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Mar
31
On the subject of identity theft
Filed Under Politics | 7 Comments
No one should feel forced or be forced to give up their free speech rights because others abuse that right through the availability of anonymous commenting. Likewise, no one’s free speech rights should be usurped by others, through the mechanism of anonymous commenting.
Rules or no rules, ethics or no ethics, morals or no morals – call the set of lines a blog author draws anything you like. Maybe these boundaries most closely resemble those in women’s lacrosse, a game in which, until just this year, there were literally no boundaries unless and until you ran into people on the sidelines. Then, you knew you were out of bounds.
But the bottom line for me is that when the way in which those who participate in blogs jeopardize the validity of the very medium itself, by using the very tools designed to allow as much expression as possible – such as anonymous commenting – against the very people who’ve set up shop to allow that expression – such as those of us who write and/or maintain blogs, the likelihood that no one will take any of us seriously and that the medium will forever be seen as a big ole mudpit increases unacceptably.
That might be fine for some folks. Each blogger decides for himself or herself what’s acceptable.
But each blog host also has a choice to make about the tone he or she wants his or her blog to project. Allowing commenters to rule the roost, play nasty tricks and blacken the good efforts of others who hope to increase and enhance debate and news dissemination degrades the otherwise free flow of ideas governed in general by a common interest in having an open and honest discussion.
Don’t like my word choices? Don’t think I make sense? Don’t think I have a brain cell in my head? Don’t think I should be here saying what I like? Think I’m too self-righteous?
Then don’t read my blog and don’t try to impersonate me.
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but identity theft and defamation is illegal.
In the meantime, a hattip to those who understand my point, you know who you are and I appreciate your taking the appropriate actions. It would be a shame if you now feel that you can’t link to whichever blogs you want to because your anonymous commenters ridicule and abuse the freedom your blog offers, for that itself is a form of coercion against your free speech rights.
Good luck sorting it out. Good luck to us all for trying to sort it out.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:50 pm March 31st, 2006 in Politics | 7 Comments
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Mar
31
Duck…duck…GOOSE!
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
Child-sized handfulls of pulverized corn kernels rain down on the translucent green necks of the male mallards. The sound of the water’s rush blends with the truck rumbles, cellphone chats and children’s greetings of, “Hi Duck! Duck? MALLARD!”
From step to step to water’s edge, three sidestep and scurry toward the most densely packed inlets, butts up or chests raised with wings outstretched like a sunbather who wants to maximize her warmth by increasing exposed surface area.
“How many do you have left? Whoa! I’ll need more – I could use some more…”
“I’m going to save mine!”
“I’m going to save some, too!”
“Oh, Duck! You are so cute – just do one at a time – they might get enough….”
The leafless trees let the sunshine in. No shade, few shadows.
Little brother says, “Hey – look over there – some ducks.”
Big sister says, “They’re geese! Not so close!”
High pitched bird calls flutter and add to the background, like the last moments of CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt, when nothing but sound and the credits roll.
“One mallard!”
“Two mallards!”
“Three mallards!”
“Hey look – more ducks trying to get the ducks over there!”
A mother’s heart leaps with a child’s stomp on the muddy soil. “Don’t get so close!” Still a chill in the air.
“Oh! I’m goose! Goose…goose…goose…duck!”
Spring can’t be far away.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:12 pm March 31st, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Mar
31
On the subject of identity theft
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
No one should feel forced or be forced to give up their free speech rights because others abuse that right through the availability of anonymous commenting. Likewise, no one’s free speech rights should be usurped by others, through the mechanism of anonymous commenting.
Rules or no rules, ethics or no ethics, morals or no morals – call the set of lines a blog author draws anything you like. Maybe these boundaries most closely resemble those in women’s lacrosse, a game in which, until just this year, there were literally no boundaries unless and until you ran into people on the sidelines. Then, you knew you were out of bounds.
But the bottom line for me is that when the way in which those who participate in blogs jeopardize the validity of the very medium itself, by using the very tools designed to allow as much expression as possible – such as anonymous commenting – against the very people who’ve set up shop to allow that expression – such as those of us who write and/or maintain blogs, the likelihood that no one will take any of us seriously and that the medium will forever be seen as a big ole mudpit increases unacceptably.
That might be fine for some folks. Each blogger decides for himself or herself what’s acceptable.
