Blogging-friend or foe?
October 2nd, 2007 by 
Alica
Are blogs just a way for people to take pot shots at others and say things they wouldn’t dream of saying in person? Or do blogs provide a way for people to share their ideas without having to jump on a soap box in the middle of Main Street?
It’s just like anything. The tools exist. It’s up to us whether we use them for good or for evil.
Me, I’m all for using them for good. I hope you agree.
Some topics naturally generate more comment than others. Sometimes it’s hard to predict which ones will. For example, I thought for sure the Brandon Valley sports topics would generate a lot of comment, but that hasn’t been the case. Go figure.
Part of my job is to introduce a new topic on this blog five days a week. I’m open to suggestions for subject matter. You can post requests here on the blog, or you can e-mail me at apthiele@argusleader.com. I’ll do my best to accommodate, as I have in the past.
Thanks for blogging.
Alica
Posted in Uncategorized | 
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:36 am
Freedom of speech is a part of our much fought for freedoms, but there comes a point when people need to step back before they say something that is going to be misinterpreted. That is when blogging becomes hurtful, and not helpful. I appreciated the blog on sidewalks, as we live in a part of town with no sidewalks. I would and could afford to place sidewalks where we have our home, but I know there are seniors that live in our area that couldn’t.
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:03 am
A blog as I see it is a tool for communicating and that is all. I feel there is now problem with people useing this means of communicating there ideas. But I could be wrong as the REV said last night “SHAME ON US”
Its our right, as americans so I guess I’ll by the REV’s words be shamed!!!!!!!!!!!
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:15 am
Blogging is a good thing. It does help people discuss issues that they may otherwise never get to interject on. Some people have to work nights and evenings so they are unable to go to city council meetings. Not that the council does what the population of Brandon wants anyway.
The one thing that some people forget about blogging is, opinions are like butt holes, and everyone has one!
Oh, and to always listening: If the Rev. thinks I should be shamed. Maybe he should be shamed for making our city government constitutionally illegal. Separation of church and state, ever heard of it Rev?
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:54 am
This is a new and unbelievably
low cost tool to communicate to the public.
Experienced bloggers know that sometimes people use it for the wrong reasons but many use it with good intentions.
As I have said in previous blogs, I would not put anything in a blog that I would not be willing to say directly to an individual. That is me. I am candid , direct , and a good listner. My job (financial advisor) requires those characteristics for my clients. I am asked all the time for my opinion on many different topics.
I think ALOT of damage can be done by anonymous bloggers with evil intentions.
The City of Brandon has a lot of major decisions coming up in the near future. The community needs to give the council and mayor their opinions BUT it should be done with good intentions and for the benefit of ALL taxpayers.
I believe it is correct to have healthy discussion on major issues but it must remain civil and productive. I do not think it is any different on a blog or at a community forum.
Alica,
Can you restrict comments or delete them? Especially if they are attacking or inaccurrate. What is the guideline you are using?
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Todd, As far as I understand my bosses’ instructions, I’m not to edit or alter content in any way. It’s a liability thing. And because I like my job and want to keep it (and because it’s the right thing to do), I try hard to follow instructions.
I will admit to correcting the spelling of my own name if I see it misspelled on the blog. But that is the only thing.
I agree with you about blogging being a good thing if it remains civil and productive.
People need to be polite to each other, even if they disagree, in person and on a blog. Let’s all remember that, ok?
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Alica,
I think the ability for bloggers to outright lie , deceive or twist topics is one of the worst concerns about blogging.
I believe that the majority of bloggers are following their own ethical guidelines but you will have people who want to stir up the pot.
The blogging industry will come up with innovating ways to self
audit and police their industry.
Finally, readers have to remember just because a person is said to be a scoundrel that person is not a scoundrel until they are proven to be a scundrel. Old man time will normally take care of that for us.
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Blogging is a now a part of our culture. I disagree with bloggers who lie just to flame an issue, it’s wrong.
I use by blogging for good, as Alica puts it. People can learn a lot about an issue if it’s backed up by some sort of reference.
