served in Korea and Vietnam before retiring from the service in 1974. The Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center, a state nursing home for military retirees in Richmond, bears his name.
Barfoot's daughter, Margaret Nicholls, said her father has been moved to tears by the outpouring of support, and hopes the nine-member homeowners' board will use its discretion and let him keep the pole.
"A house-mounted pole? That is not an option," Nicholls said. "The flagpole is definitely what he's fighting for."
While Barfoot's service is admireable, he, like all of the other homeowners agreed to covenents for their development. There is no reason he cannot abide by the agreement that he made and honor his flag from his home, as is allowable.
Your thoughts?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
From another commenter....
Anonymous98507 said...
Larry, can we start new threads, or are you the only one who can do that? I'd like to discuss the death penalty LTE to get a sense of the range of opinions here. Personally, I'm conflicted about it. If it's an iron-clad case like Clemmons, then legally off the sucker UNLESS we have proof positive that if he's imprisoned he can never get out again. However, what if it isn't open-shut? What if it's possible that the legal machine is wrong and the offender isn't really guilty?Comments?
Larry, can we start new threads, or are you the only one who can do that? I'd like to discuss the death penalty LTE to get a sense of the range of opinions here. Personally, I'm conflicted about it. If it's an iron-clad case like Clemmons, then legally off the sucker UNLESS we have proof positive that if he's imprisoned he can never get out again. However, what if it isn't open-shut? What if it's possible that the legal machine is wrong and the offender isn't really guilty?Comments?
Sweet Dreams for today.....
I had a great conversation with The Olympian Moderator yesterday (12/1).
A true gentleman all the way. I asked why a particular post of mine was "hidden for review". He replied that it wasn't in context with the letters of the day (LTE). It was a post about the Newsweek article on Sarah Palin and admittedly, no one had written a letter about Sarah Palin.
He told me that the forum was out of control - in particular saying that with over 300 posts two-thirds of them had nothing to do with the letters to the editor. I mentioned that a certain poster, of many names, had been copying and pasting viciously from Right Wing blogs. He agreed and said that was why he was taking action with my comment - to demonstrate fairness.
He suggested that I start using the complaint link for other posters that were annoying -to which I said "No, that's your job. You don't need me telling you how to run the website, but thanks just the same"
We bid each other a kind goodbye.
Frankly, I didn't think that, based on our conversation, The O would pull the plug as they did today. He didn't really seem that upset.
Well, as I see it, those of us that wish to have dialog, can do so right here, and those that want to bitch at us, will have to hold their breath and stomp their feet.
G'nite
A true gentleman all the way. I asked why a particular post of mine was "hidden for review". He replied that it wasn't in context with the letters of the day (LTE). It was a post about the Newsweek article on Sarah Palin and admittedly, no one had written a letter about Sarah Palin.
He told me that the forum was out of control - in particular saying that with over 300 posts two-thirds of them had nothing to do with the letters to the editor. I mentioned that a certain poster, of many names, had been copying and pasting viciously from Right Wing blogs. He agreed and said that was why he was taking action with my comment - to demonstrate fairness.
He suggested that I start using the complaint link for other posters that were annoying -to which I said "No, that's your job. You don't need me telling you how to run the website, but thanks just the same"
We bid each other a kind goodbye.
Frankly, I didn't think that, based on our conversation, The O would pull the plug as they did today. He didn't really seem that upset.
Well, as I see it, those of us that wish to have dialog, can do so right here, and those that want to bitch at us, will have to hold their breath and stomp their feet.
G'nite
As can be expected.....
A tip of the hat to SondraK.com
"todaze Lympian PSA
Suck it, Larry. It’s all YOUR fault.
To our online readers: Due to various name calling and off topic comments in our Letters to the Editor, we have temporarily suspended this commenting function and will resume our normal process after an undetermined cooling off period."
We must give credit where due, otherwise we are just not playing fair.
Now...what was published in The Olympian at the head of the LTE column:
"Attention readers: Due to consistent abuse of the guidelines for our comment section in Letters to the Editor, the comment function has been temporarily suspended."
