Village 14 Readers may find a new Newton blog interesting. The new blog asks its writers and those who respond to use their real names, to be polite and to be interesting, while removing innuendo and personal attacks from the inkwell’s arsenal. I am one of at least 20 Newton residents and business leaders who will be commenting on an assigned day each month (my date is the 18th, a number that translates to “life” in Hebrew). I gladly accepted with the caveat that bloggers of varied opinions be invited to be authors, assuring the founders that unopposed opinions would quickly become tedious. The blog opened this morning and, my hope is that both this new blog and Village 14 will thrive with reasoned arguments and good behavior. Try it out after you have voted! It’s NewtonForum.org
Hey this is terrific news! Although Sallee, I disagree, it’s not “competition.” The more forums for conversation the better.
I am curious, however, as to why a blog that’s positioning itself as being transparent (i.e. requiring “real names”) doesn’t reveal who is behind the blog? Seems contradictory, for sure.
Also, given that Chris Pitts and Lynn Leblanc were the first two bloggers to post and were both part of last election’s Newton Villages Alliance slate, is this is going to be an NVA blog?
It’s fine if it is (and fits a pattern since the NVA launched anonymously too) In fact, I think the NVA’s positions would be better served if not always served from the keyboard of Kathleen Kouril Grieser.
But again, why not be transparent?
Still welcome NewtonForum, whoever you are. Keeping a blog updated and fresh is a challenge. I wish you all the best with your concept and look forward to participating.
Hey this is terrific news! Although Sallee, I disagree, it’s not “competition.” The more forums for conversation the better.
I am curious, however, as to why a blog that’s positioning itself as being transparent (i.e. requiring “real names”) doesn’t reveal who is behind the blog? Seems contradictory, for sure.
Also, given that Chris Pitts and Lynn Leblanc were the first two bloggers to post and were both part of last election’s Newton Villages Alliance slate, is this is going to be an NVA blog?
It’s fine if it is (and fits a pattern since the NVA launched anonymously too) In fact, I think the NVA’s positions would be better served if not always served from the keyboard of Kathleen Kouril Grieser.
But again, why not be transparent?
Still welcome NewtonForum, whoever you are. Keeping a blog updated and fresh is a challenge. I wish you all the best with your concept and look forward to participating.
Great idea and a nice look too. I look forward to it.
Great idea and a nice look too. I look forward to it.
More blogs the better! There used to be some other blogs for Newton besides the Tab blog, so it is welcome to have more than one Newton “Bookmark”.
I will say that it is tougher to run a blog than it looks. Things get boring mighty quick. Diversity of viewpoint has always been a huge plus on this blog, although I admit that it pays to have a thick skin if you are wading into the online blog-o-sphere.
I think the challenge of the new blog will be to have the difficult conversations this blog has made a feature. The elbows can be sharp on occasion, but we do dive into the issues…
I’ll probably be a reader of both (assuming there are arguments to follow on the new one), but I intend to comment only here. I find it interesting that lack of anonymity is the main “feature” of the new blog. Is that really a big deal anymore?
More blogs the better! There used to be some other blogs for Newton besides the Tab blog, so it is welcome to have more than one Newton “Bookmark”.
I will say that it is tougher to run a blog than it looks. Things get boring mighty quick. Diversity of viewpoint has always been a huge plus on this blog, although I admit that it pays to have a thick skin if you are wading into the online blog-o-sphere.
I think the challenge of the new blog will be to have the difficult conversations this blog has made a feature. The elbows can be sharp on occasion, but we do dive into the issues…
I’ll probably be a reader of both (assuming there are arguments to follow on the new one), but I intend to comment only here. I find it interesting that lack of anonymity is the main “feature” of the new blog. Is that really a big deal anymore?
Looking forward to it.
Greg, me doth think you protest too much. The blog ownership is not as sinister as you think. I hear that it is collaborative effort between Aleister Crowley, Kim Jong-Un, Mary Kay LeTourneau, and someone who ran for Charter Commission whose name evades me right now.
Looking forward to it.
Greg, me doth think you protest too much. The blog ownership is not as sinister as you think. I hear that it is collaborative effort between Aleister Crowley, Kim Jong-Un, Mary Kay LeTourneau, and someone who ran for Charter Commission whose name evades me right now.
The first commenter thanked Chris Pitts for starting the blog. I agree – the more the better. Good luck!
It seems to me that the commenting rules that are listed at the end of Chris’s first post will be hard to moderate. Things like taking a comment “out of context to distort the writer’s meaning” (things can be interpreted in more than one way) and “no innuendo” will prove difficult to judge, imo. There is no page listing moderators which seems strange right off the bat because of its insistence on transparency and facts.
