The Observation Deck

It should be a pretty simple question. Is the Hospital conversation an Anchor or is it an Albatross? Does it draw people to the deck to participate in this and other discussions? Or has it become a bourdon that keeps people from participating in this and other discussions? What is best for increasing the readership and participation on the deck?

I'm sure Jim has the numbers. I bet traffic on the Deck was at an all time high pre-election. Post election I think it should be a separate thread/forum. This isn't about, to quote Brian, "adding content that relates to the hospital and related government accountability issues and you don't like it." How does creating a separate, stand alone, highly visible forum that specifically holds the content of the debate regarding the hospital not hold government accountable any less? It doesn't.

Patrick,

Thanks for your post and for being gracious in your response. I agree with you.

Patrick Wadden wrote:It should be a pretty simple question. Is the Hospital conversation an Anchor or is it an Albatross? Does it draw people to the deck to participate in this and other discussions? Or has it become a bourdon that keeps people from participating in this and other discussions? What is best for increasing the readership and participation on the deck?

I'm sure Jim has the numbers. I bet traffic on the Deck was at an all time high pre-election. Post election I think it should be a separate thread/forum. This isn't about, to quote Brian, "adding content that relates to the hospital and related government accountability issues and you don't like it." How does creating a separate, stand alone, highly visible forum that specifically holds the content of the debate regarding the hospital not hold government accountable any less? It doesn't.

Patrick

I hope you believe and understand this. The numbers exist, we never look at them. We do not try to monetize the Deck. Recently I was talking with a professional that thought the Deck was out of control, his advice, "if you let them fight sell ads, no ads stop the fighting." The project is not about making money, if it was we would have closed our doors years ago. It is not about monetizing conversations, I have had many many offers. Hell I could have retired again on what Christies offered for ads in the papers and websites. It ain't about the money, and it is not about an agenda. Likewise once you get into huge numbers on traffic, checking them seems too narcissistic for us. In the summer we get numbers that can give the PD.com a run for their money. The most traffic ever was a post about a missing girl that was picked up by retweeted Ashton Kucher.

Years ago many of us at the "Observer" realized we can led them here but if they want to drink it is up to them. So we just keep doing what we do, if people stop by great, if they join in even better.

We really have never made a subdivision for a single topic, and as much as I would like to believe this is cut and dry, it is not. I spoke with a member of Council this morning, and they said a favorite comment from others are, "Well thank god the hospital is settled." They smiled and said we will be talking about this, and what replaces it for years and years.

Should the Phase 3 discussion be in a separate forum? Common Core? LEAF?

Like I mentioned elsewhere, I see changes coming, and topics coming, and new sections coming but no idea what they are.

.

Team Summers sure seems eager to sweep this hospital deal under the carpet.

They apparently want us to believe that the MERE SIGHT of hospital threads on this forum is enough to scare people away!
They demand a "separate but equal" hospital forum so they can pretend the hospital issue doesn't exist.

I think a lot of folks don't want to think about the subject because it makes them feel guilty.
It's like changing the channel when you see the ASPCA Sarah McLaughlin commercial.

Noone has really explained...what are the other topics that aren't being discussed because of the hospital?

Michael Deneen wrote:Team Summers sure seems eager to sweep this hospital deal under the carpet.

Maybe you missed this part from Dr. Jimmy:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I spoke with a member of Council this morning, and they said a favorite comment from others are, "Well thank god the hospital is settled." They smiled and said we will be talking about this, and what replaces it for years and years.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:
Should the Phase 3 discussion be in a separate forum? Common Core? LEAF?

Not LEAF, leaf collection. I vote for a leaf collection forum.

One more thing....the other message boards in town are all talking about the hospital.
Even the message board that is supposed to be about lost pets and garage sales.

So it's not as if people are taking other topics elsewhere.

