September 29
...serving up your daily dish.
ROC and cathar, regular posters, seem to have deserted our site. JMo's personal integrity was attacked. This thread (99 comments at this count) is so full of bile and mud-throwing, it's really hard to read.
We're not saying that we all have to join hands and sing "Kumbaya." We throw punches too. And there's some good pungent commentary here on a regular basis.
If you want to attack the editors of Barista, fine, we can defend ourselves. But please refrain from outright nastiness to your fellow posters. We're running a little business here, and we work hard to bring you lots of local news, humor and listings. Please refrain from scaring the clientele.
We don't want to have to vet comments, ban commenters or make users register, but we will if we have to. No shirt, no shoes, no service.
Our apologies to JMo for the uncalled-for attack on his character.
September 29, 2005 | Permalink
I think the animals have already escaped. But maybe if we close the barn door now, some of them will come back.
Posted by: walleroo | Sep 29, 2005 2:54:56 PM
And who's picture is that anyway? Cathar? Gosh, I hope not.
Posted by: walleroo | Sep 29, 2005 2:57:00 PM
OK, I'll bite: That was indeed one nasty thread.
BUT - If some provocative coward wants to attack me personally ...well, that is crossing the line Big Time - not to mention totally stupid on more levels than anyone cares to go into.
I'm taking a break from this board. So long and peace.
Posted by: RightSaidFred | Sep 29, 2005 3:07:14 PM
Looks like the Free Rabies Clinic opened just in time!
Line up, y'all! Girls on the right, boys on the left.
I'm getting my shots first!
Posted by: Chris | Sep 29, 2005 3:18:34 PM
Barista....
As I have mentioned before, You should get vbulletin based Forum on here ASAP. Then link the forum thread to your story or pic. Have registered users and such.
It gets way to heated in here and you've outgrown the TYPEPAD style blog commenting.
Posted by: realhawker | Sep 29, 2005 3:19:53 PM
I swear I didn't read this line before posting that! "And we're not talking about our rabid posters."
Posted by: Chris | Sep 29, 2005 3:19:58 PM
I tend to agree with realhawker. Times they are a'changin'.
Posted by: walleroo | Sep 29, 2005 3:34:39 PM
Picture this walleroo....
Italics, Bold, Avatars, signatures...
It can all become reality.
I am sure they can keep their banner ads on the side and top, and can even frame them inside the original site if that's their preference.
:-)
Posted by: realhawker | Sep 29, 2005 3:37:23 PM
You mean, italics that begin and then end? What a concept!
Posted by: walleroo | Sep 29, 2005 3:38:35 PM
I also have gotten into a tussle with Miss Marta before, for which I apologize. But I don't see the need to track her like sherlock holmes.
Posted by: realhawker | Sep 29, 2005 3:38:50 PM
I think you have enough reasonably intelligent, literate, and sensible people to support your blog without all of us having to suffer the mud slingers and anonymous snipers. I also think you do an excellent job of keeping the threads under control -- when you can. I for one would be delighted to register and sign in to post here. The brick throwers probably aren't supporting your sponsors anyway, so who needs them?
Pungent and snarky, si; bilious and cowardly, no.
p.s. Love your whip.
Posted by: Conan the Grammarian | Sep 29, 2005 3:42:56 PM
I agree with Conan & others on this. I think if people had to register under a REAL email addy, they'd be less apt to sling mud.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Sep 29, 2005 3:47:05 PM
Me too, even if I get out of control with movie quotes (they are appropriate though!) I try to have at least 4 conversations a day, just movie quotes.
Posted by: MyManMisterC | Sep 29, 2005 4:04:57 PM
Ive seen it happen to other active forums, go to registered ID's and you will get as much traffic as a dead end street in Montana.
Posted by: Warning | Sep 29, 2005 4:08:02 PM
I find it fascinating how many people will comment under obviously fake email addresses. Anyway, I agree with the last commenter - registering for all comments drags the fun out of it all.
Forums, on the other hand, let it ride as an accompanying part of the site. But I'd never get rid of the comments.
Posted by: Tom | Sep 29, 2005 4:13:28 PM
I second Conan...are you going to sell Barista whips for the Holidays cause I know I have been a bad boy!
Posted by: John L | Sep 29, 2005 4:16:19 PM
I think the move to a forum would be better, you can keep the TYPEPAD comments if u must. But this site can and seems to be more than a blog. Even if it's just us posters elevating it. Monclair/Bloomfield/Glenridge, etc.. theres too many of us and not enough online forums....
Posted by: realhawker | Sep 29, 2005 4:19:16 PM
Perhaps it will deaden traffic somewhat, but when so much of it is as bad as spam, that might be not such a bad thing. Maybe La Barista's foot-stamp at the beginning of this skein will quite things down. I hope so. Just wanted to chime in to support Debra because this blog can be a lot of fun.
Posted by: Conan the Grammarian | Sep 29, 2005 4:22:27 PM
Hey anyone here sign up for the Montclair Adult School's Texas Hold Em Tournament?
Posted by: MyManMisterC | Sep 29, 2005 4:24:22 PM
To use the Craigslist example, when you want to post a comment there, it not only asks for your email address but it asks you to type in the letters from a graphic. This is good way to make sure it's a real person posting and not some computer-generated spam. The site also sends your comment to your email addy for confirmation that it's really you posting the comment. It hasn't seemed to affect the volume of posts there as far as I can tell.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Sep 29, 2005 4:27:24 PM
"thread 99", I don't get what all the fuss is about. Pretty tame for the net.
But if they want to lay down the rules, do it.
This right vs. left has to be very boring to the average folk.
Nice debate hasn't been a part of public life for a very long time. The posts on this board just reflect this reality. We would all be much happier if we were not so aggresive.
Posted by: lasermike026 | Sep 29, 2005 4:32:58 PM