The first commenter thanked Chris Pitts for starting the blog. I agree – the more the better. Good luck!
It seems to me that the commenting rules that are listed at the end of Chris’s first post will be hard to moderate. Things like taking a comment “out of context to distort the writer’s meaning” (things can be interpreted in more than one way) and “no innuendo” will prove difficult to judge, imo. There is no page listing moderators which seems strange right off the bat because of its insistence on transparency and facts.
Marti:
I agree on the moderators. If you don’t know who is making the decisions on enforcing the rules, I’m not sure how you do it. Perhaps they are hoping that the real names stops folks from over the top attacks. I tend to doubt that, what it does tend to do is encourage an echo chamber instead.
On a side note, I believe the site’s slogan “Where residents can share their views, politely, and using their real names.” is not grammatically correct. Either remove the “and” or rephrase it to read “Where residents can politely share their view, using their real names.” I’d also point out that many folks appreciated our long lost school committee member who departed Newton, so perhaps they want to say something different than “residents”.
But at a minimum correct the grammar. Jane was a teacher for goodness sake. Greg was a newspaper editor. Gail was too. Egads! ;-)
And yes, considering my many spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes, I realize the irony. Ain’t life hilariously inconsistent? ;-)
Marti:
I agree on the moderators. If you don’t know who is making the decisions on enforcing the rules, I’m not sure how you do it. Perhaps they are hoping that the real names stops folks from over the top attacks. I tend to doubt that, what it does tend to do is encourage an echo chamber instead.
On a side note, I believe the site’s slogan “Where residents can share their views, politely, and using their real names.” is not grammatically correct. Either remove the “and” or rephrase it to read “Where residents can politely share their view, using their real names.” I’d also point out that many folks appreciated our long lost school committee member who departed Newton, so perhaps they want to say something different than “residents”.
But at a minimum correct the grammar. Jane was a teacher for goodness sake. Greg was a newspaper editor. Gail was too. Egads! ;-)
And yes, considering my many spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes, I realize the irony. Ain’t life hilariously inconsistent? ;-)
@fig: Better yet: “Where residents, using their own names, can share their views politely.”
I believe that Chris Pitts is the moderator.
@fig: Better yet: “Where residents, using their own names, can share their views politely.”
I believe that Chris Pitts is the moderator.
A small verb tense correction: Jane is a school teacher. Still at it after all these years.
A small verb tense correction: Jane is a school teacher. Still at it after all these years.
So far it looks like an echo chamber for the anti-development lot.
So far it looks like an echo chamber for the anti-development lot.
It brings up visions of drum circles and everyone singing kumbaya.
I prefer “Where residents, using their own names, can politely share their views.”
Friday is National Grammar Day, FYI.
It brings up visions of drum circles and everyone singing kumbaya.
I prefer “Where residents, using their own names, can politely share their views.”
Friday is National Grammar Day, FYI.
@Elmo: “So far it looks like an echo chamber for the anti-development lot.”
FYI, I am NOT anti-development. Nor do I belong to the NVA or the FAS.
So far the bloggers on the site have all been NVA folks and/or NVA-endorsed candidates: Chris Pitts, Lynn LeBlanc, John Koot and Elain Rush Arruda.
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and echoes like a duck, then it sure seems like it’s a duck.
@Elmo: “So far it looks like an echo chamber for the anti-development lot.”
FYI, I am NOT anti-development. Nor do I belong to the NVA or the FAS.
So far the bloggers on the site have all been NVA folks and/or NVA-endorsed candidates: Chris Pitts, Lynn LeBlanc, John Koot and Elain Rush Arruda.
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and echoes like a duck, then it sure seems like it’s a duck.
Jane: My apologies to retire you before your time. ;-)
Marti: I like your formulation the best. But we all agree on the grammar issue, correct? Huzzah! Unity at last!
As for the blog, I hope it survives and does well with lots of opposing viewpoints. Really. The key is the last part of that statement. It certainly seems like the NVA folks and their friends didn’t like this particular online playground and decided to start their own. It is a fancier playground in terms of pictures, but as my kids tell me all the time, it is not the playground that matters, but the friends (or conversation in this case) that you find there.
