the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, While the Ridgewood blog thrives on “comments ” and at times comments have been criticized for being highly controversial in nature , but the exchange of information has had a net positive effect in the Village . The debate often centers around the balance between what is appropriate , politically correct and whats just too far .
The Administrators try to balance free expression without letting commentators devolve into 3rd grade name calling. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. Most of the egregious comments come from allies of the former mayor ,who also happen to be the biggest complainers about the blog.
The Ridgewood blog has been criticized at times for not posting certain comments and of course the blog has its share of trolls and creepy stalkers . Several local stalkers seem to be suffering from deep physiological mental disorders , sexuality issues and or drug and alcohol abuse issues.
First Amendment rights can be tricky (see the racist march in Washington, etc.) but I think any comment including certain terms such as “scumbag” or openly insulting people’s physical appearance or similarly low-life remarks that add zero to the discourse should be rejected. If the poster objects to being censored, he or she can reword the comments in a way that parents would not mind having a middle schooler, say, read. Let’s offend each other by our political and other views only–not by gross-out language and “low blows.” A higher level of comment has far greater effect anyway. PJ, I hope you will consider this.
So we should censor at the level of what is appropriate for middle school kids?
There is such a fundamental misunderstanding of “First Amendment Rights”
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
The blog, Twitter, New York Times, New York Post, etc. are not “Congress”
Open attacks, insults and curses that lower the level of discourse to mudslinging and worse add nothing and should be denied space.
The more we censor the better we can get people thinking the right way.
The sooner we eliminate undesirable thoughts and words, the better