RSS Feed
Email Alerts
Facebook
I admit to getting a kick out of reading the comments posted to our newspaper’s message board section.
Each story and column has an option where readers can post comments. Of course, when you can do so anonymously, then you get some doozies.
COLUMN: The art of hiding behind a computer
It doesn’t take much courage to fire off an outrageous opinion when you do so from the comfort of your home or office computer where no one knows who you are.
On the other hand, it does take courage to write something that includes your name and photo as I do each week. I stand behind what I say. You may not agree with me, but that’s what makes our country the greatest in the world. We can agree to disagree. It’s one of the greatest principles we have.
As I said, some of the comments posted about stories are humorous, even when the posters are trying to be serious. The outrageousness of the comments are so absurd, so over-the-top, they can’t be taken seriously. Any writer though, myself included, is interested to know what people think of their musings.
Through the years, I’ve been called a lot of things. My better half often says, “If they only knew that they don’t make you mad, they wouldn’t take the time to comment.” How true her statement is.
I don’t take the comments personally, especially from someone who hides behind a computer screen and doesn’t have the courage to say who he or she is.
Perhaps the funniest “insult” I receive is when someone calls me a “communist.” It’s ironic because if people actually knew me and knew my personal political philosophy then they would realize I am as far from a communist as anyone. Being a die-hard Libertarian, I am in no way can be considered a communist. I value freedom in the same way Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams and all our founding fathers did. A communist? Hardly.
Ironically, I recently saw the 1991 Robert De Niro film “Guilty By Suspicion” which focused on a movie director in the 1950s who was targeted for being a possible Communist. It’s amazing how many people’s lives were ruined during the era of Joseph McCarthy, a fanatic who saw communists around every corner.
Today, when someone uses the term communist as a way of insulting someone, it is simply shrugged off. It shows how times have thankfully changed. To throw around terms like “communist,” “socialist,” “liberal” or the like shows how weak one’s argument really is. Another word commonly used now is “terrorist” or “terrorist supporter.” The terrorist has come to replace the communist in many ultra right-wing circles today. No doubt McCarthy would have loved this word and seen them coming out of every door.
So continue posting your comments. We welcome them. Feel free to continue to call me whatever name you think will get under my skin. Just a reminder though, your insults don’t bother me.
What I would welcome would be more Letters to the Editor where you actually sign your name and let everyone know your opinion and not just some anonymous ramblings on a computer screen. Join me by standing behind what you say.
After all, if you don’t stand behind what you say, what value do your words really have?
Chris Bridges is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers. E-mail comments about this column to chris@mainstreetnews.com.
On the other hand, it does take courage to write something that includes your name and photo as I do each week. I stand behind what I say. You may not agree with me, but that’s what makes our country the greatest in the world. We can agree to disagree. It’s one of the greatest principles we have.
As I said, some of the comments posted about stories are humorous, even when the posters are trying to be serious. The outrageousness of the comments are so absurd, so over-the-top, they can’t be taken seriously. Any writer though, myself included, is interested to know what people think of their musings.
Through the years, I’ve been called a lot of things. My better half often says, “If they only knew that they don’t make you mad, they wouldn’t take the time to comment.” How true her statement is.
I don’t take the comments personally, especially from someone who hides behind a computer screen and doesn’t have the courage to say who he or she is.
Perhaps the funniest “insult” I receive is when someone calls me a “communist.” It’s ironic because if people actually knew me and knew my personal political philosophy then they would realize I am as far from a communist as anyone. Being a die-hard Libertarian, I am in no way can be considered a communist. I value freedom in the same way Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams and all our founding fathers did. A communist? Hardly.
Ironically, I recently saw the 1991 Robert De Niro film “Guilty By Suspicion” which focused on a movie director in the 1950s who was targeted for being a possible Communist. It’s amazing how many people’s lives were ruined during the era of Joseph McCarthy, a fanatic who saw communists around every corner.