How do you say "Liar, liar pants on fire"?????????
"todaze Lympian PSA
Suck it, Larry. It’s all YOUR fault.
To our online readers: Due to various name calling and off topic comments in our Letters to the Editor, we have temporarily suspended this commenting function and will resume our normal process after an undetermined cooling off period."
We must give credit where due, otherwise we are just not playing fair.
Now...what was published in The Olympian at the head of the LTE column:
"Attention readers: Due to consistent abuse of the guidelines for our comment section in Letters to the Editor, the comment function has been temporarily suspended."
How do you say "Liar, liar pants on fire"?????????
A little action
Well, this has been a fun adventure! LOL
New members, Anon The Great, and Anonymous 98507 - Welcome. There are more on the way, as I've selectively shared this blogsite with a bunch of people.
Now the funny part. You'll see a post from "Chuck from Tacoma" who just happened to submit his post from a "noreply" email - you know the sort of thing that comes from a website.....LOL
Since I put the registration requirement on, no more posts from "GothGuy" and "MarkWood" and then this venom laced post with an anonymous email address.....
Could it be?????????? Of course, it is! There is only one person I know that is so obsessed about this website that they've kept track of it for two years. Hell, even I forgot the password....LMAO
Keep those cards and letters coming! LOL
From the content of "Chuck's" post, it appears that someone is trying to push the blame for the closure of the LTE thread on me. Funny - I was out at a meeting and got home at about 1:45 p.m. to find the thread closed. 98507 tells me it closed at about 11:00 a.m.
Hey folks - it's not the end of the world, but the beginning of a new one! We all know the O will open it back up soon, but, in the meantime, we can open some new dialog - pest free!!!
As you can see by Chuck's post....they can't live without us. They need someone to blame for their crappy lives. (sound familiar?) Oh...wait...on this thread I can say "their shitty lives".
New members, Anon The Great, and Anonymous 98507 - Welcome. There are more on the way, as I've selectively shared this blogsite with a bunch of people.
Now the funny part. You'll see a post from "Chuck from Tacoma" who just happened to submit his post from a "noreply" email - you know the sort of thing that comes from a website.....LOL
Since I put the registration requirement on, no more posts from "GothGuy" and "MarkWood" and then this venom laced post with an anonymous email address.....
Could it be?????????? Of course, it is! There is only one person I know that is so obsessed about this website that they've kept track of it for two years. Hell, even I forgot the password....LMAO
Keep those cards and letters coming! LOL
From the content of "Chuck's" post, it appears that someone is trying to push the blame for the closure of the LTE thread on me. Funny - I was out at a meeting and got home at about 1:45 p.m. to find the thread closed. 98507 tells me it closed at about 11:00 a.m.
Hey folks - it's not the end of the world, but the beginning of a new one! We all know the O will open it back up soon, but, in the meantime, we can open some new dialog - pest free!!!
As you can see by Chuck's post....they can't live without us. They need someone to blame for their crappy lives. (sound familiar?) Oh...wait...on this thread I can say "their shitty lives".
A Place to Discuss
Since The Olympian has had to shut down their comments thread on the LTE section, in order to control those who want to ruin the dialog, I'll try opening this blog again so that we can have a place for discussion.
I will do everything in my power to control the users of this forum in order that it not run the same route as LTE did. That being said, I don't mind disagreements, but if I see that someone is attempting to use this forum as their playground, I'll block them in a heartbeat.
Today's topic is open to national or local politics.
Pass the word to those whom you can trust to act like adults.
WELL....that didn't take long....one of the regular disrupters on The Olympian has already tried me. You'll note they are missing.
From this point forward, you'll have to register.
To answer a couple of questions -
To: Anon - I expect a few heated discussions. I'll try to let people work through their own issues. Obvious troublemakers will get the boot. I'm not worried about a little profanity - we are adults - but let's be somewhat reasonable.
