After four years of experimenting with uncensored comments on the Chestertown Spy, I have come to the conclusion that in order to preserve the civility the Spy has always inspired to promote for the greater Chestertown region, this publication will end this forum effective today.
To break away from one of the internet’s great traditions of free speech is a painful disappointment to this publisher. With over 16,000 comments since the Spy started in the summer of 2009, there were high hopes that the community would use this forum as a useful and safe venue for exchanging ideas and points of view. And while I am grateful to the vast majority of commenters who shared this goal, the fact remains that a growing number of comments over the last year have increasingly become toxic in nature.
It serves no purpose to analyze this sad trend other than to say that it defeats the goal and mission of the Chestertown Spy. With that in mind, I instinctively feel it is best for our 125,000 annual readers to expect a higher standard for commentary.
In this spirit, the Chestertown Spy will encourage readers to use our new Letter to the Editor format to respond to an article or through the option of the longer form Op-Ed essay. In both cases, the Spy will expect full names and addresses for writers, and will exercise editorial oversight for every submission.
While free speech will remain an important value for the Spy, it does not supersede fairness and civility. I hope with this change, all three can find the right balance for the Chestertown Spy and the community it serves.
Joe Diamond says
Dear Editor,
Let me be the first. I commend you for your efforts to establish a community forum. The Spy has served to give an almost up to the moment sense of what is going on around the area. By the time the local weekly newspaper hits the streets most folks already know what has happened. They just want to see how the names were spelled or clip a picture. The Spy identified and filled many community needs and even with this change will continue to be an asset to the people who live here.
However, discontinuing the comment section does diminish the value of this internet forum, in my opinion. True some of the comments lack civility. Some are poorly expressed. Many are overly technical or focused on a personal point of view. All shear a desire to communicate and maybe even convince others. Some comments do drift into attacking other ideas or the people who hold them. Even though a lack of civility creeps into the comments I think this is a good thing. I always thought the idea of editing or moderating a forum excluded voices that should at least be acknowledged.
So I wish you well and respect your decision. I’ll keep reading The Spy. Those other voices are still out there. They will still seek a forum. This will not be it.
Stephan Sonn says
Dear Editor,
Sad but not unexpected.
Janet Brandon says
Dear Editor,
Thanks for this initiative! My comment is Right On!
Gren Whitman says
Dear Editor,
Re: Spy’s new comment policy:
For those who compose and drool over “toxic-in-nature” comments, there are an infinite number of sites on which to do so all over the Internet.
Locally, there is one such site, managed by a friend of mine who means well, but who “cain’t say no” and who can’t/won’t control its content.
Thank you, Spy, for scrambling out of the muck!
Carla Massoni says
Dear Editor:
Thank you for your recent decision to restructure the comments received by the Spy. The 7 day coverage the Spy provides enables the “letters to the editor” forum to be responsive to your readers. I would suggest a link at the bottom of each article directing your readers to this section of the Spy.
Thank you!!
Carla Massoni
Carol Schroeder says
Dear Editor,
Thank you so much for this decision. I will read the Spy more often now that I know I cannot read vitriol in the Comments section.
Alex Smolens says
Editor,
Unfortunately, in a community as close knit as this town, many people are afraid to stand up and say something. Whether they fear for their personal reputation, family, or business is anyone’s guess. I can’t help but feel that journalism loses something when a contributor must be named. Even with anonymous posts, the WordPress site model allows for editing, and tacit refusal when it comes to contributed comments. I can only hope that the now transparent Spy still allows for the freedom and vigorous debate we’ve become accustomed reading within.
Some of the pseudonyms will be missed I’m sure, as the prominent and influential no longer have a place of anonymity to relay a fact or story that they do not feel comfortable sharing in person.