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Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
Posted By: The Staff at Edgewater Online
Date: Tuesday, 5 October 1999, at 7:04 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings (Jess Rosenthal)
Jess Rosenthal wrote: << I think that a community message board such as this is a uniquely appropriate place for ongoing political debate, even if it involves the candidates themselves. << Maybe you could set up a separate board for that purpose, with a disclaimer explaining that the content of the board is political and participants could include the actual candidates or their representatives. In fact, you could request that posters disclose any formal connection they have with any candidate. And of course, courtesy and respect should always be absolutely required. << As far as the concern that such a discussion would supplant or compete with political advertising, I don't feel that is the case. A television network which profits greatly from political advertising during a campaign season does not hesitate to host a debate as well. The debate has to be fair and well balanced, of course, but that is the beauty of an internet site such as this - everyone has equal access to voicing their opinions on it. >>
Jess,
Thanks for your refreshingly eloquent posting! "Ongoing political debate" is fine here on these boards, and has already been going on without the need for a separate message board system. In terms of debate involving the candidates, however, such a scenario could equitably exist only if (a) all involved candidates had equivalent internet access, (b) all such candidates were familiar with the existence of this site and these boards, and (c) all such candidates actually agreed to participate in such a debate. You have a great concept, however it is based upon a premise that is unfortunately not yet true--i.e., that everyone presently has internet access and therefore has equal access to voicing their opinions here. Yet without each of the above 3 conditions being satisfied, you would merely create an environment where one political faction appropriates the boards as a form of free campaign advertising, and that is not fair to either the other party or the voters of Edgewater reading these boards. In fact, one party is already doing campaign advertising on this site, and the other is free to do so also - it works the same as with ads in the Edgewater Residential, same as with mailers, etc. (and this site is, after all, a commercial site despite our voluntarily supplying these message boards). As for your suggestion that we request that posters disclose any formal connection they have with a candidate, unfortunately there is no way to enforce this. Posters who are affiliated with a given candidate will actually do the exact opposite, and will post in the guise of an unaffiliated, concerned citizen who just HAPPENS to like that candidate! If you've been reading these boards, you can already see such transparencies in the postings by certain pseudonyms that are being used. We hope that you will continue to frequent these message boards, and thank you once again for your comments and suggestions! The Staff at Edgewater Online
Messages In This Thread
- Notice re. political candidates and postings
The Staff at Edgewater Online -- Monday, 4 October 1999, at 11:47 a.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
Sharon -- Monday, 4 October 1999, at 12:02 p.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
The Staff at Edgewater Online -- Monday, 4 October 1999, at 12:13 p.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
Liz -- Monday, 4 October 1999, at 12:17 p.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
Bruce Doneff -- Monday, 4 October 1999, at 12:47 p.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
Parsh -- Monday, 4 October 1999, at 1:35 p.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
The Staff at Edgewater Online -- Monday, 4 October 1999, at 4:29 p.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
Parsh -- Monday, 4 October 1999, at 7:48 p.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
Parsh -- Monday, 4 October 1999, at 8:03 p.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
The Staff at Edgewater Online -- Monday, 4 October 1999, at 8:33 p.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
Parsh -- Monday, 4 October 1999, at 10:03 p.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
The Staff at Edgewater Online -- Tuesday, 5 October 1999, at 7:40 a.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
Jess Rosenthal -- Monday, 4 October 1999, at 9:30 p.m.
- Re: Notice re. political candidates and postings
The Staff at Edgewater Online -- Tuesday, 5 October 1999, at 7:04 a.m.
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