Many of you have read a few recent comments from me expressing concern about the tone some comment trails have taken over the past month, or so. Essentially, I started the blog because I was interested in neighborhood affairs. Over time people began to read it because it became, both through the posts, and the comments, a decent source of info on a neighborhood that was somewhat lacking in online presence. Historically the comments have mostly been helpful in that they have been people discussing neighborhood affairs and ways to build community [some of which have certainly been realized outside the online world]. I know that we, as a community, sometimes confront difficult issues, and race relations can be one of those.
My suggestion is not that we self censor, or avoid difficult issues, but rather that people take a breath and think before posting. Because most of the people posting here live in the community it is important to remember that the person you attack, or the people reading that attack, may be the woman next door, or the guys who helped you dig out your car after the last snow storm. Bottom line, be nice. Be sensitive. We all chose to live here, so we probably all have a lot more in common, than we have that divides us. Just, please, keep that in mind.
4 comments:
Thank you for saying so. It was a needed reminder to all of us. I think one of the last things we want is to have this outpost of communication to close because of someone.
Thanks Inked for your thoughtful comments and reminder.
One thing that always amazes me is that when race, crime, or Joe Englert is mentioned here the comment trails just grow exponentially - almost like a virus - with 40, 50, 90+ comments.
When you post about The Atlas, a Community Gardening Day, a Heritage Trail, or sadly even an ANC mtg, the comments tend to be miniscule, sometimes with no one commenting or just four or five people.
Is it a fair conclusion to say the topics with the most comments are the ones readers are most interesting in discussing? Or maybe readers feel these are the topics that affect them most? Unfortunately, I don't see this changing unless people do discuss these things - as rational as humanly possible despite so much anger and pent up frustrations on many sides. I'm not sure if this is possible or maybe this isn't even the proper forum for "venting", but we'll see what direction it takes the next time you post something about crime, XII, or Joe Englert's latest H St estabilishment. Hopefully it will be a positive one.
Thanks for all your hard work for the community.
It's interesting that the most commented topics on this blog besides crime are Joe Englert and race. This leads me to ask the question: Are our most pressing concerns as a neighborhood drinking and racism?
Thanks, Inked
Post a Comment