To: Goth - Well, you can try me out on your question about disagreements. I like a good arguement at times, but I unabashedly state, this is MY blog. If you don't like it, don't come here.
To: MarkWood - nice knowing you....adios....try SondraK.com
I will do everything in my power to control the users of this forum in order that it not run the same route as LTE did. That being said, I don't mind disagreements, but if I see that someone is attempting to use this forum as their playground, I'll block them in a heartbeat.
Today's topic is open to national or local politics.
Pass the word to those whom you can trust to act like adults.
WELL....that didn't take long....one of the regular disrupters on The Olympian has already tried me. You'll note they are missing.
From this point forward, you'll have to register.
To answer a couple of questions -
To: Anon - I expect a few heated discussions. I'll try to let people work through their own issues. Obvious troublemakers will get the boot. I'm not worried about a little profanity - we are adults - but let's be somewhat reasonable.
To: Goth - Well, you can try me out on your question about disagreements. I like a good arguement at times, but I unabashedly state, this is MY blog. If you don't like it, don't come here.
To: MarkWood - nice knowing you....adios....try SondraK.com
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
I care!
The following is a copy of a blog response from me in Olyblog. The originator of the blog asks the question "who cares about someone critiquing the content or actions of The Olympia (I've obviously paraphrased):
The same could be said about Olyblog.
If you see something you don't like in Olyblog:
1. Don't read it.
2. Address the blogger directly and take your chance that the blogger may engage in conversation in return, which, to my understanding is what blogging is all about.
I would prefer to direct my comments to the moderators, editors and such of the newspaper, but it seems that they can't take that direction. We've even had a moderator pull a "libel" threat out of an section of the anatomy to attempt to stifle the right to satire and sarcasm in Olyblog, all for the sake of attempting to quell any kind of criticism of the activities at said newspaper. For a newspaper that is quick to judge and criticize the job performance of others, they find every way to run and hide from someone that has enough knowledge and guts to analyze their performance. Of course, it's often forgotten, as this time, that on many occasions, I've applauded the newspaper and also defended their position and coverage.
I worked in newspapers from 1970 to 1983. I consulted rural newspapers from 1985 to 1989. I owned an agency from 1989 to 1999 that focused on print media. I've shared beverages with the very people I've disagreed with earlier in a day. They've stated their dislike of my position, I've returned favor. I've only experienced ONE newspaper that attempts to stop people from voicing their opinion and keeping the opinion of others from the public. The possiblity of corporate media ruining the very freedom that we've celebrated in this country for over 200 years is frightening.
Frankly, the apathy on this issue is more frightening than the activity.
The same could be said about Olyblog.
If you see something you don't like in Olyblog:
1. Don't read it.
2. Address the blogger directly and take your chance that the blogger may engage in conversation in return, which, to my understanding is what blogging is all about.
I would prefer to direct my comments to the moderators, editors and such of the newspaper, but it seems that they can't take that direction. We've even had a moderator pull a "libel" threat out of an section of the anatomy to attempt to stifle the right to satire and sarcasm in Olyblog, all for the sake of attempting to quell any kind of criticism of the activities at said newspaper. For a newspaper that is quick to judge and criticize the job performance of others, they find every way to run and hide from someone that has enough knowledge and guts to analyze their performance. Of course, it's often forgotten, as this time, that on many occasions, I've applauded the newspaper and also defended their position and coverage.
I worked in newspapers from 1970 to 1983. I consulted rural newspapers from 1985 to 1989. I owned an agency from 1989 to 1999 that focused on print media. I've shared beverages with the very people I've disagreed with earlier in a day. They've stated their dislike of my position, I've returned favor. I've only experienced ONE newspaper that attempts to stop people from voicing their opinion and keeping the opinion of others from the public. The possiblity of corporate media ruining the very freedom that we've celebrated in this country for over 200 years is frightening.
Frankly, the apathy on this issue is more frightening than the activity.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Blog no evil, Read no evil
The lastest version of "banning" on The Olympian threads not only prevents the dirty, nasty banned club from posting, it also prevents them from reading the posts of others.