Now, after saying that…Mr. Kloster had quite a little bit to say at the meeting. I believe that when people get elected to a public seat, they’ve opened themselves up for public critizism and he’s going to have to learn to take the good and leave the bad. He can’t control what people say. All he can do is prove himself as a good city councilperson. I don’t think that “scolding” an audience like bad little children is a way to keep people coming to city council meetings. I also don’t think it’s his job as a councilman to be the morality police. That’s his other job, let’s keep it seperate like our government intended. IMHO.
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:36 pm
I like to give every one a fair chance before I, in my own opinion, change what I think about a person. The fact that a blog is what it is, should not effect what a person thinks about another, hopefully we are all intellegent enough to form our on opinions.
As for the city meeting, Kevin did not help himself in my eyes when he told every one, shame on you if you particicipate on this blog in a negative manner. In one breath he was as #7 says scolding the audience and then telling everyone not to call him pastor or reverend when he’s sitting on the council. It seemed he was stepping away from his pastorial self in one breath and then saying because he was a pastor he had an ability to communicate better than others, hence his volunteering to talk with those concerned about the police problems. If he is as I’ve heard, a down to earth, it seems he might be trying to more that he really is.
Maybe this what it means that you have to seperate church and state, don’t know. Maybe someone can enlighten me.
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:49 pm
This town is a hotbed of gossipry, underhanded dealings, rattling closet skeletons, and all around hypocritical/egotistical happenings (and that’s just the city council WONKAWONKAWONKA)
Get perspective.
“inappropriate gift for female perishioner”=giggleworthy.
As harsh as it may sound…You ran for a public position, so position yourself to be made public.
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:57 pm
I should add, the only shame I feel for being “anonymous” and not using my real name is that in this town, if you wish to live a peaceful life, you have to use an “anonymous moniker. I find that wayyyy more shameful.
I’d be mighty upset if they sicced
“Stripperpants” on me and my kids.
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:02 pm
I think blogging is good. It is a wonderful tool to allow everyone access to the same information - a step up from the slightly different versions of rumors one would get at the marketplace! The information may not always be accurate, but no source of information really is. If enough people blog, one or two people that just want to hurt others can be ignored.
It sounds like I missed an interesting (entertaining) council meeting!
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:05 am
What is the deal with the delayed ambulance decision? I was hoping to see an informal recap since the story about the meting on the website was mostly centered on the police. I guess if you want a suggestion on some topic ideas, that would be interesting.
Anyone who was there: was there any discussion at all or just a ‘we’ll cover this issue later.’ thing? Seems like this long nightmare debacle of the ambulance issue needs some resolution. The foot dragging is pathetic. Either way we need any answer and some reasons.
October 3rd, 2007 at 3:51 pm
To Tonk: You may have noticed that while the ambulance issue was mentioned in this week’s Challenger, the story was mainly about the police department. I can tell you that Jill Meier, the Challenger editor, had less than an hour to write and post her story after the meeting, in order to meet her deadline. And she had a predetermined space to fill, and the police issue had to take priority since the council voted on it.
I haven’t talked to Jill about whether she plans to do a story about the ambulance issue, but my guess is she does. From an editor’s point of view, it probably makes sense to print the story in the issue before the next meeting.
I can tell you that I haven’t yet put anything on the blog about the ambulance committee’s findings because I have been on deadlines and meetings the past two days for other areas of my job. And, to be honest, I have to look through the document of the findings in more detail before I can speak on it with any intelligence. I
I do plan to post one or more blog topics on the committee’s report, so you can watch for that. I plan to post something soon.
Thanks very much for being part of the blog, and for keeping our elected officials, and our media, on task. You can always e-mail me at apthiele@argusleader.com if you have comments or questions you want to address that way instead of through the blog.
Thanks again. Alica
November 8th, 2007 at 11:10 am
This is a first for me, so here goes. I have contacted the council members on things, and then they all say no one has contacted me, or I haven’t heard from any body. So emails to them will not work. Who would any of them tell? Each other? The only way to raise any awareness of this is to write letters to the papers,this way at least your concerns would be heard. About the ambulance district,Jay cannot qualify for that because he can NOT pass the county application, but boy are we lucky!!!! Brandon gets to have him because our 4 council members already know that he and 98% of his staff have never ran any 911 traumas Practice makes perfect, but not with citizens lives as the practice dummies.