Has Hate Become Lakewood's Newest Product?
Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 1:33 pm
For years I read as person after person said that hate was at the Observer but not at Facebook, not on Twitter, not on other boards. I paid it little mind as I have rarely found the Deck to be anything more than critical, not filled with hate, and nearly always directed at City Hall and/or the way they spent our money.
Then my Tech people made us part of Facebook, and I found it to be very disturbing, and I guess, so did Facebook as they removed the thumbsdown icon as it was getting too much use.
Recently many in Lakewood said, finally Lakewood Community pages and "neighborhood pages" a place for positive communications. Nearly instantly they were commandeered by the local neighborhood bullies and moderators desperate to control the conversations, not merely the tone of conversation. Using them and the moderation of such to control and derail serious conversation about the community, but also used to help City Hall cover up their lies and tamp down questions and questioners.
Then, this afternoon for the third time in 5 days a mother called in tears, that the level of attacks and vitriol community sites had reached an all time high, they were closing their accounts for their safety and more importantly the safety of their family, reasons and moving.
Lakewood, what the hell is wrong with you?
We used to be a loving, healthy happy community. I have lived through a couple different "civil wars" the last being the worst, but rarely have residents turned against residents.
WTF? Just because there are a handful of haters, underwritten, empowered and normalized in part by City Hall does not mean you need to go along?
It has reached such. crescendo that more and more public figures are writing me, and sending me emails of threats from people running boards demanding participation or else. The School Board living in fear because of people demanding access, the judge, the library, non-profits, businesses even some of our contributors harassed for sharing or not sharing with extremely troubled individuals running sites.
Lakewood what happened to you?
.
Then my Tech people made us part of Facebook, and I found it to be very disturbing, and I guess, so did Facebook as they removed the thumbsdown icon as it was getting too much use.
Recently many in Lakewood said, finally Lakewood Community pages and "neighborhood pages" a place for positive communications. Nearly instantly they were commandeered by the local neighborhood bullies and moderators desperate to control the conversations, not merely the tone of conversation. Using them and the moderation of such to control and derail serious conversation about the community, but also used to help City Hall cover up their lies and tamp down questions and questioners.
Then, this afternoon for the third time in 5 days a mother called in tears, that the level of attacks and vitriol community sites had reached an all time high, they were closing their accounts for their safety and more importantly the safety of their family, reasons and moving.
Lakewood, what the hell is wrong with you?
We used to be a loving, healthy happy community. I have lived through a couple different "civil wars" the last being the worst, but rarely have residents turned against residents.
WTF? Just because there are a handful of haters, underwritten, empowered and normalized in part by City Hall does not mean you need to go along?
It has reached such. crescendo that more and more public figures are writing me, and sending me emails of threats from people running boards demanding participation or else. The School Board living in fear because of people demanding access, the judge, the library, non-profits, businesses even some of our contributors harassed for sharing or not sharing with extremely troubled individuals running sites.
Lakewood what happened to you?
.
