The Observation Deck

Everytime I see someone post here about about how "mean" people are here, I have to laugh. I'm quite sure many of you at least peruse comments at other sites like the Buzz, and that cesspool Cleveland.com.

In case any of you aren't familiar with what goes on there, let me give you a little snapshot. At the Cleveland.com forums, there are several well-known characters. One poster, Wake up Lakewood, comments on virtually every article about Lakewood, repeatedly reciting a vituperative screed that Lakewood is run by a secret society and that we like decay and negativity. Here's a link to a sample:

http://connect.cleveland.com/user/wakeup666/index.html

Note that they make frequent references to the "LO," JOB, and "savers." Not too hard to figure out what that poster obsesses about.

But even Cleveland.com forum users have limits and they were getting a little fed up with the antics of Wake Up Lakewood. So recently, after being called out by other posters for their relentless and nonsensical ranting, they have acquired a new moniker, Make Lakewood Great Again. Here's a sample of MLGA postings:

http://connect.cleveland.com/user/makel ... index.html

Look familiar?

But wait! It's gets even more juvenile. There is a competition of sorts, where posters "steal" each other's fake names by slightly altering the spacing. Then they accuse each other of "impersonating" the other! How do you impersonate an imposter? Check these out:

http://connect.cleveland.com/user/rick% ... index.html

http://connect.cleveland.com/user/rickc ... index.html

What a clusterfuck!

You might not like some of the opinions stated on the Deck, but at least you know who they belong to. You don't need to keep track of all your multiple fake identities, and you won't discover that the three people you thought you responded to are all one in the same person. I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't place much value on ANY opinion when it comes from a person hiding behind the shield of anonymity.

So I'll put up with the infrequent annoying posts or poster, because at least I know who it is and that they have the cojones to put it out there.

Great post Ms. Conant.

So bad actors aligned with Carson and Rossen are acting out worse on the tabloid's site. Hmmm sounds like converted activity and smear campaigns.

Brian Essi wrote:Great post Ms. Conant.

So bad actors aligned with Carson and Rossen are acting out worse on the tabloid's site. Hmmm sounds like converted activity and smear campaigns.

It is a great post. The Mayor and his supporters can use public forums to explain their plans and choices, instead they have engage in a mean spirited campaign of lies and disinformation.

The real nastiness has always come from the Mayor and his supporters. They have sent City employees to harass opponents, encouraged the filing of false police reports and more. All people are asking for is an honest and open discussion, all we get are threats, intimidation and lies.

If the truth is so wonderful why all the lies?

Brian Essi wrote:Great post Ms. Conant.

So bad actors aligned with Carson and Rossen are acting out worse on the tabloid's site. Hmmm sounds like converted activity and smear campaigns.

You crack me up! Waking up to your posts is better than coffee and a donut. Please keep typing, I need something to carry me into the afternoon. Also, right around 2:30pm or so I may need another pick-me-up post to get me to the end of the work day. Now go ahead, start typing. Don't forget to sprinkle it with some of your famous humor and charm.

Bill Call wrote:

The real nastiness has always come from the Mayor and his supporters. They have sent City employees to harass opponents, encouraged the filing of false police reports and more. All people are asking for is an honest and open discussion, all we get are threats, intimidation and lies.

If the truth is so wonderful why all the lies?

Smart people get it. Like Oliver Wendell Holmes, the Supreme Court Justice who championed the paramount principle of free speech and wrote:

Persecution for the expression of opinions seems to me perfectly logical. If you have no doubt of your premises or your power, and want a certain result with all your heart, you naturally express your wishes in law, and sweep away all opposition... the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market, and that truth is the only ground upon which their wishes safely can be carried out.

City Hall is running an interesting two-pronged PR effort.

As noted by Bridget, their attack dogs have been out on the anonymous websites to attack SLH and other dissenters.

Meanwhile, they have Jen Pae build a fake "Lakewood Community" Facebook page that is intended to copy the popular "Lakewood Ohio" Facebook page.
People on the "Lakewood Ohio" FB page asked too many of the wrong questions, so the Spin Team needed to create an online "safe space" to spread the company line.
Like "Lakewood Neighborhood News", the page does not reveal its City Hall bias...it is designed to appear organic.

There is a concerted effort to stifle free speech. Every person who values their constitutional right to speak out about important city issues should be outraged.

