WHEN THE GAZETTE began allowing people to comment online on the stories and opinion pieces posted on the newspaper’s Web site, the initial response was disappointing. It seemed the Internet was populated entirely by prickly contrarians who needed no excuse to post screeds on any topic. Most of the people posting comments seemed unable to get beyond the divisive rhetoric that has poisoned American politics for years. People did not seem so much to be commenting on the articles as wildly screaming at each other.
The situation got so bad that The Gazette’s editor and publisher used this space to plead for good manners and rational discourse on the Web site.
That editorial brought some hoots. After all, the culture of the Internet is not noted for its manners. The relative anonymity of electronic communication seems to bring out the worst in people. Asking flamers to be civil to each other was akin to asking the Golden Horde to respect its neighbors’ borders.
But something began happening at www.emporiagazette.com. Posters who once relied on insults to smother their opponents began to moderate their language. They began to gently urge other posters to tone down the rhetoric. Increasingly, the old electronic screams were met not with biting insults, but with soft answers and persuasion.
For the first time, people who disagree deeply over important matters began to apologize to one another when partisan passions sent a message over the line of fairness. Insults were replaced by debate and, in some cases, calm discussion.
Not to say that there is still not plenty of bile in postings to The Gazette site. That is especially true when the topic is immigration. But, over all, posters have raised the level of discourse beyond the level of electronic graffiti. Now, more people are talking about ideas — and paying attention to one another.
As a forum, the site is still a lot more rough and tumble than a tea party, but the talk is seldom boring.
Out of the anonymous static, human voices are beginning to emerge.
The electronic Global Village, which once seemed to be a war zone, is beginning to resemble a neighborhood where people can live in relative peace.
netloafer (anonymous) says...
I think there's a lot of truth in what Patrick Kelley says. While there are still some divisive elements who engage in personal attacks on individuals and groups of people within our community, they don't dominate the discussion like they once did. I think a lot of people got tired of the offensive stuff and took the high road.
There is no way a whole community is going to agree on issues, but there is a way we can flush out our differences without resorting to personal attacks. I believe if the forums continue in this positive direction, those who have decided to take the low road will see that the only avenue of discussion available to them is civility. If they're not prepared to comment on that basis, there won't be any room for them.
August 19, 2007 at 2:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )