Sorry. This is a one-way blog.
JANUARY 8, 2008 (TUESDAY)
You may have noticed there is no place on my blog for comments from readers. The truth about that fact is, I chose not to allow comments, because to do so invites irresponsible comments. I’ve seen those kind of comments in newspapers, and I’ve been astounded at what people will sometimes write. I recall specifically a news article in a Texas daily that gave the account of a highly respected man in the community who suddenly died while hiking with his sons. I found the published comments on that story to be unbelievably insensitive and harsh, as people trashed the man’s vocation (pastor) and reputation. The comments must have hurt the man’s family deeply.
Newspapers have learned that they must monitor and edit comments from readers. Here is a sample of the rules in one online newspaper: 1. Keep it clean. Comments that are obscene, vulgar, lewd or sexually-oriented will get the ax. Creative spelling of such terms also will be banned. 2. Don’t threaten to hurt or kill anyone. 3. Be truthful. Don’t lie about anyone or anything. 4. Be nice. No racism, sexism or any other sort of -ism that degrades another person.
You can see by the existence of these rules that editors have learned by bitter experience that some people can be quite unkind in their remarks.
I’m convinced that only a very small percentage of people in our country are trouble makers, but we find ourselves setting up new rules and regulations to keep the rest of us safe, like tamper-proof containers, restricted and registered purchase of several over-the-counter medications, bars on our doors and windows, alarm systems in our homes and businesses, surveillance cameras in many public places, etc. etc.
So, those of you who know my email address can tell me what you think, if you want to. Others will figure out a way to contact me, if they really have something to tell me. As for now, I will continue the practice of “no comments.”
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P.S. – My mother’s funeral was held on this date in 1990, significant because it would have been her 78th birthday. Today she would have been 96, but if she were living today, she would quickly change the subject, reminding us that age is “just a number,” as she put it. She was only 19 when I was born, and always seemed more like a contemporary, rather than a parent. She was a woman ahead of her time, a feminist by action, if not by agenda. She assumed she was as good as any man, but never talked about it. She just acted upon it. She owned her own business early in life, and was always the center of attention. We don’t celebrate her birthday now, but we always remember it.