Lori Allen _ wrote:I think the point that Matthew & David Westlake are trying to make (and they can correct me if I am wrong) is that the "Lakewood General Discussions" forum is plastered with so much hospital-related matter that it is nearly impossible for anyone else to get a word in edgewise about any other topic (crime, city events, etc.). Since the Deck is mainly SLH members now, it is an extreme rarity that anyone will "debate" or even post about anything that is not related to Lakewood Hospital. Nobody will engage. Often when debate does ensue, it often becomes some members of SLH feeding information to those that are on the Deck to gather information for the other side. It also sometimes becomes bullying and chauvinism.

Yes, it is free speech for SLH to post whatever they wish on here. However, when almost the entire forum is "hijacked" with hospital topics to the point where nobody else has a chance to speak, then that is suppressing the free speech of others. In my opinion, some of the comments made to Matthew and others on this thread (particularly those that hold opposing viewpoints to SLH) are uncalled for and border on bullying.

My thoughts exactly.

Anyone and everyone is free to start a new thread, about anything that interests them. Jim encourages it.

If you don't like the hospital threads, do not click on them. If you want to talk about cable providers, property taxes, or the apparent hotbed of criminal activity in Lakewood, have at it.

Patrick Wadden wrote:It should be a pretty simple question. Is the Hospital conversation an Anchor or is it an Albatross? Does it draw people to the deck to participate in this and other discussions? Or has it become a bourdon that keeps people from participating in this and other discussions? What is best for increasing the readership and participation on the deck?

Patrick,

Straight up questions yes or no questions:

1. Didn't the hospital discussion first bring you to the Deck in October, 2015?
2. Didn't the hospital discussion bring you to he Deck today?
3. Do you really care about the Deck's success or failure or even its readership? Be honest.
4. Do you think its a burden to say--have to read Corey Rossen try to change the subject of nearly every thread--should we make a special forum for him too?

If this thread goes on much longer, I think Matthew will win the "Most Ironic and Humorous Deck post of 2016" Award.

What started out as the drip, drip, drip of Team Summers' attempting to erode support for those who opposed the Hospital deal has now turned steadily, into a full fledged assault on our right to express political thought in an open forum.
Mr. Kenny, and his mission to identify and eradicate "cancerous" thought on The Deck has now been supplanted by Mr. Wadden, Mr. Lee and Co., who instead , want to sequester our thoughts regarding the Hospital and the conduct of Summers, Madigan, Bullock and the rest of LHA .
What we are witnessing in Mr.Wadden and Mr Lee is an attempt to pull off a sort of " benevolent intolerance" as they look to silence the rest of us under the spurious claim of improving The Deck.

Michael Deneen wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:This hospital discussion is not going to go on forever.

I disagree. This hospital deal is a gaping wound that will impact the city for many, many years.

Dang, Mike. I didn't get around to replying for a couple hours and - kaboom!
Unquestionably, there's a lot of interest in this issue.

The point I was making was largely in reference to the Deck, and that a lot of the discussion is being driven by elections: running up to the general election/Issue 64 in November; and now to the primary election/referendum in March. The conclusion I didn't mention is that, therefore, there is no need to sweep it under the rug into a separate forum. Your Iraq war analogy is certainly apt, and people will be talking about it, but not with the same intensity as right now on the Deck, and elsewhere. Unless, that is, our political leaders come up with a new wrinkle. That wouldn't surprise me.

As a veteran of the Kauffman Park wars I've always got my eyes open.

Brian Essi wrote:

Patrick Wadden wrote:It should be a pretty simple question. Is the Hospital conversation an Anchor or is it an Albatross? Does it draw people to the deck to participate in this and other discussions? Or has it become a bourdon that keeps people from participating in this and other discussions? What is best for increasing the readership and participation on the deck?

Patrick,

Straight up questions yes or no questions:

1. Didn't the hospital discussion first bring you to the Deck in October, 2015?
2. Didn't the hospital discussion bring you to he Deck today?
3. Do you really care about the Deck's success or failure or even its readership? Be honest.
4. Do you think its a burden to say--have to read Corey Rossen try to change the subject of nearly every thread--should we make a special forum for him too?

If this thread goes on much longer, I think Matthew will win the "Most Ironic and Humorous Deck post of 2016" Award.

