Lakewood Buzz -- heavily censored

[kate parker]

you know, jim, i did find it interesting that mar's first post was the start of this thread.

thanks for the tip on the sec 8 thread. i'll be sure to check it out upon returning from school

[Jeff Endress]

Mar Asks

How about the rest of you?

Okay, Mar, here's my take on the issue identified by you as

I'd be willing to bet that there's something you'd like to discuss, with serious people who care about their city, but are either (1) too intimidated to discuss it, because of fear of possible retribution, whatever that retribution might be, or (2) know it will be censored, so don't even bother.

As to issue number 2: I suppose some people may hesitate to post, if they feared their post would be "censored". Since there is no censorship on the Observation Deck, that point is moot. It has been made clear that this open forum is available for the discussion of any idea, thought or topic of interest. Those who mistakenly believe that someone is monitoring and editing posts, simply are either misinformed or have failed to observe the discourse on myriad issues as it has unfolded.

As to issue number 1: If a person is unwilling to take ownership of their position, ideas or talking points, I would have to question how they could be considered "serious". If you care about an issue, or are passionate about a cause, you stand up and say so. Anonymity fosters only unaccountability.

Jeff

“The difference between a liberal and a conservative is a conservative prays in public and drinks in private and a liberal prays in private and drinks in publicâ€Â￾

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

[Stephen Calhoun]

My own opinion is that when you type in Lakewood*uzz it should read as it is spelled.

[Jim O'Bryan]

My own opinion is that when you type in Lakewood*uzz it should read as it is spelled.

Then spell it!


You put the star in not us Buzz!

[observeradmin]

...Those who mistakenly believe that someone is monitoring and editing posts, simply are either misinformed or have failed to observe the discourse on myriad issues as it has unfolded.

Someone does monitor posts.

Advisors monitor posts, posters monitor posts and readers monitor posts.

Some of our members have voiced their concern over posts and action was taken. Jim O'Bryan detailed that in an earlier post.

There simply hasn't been much of a need to "do" something.

Some posts have been edited. I'll fix bullet points, quotes or links as needed. I have changed long links using "Tiny URL." I have turned off smileys because they wreck havoc with lists. I also asked one poster to reduce the size of a linked image because it was messing up the look of the Deck.

If I really have nothing better to do, I'll correct quotation marks and apostrophes. I've also corrected spelling once or twice.

So yes, the Deck is heavily monitored and frequently edited.

[Jeff Endress]

Yes...I know you are out there, like the wizard behind the curtain, making sure all is well in this little over the rainbow Observation Deck......and we all appreciate the behind the scenes work....

BUT...my reference to "Monitoring and editing" was meant more in the "big brother is watching" frame of mind...policing our thoughts and expressions, putting words in our mouths (or perhaps removing them).

So allow me to restate:
Those who mistakenly believe that someone is CENSORING and REWORDING posts, simply are either misinformed or have failed to observe the discourse on myriad issues as it has unfolded

I for one, appreciate the benign editing you do to keep things running smoothly, and do not consider that in any way shape or form as the censorship under discussion herein.

Jeff

[Kenneth Warren]

Mar:

Your post raises good questions about how the rules of different boards in Lakewood serve the expression or inhibition of personality and opinion.

I would propose the Lakewood Observer, with its insistence on the real name of the person attached to the iteration, serves the civic ego and builds social capital through the exchange of cordial, functional expression.

Now the civic ego may moderate or even silence an expression due to the consequences and sanctions that may follow from disclosure to the community.

As Kate Parker suggests, it takes stones to put your name and opinion out there. And it takes character to voice disagreements in polite tones.

At the same time, I will concede that a person is likely to impose a measure of civility on the expression yoked to a real name.

In some cases, one might even argue that the real name rule will engender self-censorship in certain people. So be it. That’s the nature of the experiment in civic discourse at the Lakewood Observer.

Far too many people fear sanctions for their expressions. The Lakewood Observer is attempting to create an opinion climate where civility, courage, intelligence and enjoyment combine to give us a refreshing sense of our city, our challenges and ourselves.

Now, the Lakewood BUZZ is in my opinion an experiment of order quite different than the Lakewood Observer. Lakewood BUZZ is valid and useful for the personalities and purposes served.

Rather than lock and load the us versus them binary that always seems to haunt electronic communication boards let's continue approaching the distinctions in the boards from a psychological framework.

Lakewood BUZZ, with its proliferation of faux names freely expressing opinions that very often transgress the bounds of polite discourse, serves the civic shadow.

Perhaps self-censorship is lacking in the shadow land of faux names, where bold and disrespectful opinions are easily launched. Consequently censorship may need to be imposed.

Ego and shadow serve a purpose in the individual and community’s psychological condition.

In conclusion, each board serves a purpose. Lakewood Observer – civic ego; Lakewood BUZZ – civic shadow. Both are needed.

Kenneth Warren

[Tracy Jones]

I frequent the Buzz and here, and I seem to sense a feeling of superiority bordering on snobbishness with those here that insist on *the use of real names* versus the *shadow land of faux names* on the Buzz. I also have found there to be many civil discussions rather than *bold and disrespectful opinions* aired there. At least there is the choice to use your name or not, and no matter that one may think it is more noble, you are limiting your members.

[Stephen Calhoun]

Lakewoodbuzz Lakewood Buzz

Okay, gracias

The Real Name ethic here is an experiment. If it's perceived as snobby, so be it.

Were I to rope in a linguist pal from NZ to do text analysis on the two forums I'm reasonably confident she's find lots of distinctive differentation between the two forums. In light of this, Lakewood has two different experiments that are ongoing. My own qualitative analysis framed by a social relations perspective would find other categories and classes of distinction too. Those distinctions are familiar to me in taking up the entangled problem of virtuality-without-physical-cues and anonymity in technical discussions among psyche types (i.e. psychologists, linguists, etc.) elsewhere.

Incidentally, it's a tiny point, but I don't think moderators should touch posts for punctuation. This is just me being a purist about ownership in this context, but, by 'tiny point' I mean miniscule, not of much import.

[Jeff Endress]

But, believe it or not, there have been cases litigated (to the highest levels) over the (mis)placement of a stupid coma!

Jeff

[observeradmin]

When you write in a ?word processor? program, a php based board like this can take its toll on punctuation in the case of something that?s pasted in.

? Bullets
? can be
? a problem

I don't add or edit punctuation, but I try to catch those pesky question marks and change them to something recognizable, like quotation marks, apostrophes and bullets.

Only articles for the Lakewood Observer are edited in the manner that Jeff and Stephen are concerned with.

If someone is posting with mangled spelling and punctuation, it's best to let it stand. If that post becomes unreadable due to the small set of guidelines I've mentioned, I'd prefer to fix it if I have a chance.

[Stephen Calhoun]

Jeff, I'm sure that's true...especially when the coma comes over one when one is, say, flying an airliner or something like that.

***

Oh Wise Observer Admin, thanks for the clarification on editing matters.

[dl meckes]

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

[Stan Austin]

So much for the spell check

[Mark Schroeder]

I think Ken Warren's take on the psychological attributes of both boards is very informed.

Rather than an "us vs. them" or "either/or", I believe that Lakewood can and will support both the Obs. Deck and Lkwd Buzz.

Tracy, please don't see it as an either/or choice. You have proven yourself that you can both Observe and Buzz!

I, myself, would rather hear informed discussion from a real person who I can look up in the phone book and deepen the discussion if I choose. For me, its about using technology to create community. I meet you on the Observation Deck and if I feel drawn to meet you in person, I can contact (gasp) a real person!

Thanks for both for creating an energetic civic dialogue.