Category Archives: Online Civility
Praise in public; criticize in private
“I’ve read some recent public appraisals of public servants on FPF. There is an old and very good adage about this. Praise in public; criticize in private. When we have a problem with how someone’s performance or behavior is affecting us, it is best to tell that person directly, in private. Try to do it without personalizing it and assume the other is a good person who wants to do the best they can. Doing it in public humiliates and hurts people but rarely resolves a conflict.”
• Michael, Westford Front Porch Forum
Feline disagreements and civil discourse in Burlington’s New North End
“I thought it was great that people could discuss their views in an open and not hostile forum. Life is not always harmonious, but open discussion is a good way to know how others feel, and, if we are truly open minded, we may even change our own view. If not, at least you can see their side and appreciate our differences. Thanks to all who have read the ongoing cat diaries and have at least thought about other view points.”
• Mark, Burlington New North End Front Porch Forum
Online harassment survey results
Craig Newmark, of craigslist fame, recently released an infographic highlighting the results of a survey about online harassment. Some points from the survey:
Speeding White Hummer
#VT – Thanks everybody who posted or emailed with ideas for keeping our backroads safe for the all of us. Because of Front Porch Forum, the word got out, and community pressure seems like it is going to have an effect on changing the reckless driving. I am hopeful about it. We’re lucky to have this forum and lucky to live here in this great community.
Posted by Diane on the Moretown FPF today in response to an ongoing conversation about speeding there. This is a popular subject on several FPFs around the state. Vermonters continue to impress with their ability to tackle challenging topics with civility… while getting results.
Local democracy starts with neighbors talking to each other
#VT – Neighbors are using their Waterbury Front Porch Forum to discuss their new municipal civic center. This type of potentially controversial topic often elicits conflicting responses from FPF members.
Member A: “The Waterbury Forum was NOT meant for politics; the newspapers, radio and TV take care of that… Now lets all get back to basics and the purpose of this forum – to help each other NOT preach at each other. I and most of us could care LESS about your opinions. I for one will discontinue use of this forum if it continues.”
Member B: “It’s been great to watch the discussion about our new Municipal Civic Center take hold here on FPF. This is really what Front Porch Forum is all about, the (civil) conversation!… Thanks everyone for weighing in and keep those thoughts coming! We believe in a community where everyone has their say.”
FPF encourages the neighborly exchange of facts, opinions and ideas about local issues. FPF is a great place to introduce this information and increase interest in the topic (since so many people read their FPF). In some cases after the initial discussion, moving off-line to in-person facilitated dialogue is recommended.
UPDATE: Here’s one more perspective shared today…
Member C: “I am in favor of using this forum for information, political or otherwise. This isn’t just a neighborhood Craigslist. There are views in this forum that you just don’t get in the newspaper or the news. Sometimes there are topics that I am not interested in reading about, so I don’t read them. I think FPF is a great thing!”
Limerick On Being Neighborly
#VT – By Sara on Bristol Front Porch Forum…
When sharing our thoughts on email
Rather than over an ale,
Keep kindness in mind
And I think we will find,
With goodwill, our forum can’t fail.
FAQ: Can I trash my neighbor on FPF?
Melissa in Underhill answers this question today on her FPF…
I love Front Porch Forum: I’ve bought a juicer, learned about fuel pricing, got free lily of the valleys and met new neighbors in the process!
FPF is a great place to stay informed about all kinds of issues, and positive debate addresses just that: the issues, not necessarily the individuals.
Furthermore, if you truly have something to get off your chest with your neighbor, then please do it in person. So much of communication is nonverbal and all of this is lost in an email. Got a problem? Have the confidence to go talk to your neighbor.
Keeping it civil… or not
Local online spaces can build up or tear down the sense of community in a place. Front Porch Forum is full of examples of the former. The New York Times reported yesterday about an example of the latter…
… But of late, more people in this hardscrabble town of 5,000 have shifted from sharing the latest news and rumors over eggs and coffee to the Mountain Grove Forum on a social media Web site called Topix, where they write and read startlingly negative posts, all cloaked in anonymity, about one another.
And in Dee’s Place, people are not happy. A waitress, Pheobe Best, said that the site had provoked fights and caused divorces. The diner’s owner, Jim Deverell, called Topix a “cesspool of character assassination”…
Ouch. More motivation to keep FPF moving in a positive direction.
No more nasty anonymous newspaper comments…
Glad to see this move by the Sun Journal is western Maine…
The obligation to stand behind your words has also been a core principle of journalism and this newspaper for many years.
The Sun Journal does not use unidentified sources in stories. When our readers write a column or letter to the editor for the newspaper they use their real names.
That, we believe, makes them accountable for what they say, plus it adds weight and credibility to their words.
But we have deviated from that principle for the Web, believing for several years that “online” was somehow different than “in print.” Nearly all newspapers have.
While we have known the identity of many people commenting on stories at sunjournal.com, it was difficult or impossible for users to know. As a result, some comments have been factually incorrect, reckless and mean-spirited.
While the technology of the Web is very different, our core principles should remain the same.
Both our website and print newspaper are, in fact, like a town meeting or community gathering.
So, beginning Feb. 1 all online comments at sunjournal.com will be accompanied by the real names of the people commenting. Only registered and verified users will be able to make comments. Anonymous comments will not be allowed.
All commenters, including subscribers and those registered now, will have to re-register under the new system.
Many newspapers, including the Portland Press Herald and the Bangor Daily News, are now taking steps to make Web commenting more responsible and accountable.
But our new system is the most ambitious effort we’ve seen to elevate the level of online discussion.
Plus, most of our current commenters seem to agree. In an online survey, 57 percent said they would prefer that real names accompany online comments.
The Sun Journal’s motto is “Connecting you with your community,” and for more than 160 years this newspaper has knit together Western Maine communities.
The advent of the Web has given us powerful new ways to connect people and allow anyone to become an active part of every discussion.
We know this decision will not please everyone. In time, however, we believe it will result in a better online experience for all.
About Blog
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
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