Is This a Community Blog?

The three comments at the end of this article are also located in the comment thread associated with the the article Kort Leads law enforcement on High Speed Chase, Again! The comment rejected by the moderators included specific language generally considered vulgar and inappropriate for a public forum. The opinions of the comment were not rejected, just the language (actually only a couple of words) used to express those opinions. The opinions of the comment were similar to those expressed by Anonymous 1 below. The question that I pose to the readers is; "Is this a Community Blog?" Anonymous 1 expresses that she (or he) is of the opinion that it is. However, from the beginning, this forum has been opened up so that any individual can submit an article, editorial, news report, news idea, upcoming event, past event, or make comments to posted articles. You can even advertise on this blog for FREE. Fewer than five individuals have ever posted to this blog and fewer than 10 have ever commented on a post other than anonymously. What gives "the community" the right to lay claim to a blog that represents barely 1% of its population's contributions? Readership fairs only slightly better. The site has averaged 26 visits per day over the last month, sinking as low as 12 and rising as high as 90. Of course, the 90 hits were today, after a couple of controversial articles had been posted. Views reached all time highs, nearing 200 visits per day, back in August, immediately following the recall election. This blog was never intended to replace traditional media such as the Blue Hill Leader, but instead was intended to compliment or supplement the local paper, giving community members an opportunity to express their views and opinions, share their news, and comment on the happenings around the Hill in an interactive, real-time format. BUT .... without contribution from the community, the purpose of the blog has been lost and the mission has failed. If Anonymous 1 is unhappy with the content of this blog, then I suggest she starts to post to it. Bury the articles that you find objectionable with news that you feel would be more appropriate for this forum. If the news is missing from this forum or if the news that is presented only represents a limited point of view, then you only have yourself to blame. Send us athletic scores and highlights, community club events, senior club activities, coffee house chatter and more. Tell us; Who sang karaoke at Blue Hill Tavern? Who won the Halloween Costume Contest at Klancy's? Who sold cattle at the sale barn? What new is coming to town? What have you done? What are you going to do? Anonymous 1, you do not see any posts "about upcoming events, fundraisers, etc" because YOU haven't shared them. If there are points of the website that are outdated, it is because YOU have not updated them. It appears that you are doing a great job at the complaining that you advocate for in your last sentence without providing any productive contributions. YOU and the rest of the community are the reporters for this blog. There is NO paid staff. If you are unhappy with the finished product, then I suggest you do something about it. Open up!! Share!! Share!! Share!! I don't pay for any ink. If you share it, we will post it. If you don't share it, then you have no right to lay claim to this blog. It will only become a community blog when the community contributes. Blue Hill Today said... A third comment on this post was rejected due to vulgar language. The comment expressed a different view point than either of the previous two. If the anonymous poster would like to try to resubmit the comment again without the fowl language, the submission could be published. October 28, 2009 11:05 AM Anonymous 1 said... How can the "third comment" not be approved but these can? I think it is a metter of "peronal opinion" of what comments are approved and which ones are not. Here is what the "third comment" said...This is supposed to be a community blog, not a blog where we complain about those we do not like in the community. If we are going to start posting indivduals that get in trouble with the law, then post them all, not just the ones we prefer to post. I am a former Blue Hill resident and have had thoughts about moving back to the community and raising a family there. But once checking this blog out have entirely changed my mind. Is this what a "community blog" is about? Is this how we bring in potential residents? Is this how we post things about our mayor (referring to the most recent post)? Any potential resident that reads this blog will definitely change their mind about moving to this community. I do not see anything on this blog about upcoming events, fundraisers, etc. Half of the houses you have listed for sale are sold. Really? Maybe we should rethink the idea of a community blog and just jump right to a blog regarding everything we can possibly think of to complain about. October 28, 2009 12:40 PM Anonymous 2 said... I would like to commend the staff of Blue Hill Today on there courage. It is good that we have a news media that is not scared to tell the truth about the news events around our community. People of the area have a right to know what type of activities can be expected, even if the activities include criminal behavior. Many of us around the area could hear the sirens or watch as the chase went on. It is good to have a media outlet that is willing to let us know what was going on. I also hope that the public will be informed as the case goes forward. We all (as law abiding citizens) should want to make sure this type of behavior is stopped.This is exactly the type of coverage that our local paper refuses to publish. The Hastings Tribune did report the chase that occurred during the Adams county fair, but when crime is committed in Blue Hill it is swept under the rug. I guess the Blue Hill Leader thinks it’s readers should not know about the criminal element in town. It is news and should be reported just as it is reported when the great thing happen. You can not make a community better by hiding the truth. You can only improve if you are well educated and informed.Thank you and please keep us informed