1. I actually started reading the Deck in June. Didn't join until October. I have read the hard copy of the LO for years and like it. The increased amount of traffic on Facebook regarding the Hospital is what brought me to the Deck. So Yes, the Hospital discussion is what brought me to the Deck. Specifically, the threads about people that were going to boycott local business's is what prompted me to join and weigh in.

2. No. I check the Deck on daily basis. I don't go to or post on the other sites people mention (Buzz, Nextdoor, etc...) with the obvious exception of Facebook. I enjoy hyper local news.

3. This one is easy. YES. Hyper local news is awesome. I think supporting Jim and the LO is no different than supporting my lifelong friend Brian who owns Lake Erie Creamery and makes cheese for local eateries. It's no different than supporting Glenn (former Bobson Hardware employee) at Lakewood Hardware. It's no different than supporting Mickey K at Georgetown. It's no different than supporting the Bosworth's at KB Confections. It's no different than supporting the Brennan's who have been friends with my family for over 50 years. I could go on but to answer your question. Yes I do care.

4. Not a burden for me at all to click on threads I want to read. Not at all. It was a question for the discussion. As for Corey, I don't know him. Never met him. My wife recently coached his daughter at Lakewood Catholic Academy's 5th grade girls CYO volleyball team. But that's about it.

Patrick Wadden wrote: 1. I actually started reading the Deck in June. Didn't join until October. I have read the hard copy of the LO for years and like it. The increased amount of traffic on Facebook regarding the Hospital is what brought me to the Deck. So Yes, the Hospital discussion is what brought me to the Deck. Specifically, the threads about people that were going to boycott local business's is what prompted me to join and weigh in.

Patrick

We don't always agree, a common problem for me. But I do appreciate you sticking around past the election to continue to weigh in, and on other subjects besides the hospital.

I feel the same about all that take the time to make a serious effort at conversation here. Thank you.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. - Martin Luther King Jr.

.

Patrick Wadden wrote:

Brian Essi wrote:

Patrick Wadden wrote:It should be a pretty simple question. Is the Hospital conversation an Anchor or is it an Albatross? Does it draw people to the deck to participate in this and other discussions? Or has it become a bourdon that keeps people from participating in this and other discussions? What is best for increasing the readership and participation on the deck?

Patrick,

Straight up questions yes or no questions:

1. Didn't the hospital discussion first bring you to the Deck in October, 2015?
2. Didn't the hospital discussion bring you to he Deck today?
3. Do you really care about the Deck's success or failure or even its readership? Be honest.
4. Do you think its a burden to say--have to read Corey Rossen try to change the subject of nearly every thread--should we make a special forum for him too?

If this thread goes on much longer, I think Matthew will win the "Most Ironic and Humorous Deck post of 2016" Award.

1. I actually started reading the Deck in June. Didn't join until October. I have read the hard copy of the LO for years and like it. The increased amount of traffic on Facebook regarding the Hospital is what brought me to the Deck. So Yes, the Hospital discussion is what brought me to the Deck. Specifically, the threads about people that were going to boycott local business's is what prompted me to join and weigh in.

2. No. I check the Deck on daily basis. I don't go to or post on the other sites people mention (Buzz, Nextdoor, etc...) with the obvious exception of Facebook. I enjoy hyper local news.

3. This one is easy. YES. Hyper local news is awesome. I think supporting Jim and the LO is no different than supporting my lifelong friend Brian who owns Lake Erie Creamery and makes cheese for local eateries. It's no different than supporting Glenn (former Bobson Hardware employee) at Lakewood Hardware. It's no different than supporting Mickey K at Georgetown. It's no different than supporting the Bosworth's at KB Confections. It's no different than supporting the Brennan's who have been friends with my family for over 50 years. I could go on but to answer your question. Yes I do care.

4. Not a burden for me at all to click on threads I want to read. Not at all. It was a question for the discussion. As for Corey, I don't know him. Never met him. My wife recently coached his daughter at Lakewood Catholic Academy's 5th grade girls CYO volleyball team. But that's about it.

Thanks Patrick for the straight answers.

My point about Corey is that he is just one of many who engage in thread drift so creating another forum does not solve much of anything in my opinion. It will always happen.