Commenting on Comments

Hello, gentle reader.

Over the last six months or so, Save Fitchburg has become a wonderfully productive little corner of the political and electronic world. Roughly 200 to 300 people stop by every day to check in on what's going on in the city. People write comments with great ideas, insight, and a passion that is unmatched anywhere else.

Now, Save Fitchburg is branching out a little bit, and we need your help.

We've started to make the effort of doing some independent reporting. Actually getting on the phone or e-mail and talking to the policy-makers in the city. We think this is an exciting step forward.

But, in just a few conversations, we're realizing there is some hesitation from some folks, due to the tenor of some of the comments here. People have gotten beaten up pretty badly here, and no one wants to be next.

So, I just want to make it clear what the comments section should be as we move forward.

First of all, public officials are under no obligation to talk to us. But, I think this gives them an outlet to explain what is going on and reach an audience rich with people who give a damn. But they need to be treated with respect and civility. If they feel like they're walking into an ambush, then they'll take a pass.

So, we're going to be taking a hard look at comments in the future. No more name calling. Of anyone. Don't call a public official (or anyone, really) an idiot, a moron, or stupid. Keep it factual. The more I look around the blogosphere, the more I see administrators worried about libel. It's a concern of mine, too, so if it smells libelous, I'm taking it down. If it's disrespectful, I'm taking it down.

I'm not asking you to declaw, or step in line with whatever official might be involved in a day's post. Part of what makes Save Fitchburg a good public forum is the questioning of policy and what's going on. I don't want that gone. I just want it done with a decency and civility that will make people comfortable talking to us.

This is certainly a new media medium, somewhere between journalism, analysis, and a place to let off political steam. Everyone is a little leary of it. Probably 90 percent of the comments here are beyond reproach. If we can tighten up that 10 percent and everyone acts like grownups, we can expect better communication and thoughts from our public officials.

I know yesterday there was another request for mandatory signing in for comments. I considering it from time to time, but it's obvious that it wouldn't eliminate anonymity. I'm pretty sure "2ndson," "crockerfieldman," and "prose" aren't actual names. It seems to be a move that doesn't really cure the problem, so for now we're not requiring registration.

Thanks for listening, thanks for reading, and thanks for commenting.

Jason