You know what happens. A blogger that is banned from The Olympian will open his own blog to comment on the comments of Olympian Online readers and others will read it. Therefore, you must prevent people from being able to have access to the online comments to comment about on their own blogs.
Wow...that was a mouthful!
Why not block the entire website so that people cannot comment on editorial content of The Olympian? Oh yeah...less readers, less revenue.
The comedy goes on.
You know what happens. A blogger that is banned from The Olympian will open his own blog to comment on the comments of Olympian Online readers and others will read it. Therefore, you must prevent people from being able to have access to the online comments to comment about on their own blogs.
Wow...that was a mouthful!
Why not block the entire website so that people cannot comment on editorial content of The Olympian? Oh yeah...less readers, less revenue.
The comedy goes on.
Friday, October 5, 2007
The comedy of moderation
It's no secret that I was "banned" from using The Olympian's comment threads for using the word "ass" in reference to a reader that had been purposefully agitating an argument with me for weeks. Recently, due to a computer glitch, the block was lifted from my computer and I honestly posted with my name and used my email address. Hours later, blocked again.
Aaron Mason and the other moderators at The Olympian are making sure that no one as crass as I use the word "ass" or, as in the case of my alterego "Emma" (not really, but it is sure fun to poke at the rightees), no one is gonna make a "yo momma" joke in reference to another reader.
So...the fun begins.
If you look at the Letters to the Editor comments for Thursday, October 4th, you'll find an afternoon post by "Olsen" that just says something about "great comments - for more reference" and then has a link to "secretpenis". "Olsen" also posted a homepage link, as many do. Both links take you to a picture of a fully erect penis - my guess is a home photo, if you check the background. That's right folks, a picture of a fully erect penis in the archives of your family newspaper!
Now, lets examine this. No, not the penis, the moderation of the comments.
How did the moderators miss a posted link to "secretpenis"? Probably a little too busy worrying about the politics and fray between readers on the comments section is my guess. There is an old saying about paying too much attention to nickels and losing dollars. This is a perfect example.
I've commented before, here and in Olyblog, about the ridiculous attitude portrayed by the moderator(s) at The Olympian. Editing (like removing links to penis pictures) is one thing but getting into spitting matches with readers is just plain dumb. It serves no purpose. If someone violates the rules (ambiguous at best, mind you), just delete them and move along. If they continue to violate the rules, continue to delete. It's called editing. Don't get into the fray by making bold posts about "banned" or whatever other descriptive term. It's senseless and does nothing more than elevate the fuel for fires on both sides of the political argument. One side defends the banned poster, the other side takes joy in quieting the opposition. Who becomes the fool in the center? You guessed it - The Olympian.
There is a local blogger - Andy, a rather conservative chap - that will not allow opposition posts on his blog. Whereas I don't understand Andy wanting to talk at people, rather than with people, I guess I have more respect for his position than for someone that does such a crappy job of enforcement of rules that they composed.
Let the people speak, I say.
Aaron Mason and the other moderators at The Olympian are making sure that no one as crass as I use the word "ass" or, as in the case of my alterego "Emma" (not really, but it is sure fun to poke at the rightees), no one is gonna make a "yo momma" joke in reference to another reader.
So...the fun begins.
If you look at the Letters to the Editor comments for Thursday, October 4th, you'll find an afternoon post by "Olsen" that just says something about "great comments - for more reference" and then has a link to "secretpenis". "Olsen" also posted a homepage link, as many do. Both links take you to a picture of a fully erect penis - my guess is a home photo, if you check the background. That's right folks, a picture of a fully erect penis in the archives of your family newspaper!
Now, lets examine this. No, not the penis, the moderation of the comments.
How did the moderators miss a posted link to "secretpenis"? Probably a little too busy worrying about the politics and fray between readers on the comments section is my guess. There is an old saying about paying too much attention to nickels and losing dollars. This is a perfect example.