Today, when someone uses the term communist as a way of insulting someone, it is simply shrugged off. It shows how times have thankfully changed. To throw around terms like “communist,” “socialist,” “liberal” or the like shows how weak one’s argument really is. Another word commonly used now is “terrorist” or “terrorist supporter.” The terrorist has come to replace the communist in many ultra right-wing circles today. No doubt McCarthy would have loved this word and seen them coming out of every door.
So continue posting your comments. We welcome them. Feel free to continue to call me whatever name you think will get under my skin. Just a reminder though, your insults don’t bother me.
What I would welcome would be more Letters to the Editor where you actually sign your name and let everyone know your opinion and not just some anonymous ramblings on a computer screen. Join me by standing behind what you say.
After all, if you don’t stand behind what you say, what value do your words really have?
Chris Bridges is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers. E-mail comments about this column to chris@mainstreetnews.com.
Related entries by tags:
- OPINION: Math 123: Failed policy masquerading as progress
- OPINION: Ludlow signs off for last time
- OPINION: Enjoying the simple pleasures
- OPINION: A little bio info goes a long way
- OPINION: Trying week for all involved
- OPINION: All in all, 2010 not a bad year
- OPINION: 25 things you probably don’t want to know about me
- OPINION: Family makes holidays special
- OPINION: ‘Dandy’ Don a trendsetter in broadcast booth
- Thankful for lessons learned
Well...at least you presume to. Not having first hand knowledge of any of these people, you are going on the generalized history that has been passed down to us.
But to those same lines, and to support your position, you should note that even the "founding fathers" did NOT agree on exactly what rights and freedoms people should have, and indeed did not extend all of those rights to everyone equally (only land owners could vote).
Which just proves that, even then, there was room to disagree and still pull together for freedom. And that our Republic is an on-going and growing thing, basically because of those disagreements, and the struggle to resolve them fairly and orderly.
Just something to keep in mind the next time a "heated argument" comes up.
And, by the way, this wasn't intended to make you mad. I don't know you well enough to care if you get mad or not. But lets be honest here. Someone must have hit a nerve, regardless of your denial, or you wouldn't have felt compelled to mention it.
A sample qoute from one of his emails "You are truly pathetic. Keep listening to the drug user Rush Limbaugh and the Nazi sympathizer Sean Hannity. You are three peas in a pod to be sure."
Does that seem like a person who is secure in his argument. Does Mr. Bridges use derogatory remarks to show how weak his comments really are. Or is this one more example of Mr. Bridges hipocracy and ignorance to the happenings in the real world.
Yes I have called Mr. Bridges a liberal, because he exudes liberal thinking and philosphy in his writings. Is it my fault he and his editors fail to see that he had no understanding of the events and actions he writes about.
You know the really sad thing is Mr. Bridges felt it important enough to write this article defending himself by condeming those doing exactly what he himself does.
So Mr. Bridges, just for you, my name is Jon Williams and I stand behind everything I say and can back them up with facts, not other peoples opinions.
For everyone else if you would like to read the rest of Mr. Bridges' emails to me where he was caught in more than one "inaccurate" comment, feel free to ask and I will forward them to you.
Lately, your editorials have turned into defending printed newspapers in general or yourself in particular. It's tiring. If you really stand behind what you write, you don't have to say so. Just state your case and let the anonymous cow chips fall where they may. If you really have courage, you don't have to tell people that you are courageous. Those of us who love newspapers get why you do what you do, and actually think it's great when you write something they disagree with. Intellectual growth takes place in such instances.
You may disregard this because I choose to remain anonymous. But, please, stop writing about yourself, and how great newspapers are, and how courageous you are because you put your name and photo beside your editorials. You've earned an amazing privilege to share your opinions with a relatively large audience about things that matter. Please consider using it to discuss ideas and concerns that are bigger than each of us.
and grammar counted as far as validating an opinion
even "you" could spell check your way to fame.
I've applied to your paper - I would love to stand behind my opinions in a vocal arena. Ah to no avail.