[Winona Online Democracy]
On Jul 12, 2004, at 21:21, Kathy Seifert wrote:
[Winona Online Democracy]
To All:
It has been called to my attention that my last post could be interpreted to
mean that "opinions" per se are not to be expressed on WOD. Of course that
is not the case. To go one step further regarding my concern, it is
opinions about another's character or personality which are unacceptable.
For example, it is perfectly OK for an individual to share his/her opinion
regarding the issue of annexation--for, against, or indifferent, but it is
not necessary to characterize the City Personnel and elected officials as
"power hungry, land grabbers" and property owners in Wilson Township as
simply "self-serving, role models for NIMBY-ism" in the process. That is my
judgement as the moderator regarding the exchanges during the past day or
so.
So let me see if I have this right...
I cannot be negative about a city policy, because that would automatically be considered being negative about the individuals that made the ordinance. According to what you just said, I should be kicked off Wod for the following examples.
The Alternate Side of the Street Parking signs makes no sense if one actually looks at them and thinks about them. The signs say there IS an ordinance, but not one of the signs that I have ever seen says WHAT the ordinance is. Yet, advocates of these rules expect people to know what the ordinance is based on seeing that sign.
However, advocates of such policies, act that citizens that knowingly or not who violate these policies are inept or choose not to pay attention to the newly posted signs when the reality is the signs really do not say anything. These advocates are a model of bad communication. They know what the rules are, and their poor attempts to communicate to others are completely unsuccessful and a wasted effort unless they make their demands clear. Every year the same thing happens and nothing changes.
To be more simplistic, it would be a ground for a list kick off to say that the city acted fiscally irresponsible to place 40 stop signs over a stretch of about 25 blocks of Wabasha Street when no regulation or yield signs would be more appropriate.
A question I often have had and have been asked is whether it makes a
difference if the individual is directly characterized or their behavior or
opinions are described in an offensive way. My sense is that if it's your
behavior being characterized, it makes no difference even though the writer
may argue that it does, defending his/her "innocence" of rule-breaking. I
welcome everyone to discuss this issue on another thread if it is of
interest.
...
As far as your concern that "WOD leaders need to control their system and its usage" I'm not sure what you are suggesting. You are welcome to share your specific suggestions on another thread, with members of the steering committee, or attend another of our meetings.
Big Brother is your friend. Big Brother has the answers. 1984
And for the record, I don't think that it is appropriate to respond in kind
to an online personal attack--two wrongs do not make a right.
Kathy Seifert
********************************************
David Dittmann
In 2002, less than one thousand persons, worldwide, died because of terrorism; while in India, ten thousand persons died from venomous snakes.
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