Interesting "commenting issues" in the news
The Miami Herald is changing its commenting policy starting today. About time, I know they have been wrestling with the comments issue for quite a long time. They are very strict about getting a person's personal information when they write a letter to the editor for the printed edition, but in the online comments section, anyone could just say anything they wanted. Now it hopefully will end.
I've had issues with the comments section here, as you know for a couple of years I completely stopped the comments because of all the nastiness. People are great at being anonymous and leaving rude comments. The Herald's new policy requires people to use Facebook to sign in so they can comment, this way, people cannot hide behind a fake name or persona.
People have tried to sue me over comments left here, but according to the law, they are not allowed to do that. I am not responsible for what others say, even if it's in the Grapevine comments section. The Coconut Grove Grapevine is protected under the section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, this protects us from what others say in the comments section.
But I am trying not to be political these days, not for any other reason other than the fact that I really don't want to sit through anymore long meetings at the BID, City Hall or the Village Council. It's bad enough that there are those long meetings but then there is the following a story sometimes for months or years on end. I don't like that part.
I'm trying to be more of a magazine-style blog now. More fun stuff and more features -- something like AnnaMaria does. I love her Lake Worth blog called Lake Worth Every Minute. She almost makes me want to move to Lake Worth because of all her positive photos and stories. Almost, but not quite.
I've had issues with the comments section here, as you know for a couple of years I completely stopped the comments because of all the nastiness. People are great at being anonymous and leaving rude comments. The Herald's new policy requires people to use Facebook to sign in so they can comment, this way, people cannot hide behind a fake name or persona.
People have tried to sue me over comments left here, but according to the law, they are not allowed to do that. I am not responsible for what others say, even if it's in the Grapevine comments section. The Coconut Grove Grapevine is protected under the section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, this protects us from what others say in the comments section.
But I am trying not to be political these days, not for any other reason other than the fact that I really don't want to sit through anymore long meetings at the BID, City Hall or the Village Council. It's bad enough that there are those long meetings but then there is the following a story sometimes for months or years on end. I don't like that part.
I'm trying to be more of a magazine-style blog now. More fun stuff and more features -- something like AnnaMaria does. I love her Lake Worth blog called Lake Worth Every Minute. She almost makes me want to move to Lake Worth because of all her positive photos and stories. Almost, but not quite.
posted by Tom Falco at 6:06 AM
YOU MAY NOT LIFT THE PHOTOS & TEXT. IT'S COPYRIGHTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. YOU CAN HOWEVER SHARE A STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY USING THE LINKS HERE.
For linking to this one story, just click on the time it was posted & just this story will open for sharing - only through social media. Not copying and pasting.
4 Comments:
Any article read, news or opinion, will have some level of thought provoking response from the reader, expressed thought or the inert one are both protected and guaranteed by the First Amendment, no matter how eroded the days law has become. Attack on internet and speech is up and rising, the Herald has always been on the side of big good old institutions.
I think that if you run stories on the Grove and truly have any feelings or connection to this place you cannot help but get political. I also feel that the ability to post anonymously allows one to post freely without fear of personal retribution. I think if you change this blog so substantially to the point that you are basically a "happy happy, joy joy" commercial for Coconut Grove that both a large section of your readers and (perhaps more importantly) you yourself will becone dissatisfied. I also believe that those who are politically connected or have a family/business name that they do not want dragged thru the mud do feel more free to speak openly from behind a wall of anonymity where the subject at hand is the focus and not the messenger.
Signed-
Silence Dogood
you're either going to do the grapevine or not. it seems you are a little picky on what bothers you, etc. i understand it's your blog and i don't have to read it, but it seems like you are limiting yourself too much and limiting your audience. perhaps that's what you are looking for. you shouldn't worry about comments if it's not on the grapevine's head. a little controversy is always good. i do like to be informed on the comings and goings, so thanks for that!
Thanks for this enlightening post! As I'm dabbling into blogging, this is a great read! And thanks for sharing the Lake Worth blog, it's lovely!
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