I welcome the back and forth on this blog. Many of the folks on the NVA side of the issues were terrific to talk to all of the time, or at least some of the time. I’m looking at you, Jeffrey and Stephen. I’m probably ok to talk to some of the time as well. There was a select few who didn’t appreciate their opinions being challenged, and in my opinion were very quick to scream “bully” whenever someone challenged them on the facts. It is possible that (i) we weren’t always 100% respectful in our responses, (ii) they weren’t really looking for a discussion but instead wanted to vent, (iii) they were so sure that they had the correct opinions that they didn’t want to respect other opinions that disagreed with their world view, or (iv) were the functional equivalent of blog trolls. For those select folks who couldn’t deal with item (i) and really wanted to express items (ii) and (iii), this new blog will be a delightful place to have discourse.
And I look forward to being the occasional reader. But I’ll be posting here. I’m a creature of habit and fig based cookies.
Sallee: I wouldn’t term you anti-development, but reading your comments I thought you opposed 40B and the Waban 40B development. Anti-development/NIMBY aren’t what I focus on. I focus on each project’s plus/minus. I think you do the same, but that your views are more conservative than mine regarding new development. So anti-development? No. Leaning against new development in your home village? What say you?
Greg: You sure do talk about ducks a lot. My new nickname for you is Howard. (type in Howard the Duck into the interweb before you question my sanity)
Jane: My apologies to retire you before your time. ;-)
Marti: I like your formulation the best. But we all agree on the grammar issue, correct? Huzzah! Unity at last!
As for the blog, I hope it survives and does well with lots of opposing viewpoints. Really. The key is the last part of that statement. It certainly seems like the NVA folks and their friends didn’t like this particular online playground and decided to start their own. It is a fancier playground in terms of pictures, but as my kids tell me all the time, it is not the playground that matters, but the friends (or conversation in this case) that you find there.
I welcome the back and forth on this blog. Many of the folks on the NVA side of the issues were terrific to talk to all of the time, or at least some of the time. I’m looking at you, Jeffrey and Stephen. I’m probably ok to talk to some of the time as well. There was a select few who didn’t appreciate their opinions being challenged, and in my opinion were very quick to scream “bully” whenever someone challenged them on the facts. It is possible that (i) we weren’t always 100% respectful in our responses, (ii) they weren’t really looking for a discussion but instead wanted to vent, (iii) they were so sure that they had the correct opinions that they didn’t want to respect other opinions that disagreed with their world view, or (iv) were the functional equivalent of blog trolls. For those select folks who couldn’t deal with item (i) and really wanted to express items (ii) and (iii), this new blog will be a delightful place to have discourse.
And I look forward to being the occasional reader. But I’ll be posting here. I’m a creature of habit and fig based cookies.
Sallee: I wouldn’t term you anti-development, but reading your comments I thought you opposed 40B and the Waban 40B development. Anti-development/NIMBY aren’t what I focus on. I focus on each project’s plus/minus. I think you do the same, but that your views are more conservative than mine regarding new development. So anti-development? No. Leaning against new development in your home village? What say you?
Greg: You sure do talk about ducks a lot. My new nickname for you is Howard. (type in Howard the Duck into the interweb before you question my sanity)
@fignewtonville
The offending text was on NewtonForum.org. As far as I know neither Jane, Greg or Gail have anything to do with NewtonForum.org
@fignewtonville
The offending text was on NewtonForum.org. As far as I know neither Jane, Greg or Gail have anything to do with NewtonForum.org
Jerry: Just a joke. I thought it was obvious they had no involvement and that their tender grammar sensibilities would be giving them the “vapors” because of the mistake. Sort of like shielding the children from a horrible site, except grammar style.
I’m not funny. Clearly.
Jerry: Just a joke. I thought it was obvious they had no involvement and that their tender grammar sensibilities would be giving them the “vapors” because of the mistake. Sort of like shielding the children from a horrible site, except grammar style.
I’m not funny. Clearly.
@fignewtonville – no you’re plenty funny fig, I’m just a bit slow on the uptake tonight.
@fignewtonville – no you’re plenty funny fig, I’m just a bit slow on the uptake tonight.
@Greg: Rest assured as not all of whom will be contributing to Newton’s new blog are members of the NVA. Case in point, Jess Barton and I will be contributing as we believe that the more avenues our community has to articulate issues and solutions, the better.
You can read my first post on leadership and Newton’s achievement gap here: http://newtonforum.org/leadership-newtons-achievement-gap.
I hope you and many other V14 community members offer your insights and ideas.
@Greg: Rest assured as not all of whom will be contributing to Newton’s new blog are members of the NVA. Case in point, Jess Barton and I will be contributing as we believe that the more avenues our community has to articulate issues and solutions, the better.
You can read my first post on leadership and Newton’s achievement gap here: http://newtonforum.org/leadership-newtons-achievement-gap.
I hope you and many other V14 community members offer your insights and ideas.