Just a little notice to let all of you know that I won't allow any comments through for at least a couple of weeks that contain harsh or irrelevant comments about anyone. It's fine to criticize a public official -- and former city Councilor Ellen Zoppo is not one anymore -- but you must do it in a decent, respectful way or your comments won't appear.
Backhanded efforts such as "Mayor Ward seems to have his drinking under control because he hasn't been arrested for DWI recently" won't make the cut either. Let's play nice, guys and gals.
If something slips by me, and it probably will, just send me a note and tell me where the offending comment is and I'll likely kill it.
I would also add for those of you who shake your heads at the comments, you always have the option of not reading them. You can read this blog just fine without every dipping into the comments that other people post.
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
18 comments:
Great thought process Steve.Couldn't agree more!BTW, I would like to extend a very Merry Christmas and Happy&Healthy New Year to you and your family AND to all the posters here!
As long as we have forums like this, Sound Off, and the like, where anonimity is possible, we will have garrish, nasty, comments.
While there is some value, to a great extent, it is overridden by the nastiness.
But, like the Springer Show, it sells.
What would happen if only real names were allowed to post?
As I have said before here, I have no way to require real names for comments. I could require registration before someone comments, but I still wouldn't know who they are.
My only real choice is whether to have comments or not. And I do think that having moderated comments is better than barring them, particularly since people would just go argue anonymously somewhere else.
I don't know Mayor Ward well but am sick and tired of cheap shots taken at him about something that happened years ago -- once. Steve, why would you even put it in print again?? Maybe we should ask you when you stopped beating your wife?? Oh, you say never. Good!!
Don't add to the blog if you won't identify yourself.
Tom Cosgrove
I agree, seems a few on here are not happy no matter what happens in this town. A few of the people being bashed on here are the same ones that are doing a Christmas Breakfast for the homeless on Christmas Day!
Maybe a few of these verbal bashers should think twice before they turn their venom on good people making a difference in this town.
Ruth Cameron
What is clear is that a lot folks are sick of all the negative, childish and unprofessional posters on this BLOG. Let's make the BLOG a forum for intellegent discussion about the issues effecting Bristol. We should be able to agree to disagree in a professional manner.
As long as people are allowed to post anonymously, and as long as some choose to "bring down the bar", the so-called "nasty" questions will continue.
I particularly enjoy anonymous posters complaining about those who post anonymously.
Not many people have the courage to be "the bad guy" and voice dissenting opinion (even approriately stated).
I've had to delete an awful lot of comments today. Please, folks, be respectful in what you write.
Thank you again Steve for showing the professionalism to raise the bar on this BLOG.
To everyone else the process is simple, we don't have to agree but we do have to be respectful and act like adults.
Isn't it amazing when we can't say mean bad stuff we can't think of anything to say! Seems to me that the standard should be if you as a person face to face would you be willing the state what you state then it is ok. I can't imagine most people being able to say the rhetoric spewed here face to face. IMO
Chris wilson
Anonymous is an excellent feature .
Unless you have personally felt the wrath of the 'benevolent' municipality for questioning questionable activities which occur from time to time , you can't really appreciate the concept .
I am willing to bet that no reader/poster here would be able to avoid being intimidated by the use of the various departments @ their disposal .
I know it is Xmas and all thoughts should be good thoughts. My one question is who is our Mayor, Ward ir Minor. Minor is a little too much with his comments and his two other pals go right along with him. Gentelman it is about time you ALL be brave and make your own decisions.
Let's try a positive answer.
Mr. Ward is our Mayor. Mr. Minor is a Councilmen. They and the other council members were elected by those that cared enough to vote (those that did not vote -- you had your chance) to do a job for the next two years. They are paid by the taxpayers of Bristol and one would hope that they work for our benefit (yes I know this is a high expectation). That being said, they have phone numbers and email addresses so if you have complaints about their performance make sure you address them with them. Better yet go to a Council Meeting and voice your opinion. Let them know you are tired of all the politics and if enough of us do this then just maybe they will do what we pay them to do. If not let them know that next time you will work to vote them out (that means getting involved and getting more folks out to vote).
The Mayor and the Council do not have to agree but they do need to work together and if they don't they should hear from us all. We can be part of the problem or part of the solution. Don't settle for letting them just do what they want. Hold them accountable.
If you have complaints, the best forum for that is to call them individually. It's getting tiring to hear the council berated for issues that could be completely answered on an individual basis. Many people seem confused about issues and use the council meetings for their own agendas instead of really looking for answers on issues that could easily be taken care of with a phone call. Some people are there to pick a fight. A good example of that is Maureen Carter who, since the election, hasn't shown up to a single council meeting to, as she stated, "be there for the children." Yeah, right! She clearly had an agenda and all she did was complain and antagonize and belittle the council, which is not what they are there for. Sure, you can inquire as to something that is going on or you can make suggestions, but being nasty to the council is not one of the things that is allowed, thanks to this mayor. We look like laughing stocks when we get up there and rant and rave. Please, if you have a gripe and you can't be nice, in the words of Thumper, don't say nothin' at all!
Just think if all the nastiness was put aside and all these minds were put to the betterment of the City we would be second to none. Keep up the good work Steve and try to keep this blog to the issues.We can certainly use the expertise.
12-18 3:30
Wrong on both counts
NICASTRO
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