Don't waste your time posting on the Facebook pages that delete contrary opinions, like the Build Lakewood or the Lakewood Ohio (Community) pages. Avoid the phony forums with fake names because you'll be sucked into the putrid cesspool dominated by a few cowardly people, who when exposed, will finally be revealed for the phonies that they are.

Although this quote is from a book on how to protect yourself from violence, it really resonated to me as relevant to the current state of our city.

“We must learn and then teach our children that niceness does not equal goodness. Niceness is a decision, a strategy of social interaction; it is not a character trait. People seeking to control others almost always present the image of a nice person in the beginning. Niceness often always has a discoverable motive.” The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker

So if you stumble upon the "nice" Lakewood community page, consider yourself warned.

I think the SLH crowd has made their point quite clear. Can we now please move on to other conversations?

Kate McCarthy wrote:Although this quote is from a book on how to protect yourself from violence, it really resonated to me as relevant to the current state of our city.

“We must learn and then teach our children that niceness does not equal goodness. Niceness is a decision, a strategy of social interaction; it is not a character trait. People seeking to control others almost always present the image of a nice person in the beginning. Niceness often always has a discoverable motive.” The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker

So if you stumble upon the "nice" Lakewood community page, consider yourself warned.

Kate

Everyone, it is a rough time in Lakewood, there is a lot of bad stuff going on. Everyday, I hear, "I can't take the bad news" we need good news. There are two problems here, and I understand and respect both, I do. People are sick and tired of bad news, it comes at the 24/7/365 everyday. In the "old days" it arrived to us at a slower pace, that allowed good times with friends and family between us, breaking up the hell of Vietnam, MLK Assassination, Riots, etc.

The Hospital Debate is another excellent focal point, 48% of the City want to hear more, 52% can't listen to another word. That does not make either side right or wrong, it makes it a discussion that should continue, if people chose to do it and be civil about it. That is the basis for what we try to do here. Over the course of many discussions you can better understand other ideas, and the presenter of those ideas.

It is America, and this is what free speech is all about. FOR EVERYONE. The people at "Lakewood, Ohio" can construct whatever they want to do, it is their project, and I am glad they are that optimistic. I wish they would bring some of that optimism over here. I personally think the city suffers too much from, "Please do not tell me anymore." But that is me.

Post what you know is right, post your opinion as opinion, and post questions with question marks, and don't forget the Oxford Comma.


Stop worrying about what other people say, especially people that cannot put their names on their comment.

A secret as to how Corey and I have co-existed for over a decade...
"You gotta know when to hold 'em(read him), know when to fold 'em(not read him), know when to walk away, know when to run." Kenny Rogers

A side note, I find amusing is that American adults need others to limit what they can access, instead of just ignoring it. I would also ask all sites to publish a list of moderators and contacts of who is responsible. At the end of the day, if Cleveland.com can't prove who "Bon E. Rabbit" is, they own it, and the liability that comes with it.

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vituperative screed

+5

Jim O'Bryan wrote:
A secret as to how Corey and I have co-existed for over a decade...
"You gotta know when to hold 'em(read him), know when to fold 'em(not read him), know when to walk away, know when to run." Kenny Rogers

Are you sure you didn't mean Kenny Loggins.

Bridget Conant wrote:There is a concerted effort to stifle free speech. Every person who values their constitutional right to speak out about important city issues should be outraged.

Don't waste your time posting on the Facebook pages that delete contrary opinions, like the Build Lakewood or the Lakewood Ohio (Community) pages. Avoid the phony forums with fake names because you'll be sucked into the putrid cesspool dominated by a few cowardly people, who when exposed, will finally be revealed for the phonies that they are.

Keyboard warriors--mice in Lions' costumes.

Corey Rossen wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:
A secret as to how Corey and I have co-existed for over a decade...
"You gotta know when to hold 'em(read him), know when to fold 'em(not read him), know when to walk away, know when to run." Kenny Rogers

Are you sure you didn't mean Kenny Loggins.

Corey you bastard, how am I ever going to unsee that!!!

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Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Corey Rossen wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:
A secret as to how Corey and I have co-existed for over a decade...
"You gotta know when to hold 'em(read him), know when to fold 'em(not read him), know when to walk away, know when to run." Kenny Rogers

Are you sure you didn't mean Kenny Loggins.

Corey you bastard, how am I ever going to unsee that!!!

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Sounds like a conversation I have with myself every time I walk past a mirror.