Letters to the Editor
-
Works for Me
Let's see how it works out.
-
hi jack! we did it!
we doublehandedly changed salon policy!
-
Good idea. Bad font.
I'll just second the upthread motions re: the font change. No no no no no. Bring back a nice readable, properly-kerned serif font, preferably the same one we had before.
But the registration idea is a good one, and should arrest the marked fall-off in civility in the posts. Looking forward to happier times.
And, Donna Darko, about that star -- you have be both a Premium member, and also have had a post selected for an Editor's Choice star at least once.
-
Fine with me . . . except the Font change
It would be great to change the font style back. Thanks.
-
Yay!
SUCH a great idea. Glad to see it in effect. :)
-
Anonymity?
I'm curious why so many people seem to have it in for Ms. Anonymous. It's one of the great joys of the internet (where no one knows you're a dog). As long as people are having to register with a real email address, that will dramatically cut back on the trolls such as myself.
-
anonymous posters
i was originally against it, wanting everyone to have screen names, figuring that was protection enough, and i like getting to know people. but "No Name Given" (undoubtedly a woman) changed my mind. this is what it said "battered and abused women more often than not would love to remain anonymous to try to protect themselves. Rape and molestation victems, women who've had abortions. Somethings I imagine the salon would NOT want to suppress, but would warmly welcome their perspectives and perhaps added insights." in addition i'd like to know how many nazis are out there. for me, this isn't feeding paranoia, but analysis of threat. you can't legislate courage, and they are just as much americans and their voice is just as valuable as anyone else's. still, i'd encourage everyone to adopt screen names. so i can get to know you. for instance. the paragraph "No Name Given" wrote was general, not in any way personal, she could put that under her screen name. something bitterly personal she could post anonymously. i think dialog is the heart of posting.
-
Good Policy
I agree this should be done. I was commenting on another website today when some jerk used another guy's screen name to make an asinine joke. I felt this was a violation of the rules of engagement and pointed out that if he was a soldier he would have been summarily executed.
-
Great.
I'm glad to hear about Salon's new policy. I've seen the ugliness of some of the vitriolic letters recently in articles written by many of Salon's gifted writers, particularly Debra Dickerson and Camille Paglia. Joan Walsh's article earlier in the week tied it up well, and I hoped for changes.
Glad to see we've got one.
Thanks Salon.
-
I was hoping for more
While I believe that requiring user registration will elevate the quality of comments and provide the Salon user community with some measure of accountability in tracking opinions, I certainly hope that there are many more changes to come in the letters system. Here's what I'd like to see:
- Ability to use anchor tags
- Kill the pagination
- Threaded replies
Oh, and ignore the comments about the font, it's fine.
-
"beedee"
what are anchor tags? if "Kill the pagination" means all the letters are on one page, i totally agree. to find that particular No Name Given i had to search all the pages, yes, thanks to a remembered word "abortion" and the wonderful Find in This Page, i did it in a couple of minutes, but it would be so much easier in a couple of seconds. i don't agree with "Threaded replies", however, i want to read *everything*. and besides, that kills the killing of pagination.
-
This is great.
Excellent improvement. I like the font too. A good compromise for all the issues.
I'm just wondering that Golden Boy will do now, since he won't be able to alternate between his 2 names as swiftly, and will have to register an email address for "golden boy." :-)
-
?
Why is this necessary? CAnt you just ban the I.P's of disruptive people?
-
re: never anonymous
no reputable newspaper allows anonymous letters if you are not prepared to put your name to it your opinion is only worthy of a mouse If you are afraid of the consequences - don't say it or ask a friend to write about you in his own name - but that weakens the data--Hugh W
Admittedly they posted under one anonymous personna, Publius, but are you willing to say that the Independent Journal, the New-York Packet and the Daily Advertiser, should not have printed Alexander Hamilton's, James Madison's, and John Jay's essays in favor of ratifying the Constitution? Please, the editors at Salon still "know" who the anonymous writers are--the writer still has to submit a legitimate e-mail address--and Salon has the ability, and right, to delete any and all comments, including yours or mine, as they see fit.
Just as there are some things better left unsaid, there are--equally--many other things that must be said. Yet, sadly, most people are too afraid to be attributed as saying that which must be said--think about slavery, women's rights, modern-day whistle-blowers.
So, do you want your employer, the government, etc, to be able to look up or attribute every thing you've said? Which, in this era, is becoming exceedingly easy, (anonymous or not, this especially applies to our govt.). And most importantly, are you willing to restrict your speech just because you are afraid that someday, someone might find out that you said something that, while you and a minority may consider it true, the majority would automatically condemn, ridicule, or hang you for it? Anonymity, while not perfect, can at least offer a modicum of protection--again, think of Hamilton, Madison, and Jay. Just food for thought.
-
I like it, a bit...
...but the font is difficult to read, and I find I have to change to a larger font to read with ease.
Also the preview function does not work accurately, which suggests that this was a bit rushed.
-
But we can still blame the Jews for everything
Can't we? Oh look, Prothero is channeling Kamiya.
-
I like it.
I'm here - glad to see my preferred moniker wasn't taken.
I'm very pleased that no one will have to put up any more with the nonsensical attacks of "Hey, you are also posting as so-and-so".
LeCastor, it is nice to see I'm on your mind. See you around.