Taking the Post about the Anonymous Comments Down...

Every time I have done something that has been controversial, I have either felt it was totally the right thing to do or that I handled the fallout with honour.

I have thought long and hard the past couple of days about how open or how closed this blog should be. It is really important that people feel comfortable posting comments here, but people should also think long and hard before posting blather anonymously.  I will moderate comments now, started doing that with the post about the anonymous commenter. I will most likely still post all anonymous comments, and will continue to welcome critical comments here as well. I just ask people to always consider identifying themselves and joining in a respectful conversation.

I have said my piece. Enough is enough. The blog post about the anonymous commenter has been taken down.

I am closing with a well considered, critical comment from an identified commenter that has informed my  thinking on this issue. Not that I agree with everything, but some good food for thought here:

Arjun, I find your approach to this situation very strange.

Your comments are moderated, which means nothing appears unless you approve it. So, even though you call some of this person's posts inappropriate, you still published them.

In each of the examples you posted, you did not say anything to the person about their comments possibly being inappropriate or in any way violating some standard that you have set for your site. In order to claim a standard you have to demonstrate it, it both action and words.

Now you have published information that will damage the reputation of a respected firm and quite possibly cost someone their job or other serious sanctions - all because this person is critical?

Blogging, forums and other electronic mediums can be a powerful tool for politicians to interact with their constituents. Your arbitrary application of non-existent rules and standards will do more damage to the potential for these tools than a legion of naysayers ever could.

- BBS www.muniblogs.com

 

Comments

[Barry Baker]

That was fast.

[Quimby]

C'mon Arjun,

Don't let Lake, O'Fee and Rottenburger's rhetoric get to you. Those so called Liberals are just in defencive posture, circling the waggons. You did the right thing. O'Fee has a history of acting in this manner. I say take'em to the cleaners.

[Irene Bazell]

I stand by my earlier comments that I don't see....must have gone down with the removal of the infamous post. Would also like to say you have squandered your opportunity to show that someone young and relatively inexperienced has an important role to play on City Council!!

i used to think arjun singh was doing a stellar job for us on city council. i realized, in light of all the publicity he keeps focusing on himself, that i thought he was doing a good job because he was seen and not heard. arjun...until your term on council is finished, maybe you could stop rocking the boat and pissing everyone off so i might be able to read about something else in the newspaper.

[Arjun Singh]

Thanks for all your comments. For those who are critical of me, Irene Bazell and anonymous, I hope you will give me the opportunity to prove myself. I did what I thought I needed to do, with the post I ultimately took down. I realized it was going to make some people raise their eyebrows.

What I will say is that I think, as does John O'Fee, that there are lot more important issues to talk about and work on. I don't think I seek attention, and I certainly don't like that I have lately become the story, instead of substantive issues like crime, the environment, ending homelessness, and many more.

[Jason Johnson]

Arjun,

You need a makeover! Quit playing these petty games and concentrate on making Kamloops a better place to invest, to live, and to play.