I've commented before, here and in Olyblog, about the ridiculous attitude portrayed by the moderator(s) at The Olympian. Editing (like removing links to penis pictures) is one thing but getting into spitting matches with readers is just plain dumb. It serves no purpose. If someone violates the rules (ambiguous at best, mind you), just delete them and move along. If they continue to violate the rules, continue to delete. It's called editing. Don't get into the fray by making bold posts about "banned" or whatever other descriptive term. It's senseless and does nothing more than elevate the fuel for fires on both sides of the political argument. One side defends the banned poster, the other side takes joy in quieting the opposition. Who becomes the fool in the center? You guessed it - The Olympian.
There is a local blogger - Andy, a rather conservative chap - that will not allow opposition posts on his blog. Whereas I don't understand Andy wanting to talk at people, rather than with people, I guess I have more respect for his position than for someone that does such a crappy job of enforcement of rules that they composed.
Let the people speak, I say.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Now you see it, now you don't
While scanning The Olympian threads this morning, I realized that my lifetime ban appeared to be lifted, as there was no "banned by webmaster" located on the thread. So I posted a comment. Everything went through.
I posted another. Everything went through. And another. Same result.
I then posted a blog on Olyblog mentioning this new find. A few comments went back and forth.
During lunch, I stopped by home and the "banned by webmaster" was back. Must have been a glitch in the software, but I'm wondering, had I not been honest and posted my name and email address, what might have happened?
Would Aaron Mason (see earlier blog in September) have known to block my posts? I could have used a phoney email (one from yahoo or hotmail or something else) and the ever favorite "anonymous" moniker.
This brings up a funny and interesting story. An associate of mine, a former newspaper person, a social liberal/fiscal conservative, with a sarcastic streak, began posting a few months back as "Larry". Mason banned him! Larry called to ask Mason why and Mason began yammering about "people causing problems on the threads" and apologizing profusely (Larry controls a substantial newspaper advertising budget in Olympia). Larry was aware of what had happened with me and was acting on his own. Mason actually disclosed my first and last name to him in their conversation.
Whether I post on The Olympian threads or not is not a life and death situation. I find it comedic that any media would get involved in such a resentment issue to "ban" a commenter. I can understand deleting (which amounts to editing) but aside from that, anything else constitutes spitting in the face of freedom of speech (yes, yes, I know...The Olympian owns the website, but I'm speaking principles here....of course that might be the problem.
The real humor of the day was a couple of the people that opposed my way of thinking had to make an issue about the posts that did get through.
For me being so wrong, they are certainly afraid of what I have to say.
I posted another. Everything went through. And another. Same result.
I then posted a blog on Olyblog mentioning this new find. A few comments went back and forth.
During lunch, I stopped by home and the "banned by webmaster" was back. Must have been a glitch in the software, but I'm wondering, had I not been honest and posted my name and email address, what might have happened?
Would Aaron Mason (see earlier blog in September) have known to block my posts? I could have used a phoney email (one from yahoo or hotmail or something else) and the ever favorite "anonymous" moniker.
This brings up a funny and interesting story. An associate of mine, a former newspaper person, a social liberal/fiscal conservative, with a sarcastic streak, began posting a few months back as "Larry". Mason banned him! Larry called to ask Mason why and Mason began yammering about "people causing problems on the threads" and apologizing profusely (Larry controls a substantial newspaper advertising budget in Olympia). Larry was aware of what had happened with me and was acting on his own. Mason actually disclosed my first and last name to him in their conversation.
Whether I post on The Olympian threads or not is not a life and death situation. I find it comedic that any media would get involved in such a resentment issue to "ban" a commenter. I can understand deleting (which amounts to editing) but aside from that, anything else constitutes spitting in the face of freedom of speech (yes, yes, I know...The Olympian owns the website, but I'm speaking principles here....of course that might be the problem.
The real humor of the day was a couple of the people that opposed my way of thinking had to make an issue about the posts that did get through.
For me being so wrong, they are certainly afraid of what I have to say.
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