— by Margie Doyle, Editor/Publisher —
We solicit articles and sometimes editorials and contract with local journalists to write for Orcas Issues. As publisher and owner, I also read the comments submitted, and sometimes seek to publish them as individual articles or editorials when they are particularly well-expressed.
I also edit comments if the information known within them is inaccurate, or if they are derogatory of private individuals, or if they are repetitive or illogical. Yes, this is my call, in great part because I have personal ethics to maintain, and because I have no obligation to print, in this private media enterprise, supported by the local and journalistic community, comments or articles which I feel do not serve my community.
We try to promote discussion, but when it becomes labored, repetitive and in one reader’s opinion (shared by others over the last months) “a buzzkill” that stymies the purpose of a community forum, we look to ways to accommodate measures that promote the purposes of community journalism.
Comments will be limited at the editor’s discretion so that the valuable discussions at Orcas Issues will better serve all readers. We may limit the number of comments per posting, or the number of comments per person per month.
We can’t make everybody happy, but we do labor to serve our community.
I can tell you that the “buzzkill” comment is shared by many in the community, and as a long time reader of this publication the comments sections of the website have become unbearable due to certain non-stop commenters whereas once they were actually valuable and informative.
What does “buzzkill” mean?..
In journalistic terms?..
There has been a longtime core of readers and community of bloggers here that *objected* when someone tried to dominate the forum and did not respected the forum we have built here. This was not a “buzzkill” it was trolling. It was not a problem with THE VIEWS expressed somehow violating some civic norm, it was ‘people’ who left no room for a back and forth: “A community of voices” .. but instead dominated with sheer column-inch volume and blatant incitement. Instead of clarifying an explicit journalistically legitimate editorial POLICY that protected an established forum, the editors of Orcas Issues have applied a more, well, ..indefinable, term with zero journalistic pedigree that amounts to censorship of any content that makes them – the editors – “uncomfortable.” THAT is the “buzzkill!” On Orcas there are some that are “uncomfortable” with the truth. Orcas Issues used to be a balancing force. The Real Stuff that makes you ..well, uncomfortable. Good Journalism is a “Buzzkill;” a true ‘community of voices’ is not a socially caffeinated ‘buzz,’ but an exchange of ideas that, if respectful still, pulls no punches. The real ‘buzzkill’ has been from the influence of some who do not even dare to post their views but use their influence behind the scenes to promote censorship. The real ‘Buzzkill’ is this new Paternalism, not respectful moderation that nurtures and protects an established forum.
“……The real ‘buzzkill’ has been from the influence of some who do not even dare to post their views but use their influence behind the scenes to promote censorship. The real ‘Buzzkill’ is this new Paternalism, not respectful moderation that nurtures and protects an established forum.“
…and my personal take on the above excerpt from Leif’s comment is that “Paternalism,” in this context, is gender-neutral with an “equal opportunity” application…(-:
Thank you, Margie for writing this clarification. In my view, those who tend to use OI’s comments section to opine about everyone else’s stories might consider doing the heavy lifting it takes to research, fact check and write a real story about the issues they care about that relate to our community. Commenting without context is like being an art or restaurant critic — enjoying the blood, sweat, and tearful offerings or others (or not), and then letting loose. Orcas ain’t like that.