teachers, technology mix it up - InMaricopa.com

10m COMMUNITY InMaricopa.com
March 2012
MARICOPA LIFE
Back up your words with you own good name
BY WAYNE BLOCK
You will notice my name appears at the
top of this column. That is not by coincidence.
This is my version of a letter to the
editor, or a comment at the end of an
online news story. The fact that my
name is attached is as it should be.
When InMaricopa.com first announced
in December it would require
posters to news stories to prove their
identity, and have their real names be
available on their posts, there was heated
debate.
The majority seemed to feel if you
had an opinion you wished to express
publically, you should be required to
identify yourself. Others claimed that
requiring posters to be identified would
be a violation of their First Amendment
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right to free speech and it would silence
critics and whistle-blowers who might
fear retribution.
I did a very unscientific survey of
the 111 comments attached to Publisher
Scott Bartle’s story announcing
the decision and outlining
the reasons for it. By my
count 23 posters felt it was
a good idea and 12 were opposed.
There were four others
for which I couldn’t determine
a position.
Count me firmly in the proidentification
column.
First, let me explain as I have in
the past, that I am not an employee
of InMaricopa. I am an independent
contractor. My columns are merely
extended letters to the editor and I am
not paid for them. I am, however, paid
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WAYNE BLOCK
for other work I do for the company’s
various publications. My columns will
not be censored.
Sure, this one is firmly in favor
of the InMaricopa policy. Others, in
the future may not be quite as
friendly.
I have been reading InMaricop.com
for about three years,
two of them before moving here
last May.
Virtually every major newspaper
in the country requires
letters to the editor be signed
with the writer’s real name. In
fact, almost all newspapers will then
verify that the name signed actually belongs
to the writer.
And yet, newspapers have no shortage
of readers wishing to express their
opinions on a daily basis.
It is only in the online world where
anonymity of opinion took hold.
The cries about limitation of freedom
of speech, to me, hold no water.
InMaricopa.com, and other outlets
that are beginning to require some
form of personal responsibility for
written words, do not prohibit anyone
from expressing their views. The sole
exception is the often quoted “shouting
fire in a crowded theater,” as noted by
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., in
the Supreme Court case of Schenck vs.
United States in 1919.
Claims the requirement of accountability
inhibits whistle-blowing also fall
deaf on my ears.
Sure, it can be difficult for someone
to stand up to authority, whether it be
an employer or government, however if
a cause is important enough, the courage
can be found. Like-minded people
can get together and protest is certainly
not unheard of in this country.
There instances in which fear of retribution
is a legitimate worry. However,
much of the inanity that has passed
for “discussion” on many of the boards
I have read over the years is actually
prompted by the cloak of anonymity.
It becomes far too easy to hurl unwar-
ranted comments when nobody knows
your name.
Comments on news stories are now
far more reasoned, if fewer in number.
However, the basic idea of requiring
people to take responsibility for their
words is still sound.
I recently spoke with Maricopa’s
new Chief of Police Steve Stahl, who
publically thanked InMaricopa for instituting
the policy at a recent Chamber
of Commerce meeting.
“The public is entitled to state their
comments,” Stahl said. “Everybody
has the first amendment right to free
speech and I respect that and I truly
believe in it.
“In Mesa, we had the same problem.
When we met with the media we said
some of this blogging gets very hateful
and very spiteful and encourages
spiteful and angry comments back and
forth. They encourage arguing on line,
but they can do it anonymously and
that’s where I find it dangerous ground
on the First Amendment right, where
if you encourage and are promoting
anger and spite toward individuals or
entities, I no longer believe that you
should be able to do it anonymously.
I think you should be required to state
who you are.”
Stahl noted that the level of news
`story comments has become more
civil since the requirement took effect.
“The City of Maricopa has great people.
They want the best for their community,
they want the best for America,”
he added. But people get emotional
over topics and sometimes they let that
emotion encourage them to say things
they wish, later on, that they probably
hadn’t said in that way.”
It has become common in America
these days for people not wanting to
take responsibility for their own actions.
It’s always someone else’s fault.
It’s time to bring responsibility
back.
Wayne Block is a columnist and sports
writer for InMaricopa.com.