of the comments section of the Olympian, and even though it often inflames me, I've never flamed back. Well, OK, one time in defense of homeless folks who couldn't flame back on their own.

Here's a suggestion for everyone fed up with folks posting about this issue on a free and open blog...

Don't read the posts.

There, problem solved!

Nana ka maka; ho`olohe ka pepeiao; pa`a ka waha.
"Observe with the eyes, listen with the ears, shut the mouth." - thus one learns...

Could be said about Olyblog.

If you see something you don't like in Olyblog:

1.  Don't read it.

2.  Address the blogger directly and take your chance that the blogger may engage in conversation in return, which, to my understanding is what blogging is all about.

I would prefer to direct my comments to the moderators, editors and such of the newspaper, but it seems that they can't take that direction.  We've even had a moderator pull a "libel" threat out of an section of the anatomy to attempt to stifle the right to satire and sarcasm in Olyblog, all for the sake of attempting to quell any kind of criticism of the activities at said newspaper.  For a newspaper that is quick to judge and criticize the job performance of others, they find every way to run and hide from someone that has enough knowledge and guts to analyze their performance. Of course, it's often forgotten, as this time, that on many occasions, I've applauded the newspaper and also defended their position and coverage.

I worked in newspapers from 1970 to 1983.  I consulted rural newspapers from 1985 to 1989.  I owned an agency from 1989 to 1999 that focused on print media.  I've shared beverages with the very people I've disagree with earlier in a day.  They've stated their dislike of my position, I've returned favor.  I've only experienced ONE newspaper that attempts to stop people from voicing their opinion and keeping the opinion of others from the public.  The possiblity of corporate media ruining the very freedom that we've celebrated in this country for over 200 years is frightening.

Frankly, the apathy on this issue is more frightening than the activity.

http://thurstonblog.blogspot.com/

As the General Manager for a The Elma Chronicle in 1987, I redesigned the newspaper to attempt to give it new life.  It was dying and I was recruited to save it (unfortunately, the owners were not as financially sound as they had said).

Part of my redesign was to create a page called "food, fashion and fun".  In addition to a crossword puzzle, I used wired stories on fashion, a local recipe and a horoscope.

One of the evangelical churches took exception to the horoscope, saying it was occult. From my belief position (better described as lack of belief) I found this ridiculous, yet the community, or at least a part of it was speaking.  The pastor of said church tried to organize a boycott of our advertisers.  I contacted him personally and said he was welcome to do such, or, as a public service, I'd provide him space to editorialize on the issue of horoscopes and occult.  I promised to run his editorial verbatim, without editing.

The article ran, no boycott took place and the subject was over.

If you haven't figured out by now, my issue with The Olympian lies with the whole point of their policy to quell community voices.  I strongly disagree with many voices in the comments, mildly disagree with others and wildly agree with many.  The last thing in the world I would ever suggest is to deny someone the right of their opinion.  It is the very foundation of our way of governing in the United States.

Lastly, if I may suggest, "hyper local reporting" would be incomplete without an honest look at the local media. Disagree as you'd like, but don't mistake my reporting for just a personal complaint.

http://thurstonblog.blogspot.com/

...over the last couple of years (!) about the difference between OlyBlog and the O's comment threads. One thing that I agree with about what noradarno said is that there is a sense in which OlyBlog is its own thing, and only becomes diminished the more it is used as a platform from which to throw stones at the Olympian. Olybloggers constitute a more intentional community, one that encourages communication over conflict, and substance over glib phrases. The O's comment threads are so out of control, I wonder why AL is so fascinated with them. Yeah, he should have the right to express himself there if he wants, but why would anyone want that? Why not create something different?

Just as I do with the others I choose to read or not read based on my interest.

Catholic baiting is the anti-Semitism of the liberals.
Peter Viereck, Yale Professor

Maybe I can do a little mind reading act myself.

Is it any coinsidence that I am now restricted from READING the comments threads in The Olympian, one working day after I posted on my own blog about an inappropriate post.  At the risk of being accused of blatantly promoting my own blog (which I possibly am), I suggest anyone interested read "The Comedy of Moderation" on my blog, linked below.  I purposefully did not post that blog on Olyblog as (a) I wanted to see who might be monitoring my blog and (b) I didn't want to offend anyone on Olyblog with content that had a sexual nature to it.

Those that are interested might read it and connect the dots.  Needless to say, I didn't click "Report this Comment" on the Olympian thread, because I know that my concerns are invalid to them.

http://thurstonblog.blogspot.com/

...I am always interested in Larry's struggle with the Olympian.