Finally, jeers to digital discourse in Rumford

From the Lewiston SunJournal:

• Finally, jeers to digital discourse in Rumford.

Anonymous Internet chatter about town business (including on sunjournal.com) has been savage, prompting Selectman Frank DiConzo and Town Manager Len Greaney to urge posters to be more factual and fair. It's been a long-term problem.

We're not hopeful about the prospect for change, though. Engaging the online masses only seems to make them bare their fangs. Not only do they have anonymity on their side, but also the powerful platform of easily accessible, unfettered and unmoderated forums.

Oh, and the right to free speech.

But Greaney, DiConzo and anyone else concerned about these conversations do have some power. They might not silence or sway the discussions, but they can control their influence by not doing one simple thing - reading them.

SJ Link

FYI

The SunJournal "discussion" thread shows: "CLICK HERE To Show/Hide Discussion Thread - (0 Comment)" when in fact comments have been posted.

From the Lewiston SunJournal:

We're not hopeful about the prospect for change, though. Engaging the online masses only seems to make them bare their fangs. Not only do they have anonymity on their side, but also the powerful platform of easily accessible, unfettered and unmoderated forums.

Oh, and the right to free speech.

I take this completely as tongue in cheek from SJ. I guess it's in your interpretation but I think someone told me that they were part of Gannet who has a pretty open-handed policy regarding public discussion, etc. Anyone want to help me with this?

I can only HOPE it was tongue in cheek. Anyone with any sense who has visited both sites could tell the difference. One is run by a NAZI , the other is run by thoughtful and open people with a sense of inclusiveness.

See - inclusiveness is what I like here. I hate not getting invited to the party, even if I choose not to go! Lol...

Also, T, finally got what you meant...there are posts under that Cheers and Jeers even though it says 0. duh, that's what you said?

Timeout wrote:that's what you said?

What I tried to say.

in fact comments have been posted.

Lol, T- That is what you did say, I think you stated it very clearly.
perhaps their glasses were upside down...