Light-up McIntosh December 15
Light-up McIntosh will begin at the Civic Center at 6:30 p.m. The event will host Santa Clause and an area choir from six local churches will sing.
Editor's Note: Changes to comments
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
After some thought, I've decided to change the commenting options on the blog so that readers will need to register for a Google account in order to comment.
I've been considering this for about a year now. I've done some reading and listened to what my peers have noticed about commenting in other blogs and media forums. Other placeblogs and newspaper forums have the same issues that McIntosh has with comments. Give people the free reign to say what they want, and at first it's pretty cool. Then, the haters come out.
My initial reasons for wanting to keep anonymous comments available have been that I do believe McIntosh is a very difficult place to voice an opinion that goes against the status quo. I've seen this happen over and over again.
Changing the settings so that commenters have to register in no way eliminates the possibility of challenging the status quo and still keeping your name out of it. But it does throw another step in there by requiring commenters to register for a Google account and log in to post. Some commenters already have registered using an alias, the like poster called the Flash. So, anonymous comments are still possible. They're just not going to be as easy.
Oh, you can sign up for an account at the link under the comment screen. You never know, you might like it enough to start your own blog.
posted by Cher @ 1:13 AM,
4 Comments:
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At October 23, 2007 6:06 PM ,
Psyco Citizen said...
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Those that posted via anonymous were the ones that kept me comming back to see what kind of sillyness they could dream up...
I hope that this blog can survive. It has given you a great start in your chosen field - the addition of photos has given it the home town newspaper feel.
Photos relate the facts - they are something that cannot be argued. I guess that you found the way to calm the savage beast(s) in McIntosh!!! -
At October 23, 2007 10:20 PM ,
Cher said...
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I don't have plans for the blog to go anywhere anytime soon.
Even if the comments drop off to some degree, that doesn't effect the blog. I don't sell advertising or profit from this in any way. Because of that, I'm in a unique position that is disconnected from the way other media work. I do what I do whether people like me and my posts or not. And as one of the councilmen delighted in informing me last week, no one in McIntosh really likes me anyway. Or so he says.
**Shrug** I guess that's the breaks, huh?
As for the blog, there might be times when I am pretty busy and I don't get to post something I want to or have been meaning to. For instance, I've been sitting on a Sunshine Law story about how council e-mails each other outside the meetings. But I've been kinda swamped with work and school. The dang story is so old now that I'm torn on how to get it out there. I feel like it should be posted because it's a continuing trend, but it's hardly fresh. Same with the last meeting. So, don't be surprised if I get a breather on homecoming and post a bunch of dusty stories.
So, if you don't see something you want to see, drop me a line or register and comment. Better yet, pick up a notepad and pen and write the story yourself. I'd be MORE than happy to run it.
And yeah, feature photos are different from public affairs reporting. A picture of a council member e-mailing another council member his opinions about building a school would look entirely innocuous -- and also can't be argued. Unfortunately, my reporting bears the brunt in the community because we have more opportunities for Sunshine Law stories in this town each year than we have festivals. -
At October 23, 2007 11:03 PM ,
McIntosh Flash said...
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Some people give away all the secrets, and this town is full of them.
It is getting close to the Holiday Season - let's build a big bon fire and sacrifice our insanity! It would be good for the town and our reputation.
I think that no one in town really likes State Government rules either.... You are in good company! -
At October 23, 2007 11:18 PM ,
Cher said...
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I'll bring the marshmallows and my camera.
I kinda like being lumped in with the Sunshine Law.
Problem is there's a huge difference between the blog and the Sunshine. Who cares if the public figures ignore me and the blog?
But one of these days, blowing off the Sunshine is going to catch up with someone, especially if there's a pattern of it.
The sad thing is that when the Sunshine isn't followed, it's the people who lose -- specifically access to how and why their elected officials made decisions about their community.
Editor
Editor and Publisher:
I'm Cher From McIntosh, FL I'm a graduate student at the University of Florida working on a master's degree in Mass Communication. While I was finishing my undergrad degree in journalism last year, I reported on McIntosh, Fla. for an in-depth reporting class. I figured that the reporting and the public record files should go somewhere people can access them. Reporters don't report to keep the information they find to themselves. Some of that reporting is included here in a forum that allows response. McIntosh suffers because with no news coverage, the local government and the rumor mill have too much potential to run rampant over residents. I moved to McIntosh in the fall of 1999. My profile
About This Blog
The primary purpose of this blog is to accurately reflect what happens in town public meetings and dispel rumors. I record the meetings and make them available for download. One of the goals of this blog is to offer residents a place to voice opinions. The comments, views and opinions expressed there are not necessarily those of the editor.