But each blog host also has a choice to make about the tone he or she wants his or her blog to project. Allowing commenters to rule the roost, play nasty tricks and blacken the good efforts of others who hope to increase and enhance debate and news dissemination degrades the otherwise free flow of ideas governed in general by a common interest in having an open and honest discussion.
Don’t like my word choices? Don’t think I make sense? Don’t think I have a brain cell in my head? Don’t think I should be here saying what I like? Think I’m too self-righteous?
Then don’t read my blog and don’t try to impersonate me.
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but identity theft and defamation is illegal.
In the meantime, a hattip to those who understand my point, you know who you are and I appreciate your taking the appropriate actions. It would be a shame if you now feel that you can’t link to whichever blogs you want to because your anonymous commenters ridicule and abuse the freedom your blog offers, for that itself is a form of coercion against your free speech rights.
Good luck sorting it out. Good luck to us all for trying to sort it out.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:50 pm March 31st, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Mar
31
Duck…duck…GOOSE!
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
Child-sized handfulls of pulverized corn kernels rain down on the translucent green necks of the male mallards. The sound of the water’s rush blends with the truck rumbles, cellphone chats and children’s greetings of, “Hi Duck! Duck? MALLARD!”
From step to step to water’s edge, three sidestep and scurry toward the most densely packed inlets, butts up or chests raised with wings outstretched like a sunbather who wants to maximize her warmth by increasing exposed surface area.
“How many do you have left? Whoa! I’ll need more – I could use some more…”
“I’m going to save mine!”
“I’m going to save some, too!”
“Oh, Duck! You are so cute – just do one at a time – they might get enough….”
The leafless trees let the sunshine in. No shade, few shadows.
Little brother says, “Hey – look over there – some ducks.”
Big sister says, “They’re geese! Not so close!”
High pitched bird calls flutter and add to the background, like the last moments of CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt, when nothing but sound and the credits roll.
“One mallard!”
“Two mallards!”
“Three mallards!”
“Hey look – more ducks trying to get the ducks over there!”
A mother’s heart leaps with a child’s stomp on the muddy soil. “Don’t get so close!” Still a chill in the air.
“Oh! I’m goose! Goose…goose…goose…duck!”
Spring can’t be far away.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:12 pm March 31st, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Mar
31
Duck…duck…GOOSE!
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
Child-sized handfulls of pulverized corn kernels rain down on the translucent green necks of the male mallards. The sound of the water’s rush blends with the truck rumbles, cellphone chats and children’s greetings of, “Hi Duck! Duck? MALLARD!”
From step to step to water’s edge, three sidestep and scurry toward the most densely packed inlets, butts up or chests raised with wings outstretched like a sunbather who wants to maximize her warmth by increasing exposed surface area.
“How many do you have left? Whoa! I’ll need more – I could use some more…”
“I’m going to save mine!”
“I’m going to save some, too!”
“Oh, Duck! You are so cute – just do one at a time – they might get enough….”
The leafless trees let the sunshine in. No shade, few shadows.
Little brother says, “Hey – look over there – some ducks.”
Big sister says, “They’re geese! Not so close!”
High pitched bird calls flutter and add to the background, like the last moments of CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt, when nothing but sound and the credits roll.
“One mallard!”
“Two mallards!”
“Three mallards!”
“Hey look – more ducks trying to get the ducks over there!”
A mother’s heart leaps with a child’s stomp on the muddy soil. “Don’t get so close!” Still a chill in the air.
“Oh! I’m goose! Goose…goose…goose…duck!”
Spring can’t be far away.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:12 pm March 31st, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Mar
31
Charu Gupta attended last Friday’s Meet the Blogger debate between Democratic Attorney General candidates, Subodh Chandra and State Senator Marc Dann.
Here’s her article on Chandra, which includes a nice picture of him at Talkies. Haven’t read it yet, but I look forward to doing so.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:34 am March 31st, 2006 in Politics | 4 Comments
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Mar
31
Remember this post that anticipated the 3/28/06 release of the Center on Education Policy’s Year 4 No Child Left Behind report?
Here’s a link to the entire report, broken down with links to individual sections.
Here’s a link to the pdf on the Cleveland Muni schools.
What are we losing when 71% of districts report the elimination of subjects in the curriculum? Where will our kids and our country be in five years, in ten years, in twenty, in thirty, as a result?
If you don’t care, you should.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:19 am March 31st, 2006 in Politics | 14 Comments
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