Change Is Inevitable!
I stand corrected, The PATCH has succumbed to those that would like to hide from their OPINIONS! As of July 10, 2012 " We encourage, but do not require that the user name you provide be your REAL NAME". Well, there you have it instead of adhering to policies well established by mainstream publications, our young internet site returns to the days of yore, when one hides behind a wall after throwing stones, in order to not stand up to their opinions. Today, TRANSPARENCY is the order of the day with government, financial institutions and the list goes on and on but civil discourse through this service has been turned on it's head.
I don't understand what just happened, but my opinion wasn't sought out anyway. As I have written, maybe too often, those of us who have had to live in FEAR of those who hid in this way it is disheartening to see this idiocy regain a place in what should be CIVILITY. We need to be coming together and discussing, civilly, matters of great consequence that confront our communities and world. We don't have much control over the world but we certainly do in our own backyards! This kind of backward thinking will push us further apart when we should be drawing together, for our mutual safety.
Holston Black Jr.
11:22 am on Sunday, July 15, 2012
To Jonathan R???????? if you can read you would note that I acknowledge the change in The Patch's policy, even though I disagree, it's their right. They do leave a place for CIVILITY which you don't seem to won't to acknowledge and again that's your right. Again, if you could read you would note I didn't mention the KKK in this article, you are. I deliberately asked for CIVIL DISCOURSE as most adults recognize this as being the only way to get things resolved!! In today's world we have way too many problems to dwell in the cellar casting stones!! I hope you can agree to this logical approach, I DO!!
George Lenard
12:24 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
People reading comments that obviously use pseudonyms or that use only first names will just have to take that into account when weighing the merit of opinions expressed. People may have legitimate reasons for doing this, and maybe that's why, at least for now, Patch has expressed its policy this way. Not all such comments are personal attacks; as to those that are, there does appear to be a bit of cowardice involved in avoiding taking personal responsibility, and Mr. Black's cellar-stone metaphor may be quite apropos. Personally, I find a benefit in having people connect me with my expressed views, whether they agree with me or not, although there may also be some risk.