Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Doomed from the beginning

So, I learned something new about blogging. My friend Charles informed me its not a successful blog unless there's a "disliked" person on it. Well, I had that person lately. And it got worse and worse and worse and just finally had to end.

Maybe blogging was doomed from the beginning. The idea of open forum is great. The practice is not so easy.... I welcomed countering views, allowed some name-calling and inappropriate language, but then it became just way too much. This blog is not about my political views or the political views of anyone else. It was intended to spark debate primarily about issues as they relate to journalism.

I hope to get back to that..... but it may have been doomed from the beginning.

5 comments:

Charles Jurries said...

Anonymous commenting is terrific, until it can no longer be terrific.
And the fact that the same people who were so content to give their opinions couldn't be bothered to take the 95 seconds to create an account -- even under a fake name! -- and then post, is just stunning.

mesfox said...

It's a sad situation, I guess. But maybe it had to happen eventually. The poster got VERY annoying.

Oh well. Thanks for your input.

Anonymous said...

Funny Steve, you get frustrated and do not have a rational thing to say and pull the plug on the discussion. Deleting all previous posts that show your ineptitude.

Your last post "checking on Obamas progress" was interesting in what it told me about you. You claimed that you voted for Reagan, but we both knew you were to young to have done that. When called on the carpet for your lie, you say this is not a political discussion. My parents voted for him. Weird to open a thread on Obama and say it is not political.

My question for you is "what would you think of a Journalism teacher who needed to stifle opposing thoughts so that he did not look like an idiot?"

I guess it is somewhat normal for todays floundering media, that is a puppet to the White House.

mesfox said...

If I recall correctly, I pulled the plug on attacking, harassing and improper language on the blog. It got to the point where it was unproductive. I was hoping with some time it would get better.

As for checking on Obama's progress, I don't consider that a purely political post. I consider it the job of the watchdog press - which is what I wrote. We need to watch and hold accountable all elected officials. That's all.

As for a journalism teacher who stifled opposing thoughts, I would be disappointed. I hope that's not where I go with this - it was never my intention. Which is why I allow posts.

However, as I have stated before, it is a major tenet of journalism that thoughts and opinions come with accountability. I don't hide my identity. Why hide yours?

Anonymous said...

The press being watchdogs, you are joking right?

The big 3 are so far up Obamas colon it is crazy for you to say that. And then there is Newsweek and Time, just printing fluff and praise. I will leave for now and let you and jughead contemplate how journalism has changed the world and get offended that someone has an alternate viewpoint.