Floyd Countians, by and large, are a friendly bunch when it comes to welcoming newcomers who move to our area. We offer help in providing information, recommendations on builders, plumbers, electricians and services.
Amy and I have put newcomers up in our guest bedroom if they needed a place to stay, lent our cars to those who needed transportation and served as a mail drop or phone information center. Others we know do even more.
So it hurts when I see a newcomer feel like they are unwelcome.
During a discussion earlier this week on power outages from the weather, a South Carolina resident who is moving to Floyd County on January 28 offered an observation on what he had heard about a rolling blackout in the Annapolis, MD, area. That brought a response from a county resident who challenged the report, saying he could not find any news reports on the rolling blackouts. It also brought a prolonged, often contentious debate, over rolling blackouts and the honesty of utility companies.
To which our soon-to-be new resident of Floyd County responded:
I see how it is now. If this is how y’all are, I’ll stay away from here and damn sure keep my distance from downtown Floyd.
A’Dios!
Was our newcomer overly-sensitive? Or did he see a community dominated by petty bickering over nothing?
The answer probably lies somewhere in between. Debates sometimes get out of hand here. It’s the nature of smart, passionate people who have strong opinions and defend them with passion.
But if those debates make potential new residents rethink their decision to join our community then are the discussions productive or counter-productive? I don’t have the answer but the issue deserves thought and consideration.
I have noticed something since I started reading this blog. Some of the comments here are made in such a haste that no one takes the time to read.
Rio- This entire blog is about a conversation that took place on this web site. Read all the stories first, before you post your two cents.
Also, it seems to me that everytime there is an argument on this site about a comment that Doug made, it is always followed by him changing his original post. Doug, I know this is your site and you have the right to change anything you want, however when you change a comment it makes the person that posted to your original comment look silly because you have since changed what they were talking about in the first place.
I know other sites have a listing in the bottom of the comment that states that it has been edited. I noticed that you have conviently left that out for your own benefit. I know, your sandbox your rules…….
Danny,
I suspect the debate took place somewhere downtown, and not on the Blue Ridge Muse website.
I do so to correct typos and sometimes because I need to clarify a position and sometimes because I realize that what I said was too strident. But I edit less than one percent of what I post to this site so your assumption that "everytime there is an argument on this site about a comment that Doug made, it is always followed by him changing his original post" is an incorrect assumption.
When I edit an original post, I try to put a note at the bottom saying it has been updated.
Please check your facts before posting.
(Edited at 11:43 a.m.)
(Edited again at 7:08 p.m. on January 24 to tone it down because it was over the top)
…and please accept my apology for losing my temper as well. I have edited the post further to remove the "hit and run" crack.
I appreciate your thoughts. I don’t mind people who disagree with me. Many do. All I ask is the you disagree with facts. When you and others point out something that I have done wrong, I will correct. it.
(Updated Sunday, January 24, 2009 at 11:10 a.m. to change headline)
Put me in the camp that disagrees with posting something and then changing it. Edit for your typos before you post it, or live with the error like the common folk.
I’m no journalist expert and I’ve seen retractions or corrections, not eliminations.
I followed the original discussion that this was based on and I have no basis to take sides with anyone. I like Doug just fine even if he’s a legend in his own mind. Been some places, done some stuff, people know him, many more don’t, sounds normal to me.
I’m continuing this in Preview mode because I was curious about an edit option. It’s always a bit futile to proof read what I just wrote. I usually attempt to correct typos, grammar and spelling anyway.
Maybe a second reading and those few extra moments prior to hitting the POST could dampen some of the often misunderstood or hasty responses.
Now I’m previewing my preview and haven’t hit the post comment button yet. Just curious. I’m fairly certain I will have no ability to edit or delete any of this at a later date, for any reason. That’s the way it should be. Yes Doug, including you. Feel free to correct or explain yourself in a new message. Jack tried and apparently failed. Or was it a Jim, or you?
Doug- I am sorry that I fired off a comment before I gave myself adequate time to cool off. I was upset that you had changed an entry and by doing so made some of the comments less relevant. After having time to think things through and reading some of the other post, I should have taken some extra time before posting. A lot of the time I do disagree and I have made some comments that should have been thought through. I hope to change my “hit and run” ways.
Rio- I apologize for the personal attack on your comments as well.
Interesting, isn’t it, how selective some people can be in what they remember and what they don’t? One of the things I admire about the author of this blog is his willingess to take a second look at what he has written and correct or amend it if he thinks he is wrong.
A few examples:
January 15, 2009:
Updated at 2:06 p.m. to correct a typo and to remove information at the request of a family member of a person named. It retrospect, it was not germaine to this discussion and the point made by the relative was valid. My apologies to the family.
November 12, 2008
My apologies to the poster, “DB” for doing so. The post that identified him has been removed along with a follow up post that discussed where he worked.
April 8, 2008:
My apologies to the tactical teams for incorrectly identifying the officers as members of their units.
February 13, 2008:
This post was edited to remove observations that, upon reflection, could not be backed by information from exit polls or other sources. I also removed comments related to those comments. My apologies to those who were offended or felt I was passing on misinformation.
December 26, 2007:
Jeff, if you feel you were treated harshly here, you have my apology as the operator of this web site. We welcome opinions from all perspectives and I hope you understand that comments posted here come from passion for preserving the unique quality of life that is Floyd County and not from any personal animosity.
June 7, 2007:
I got my tighty-whities in a bunch last week over the emergence of “networking” in Floyd County and by letting my anger get the best of me I broke one of the cardinal rules of life here: Live and let live.
Whatever my feelings towards the practice of networking, I was wrong to castigate those who feel a need to use it to try and survive in these economically-strapped times. The original post and a follow up have been removed, along with the comments.
My apologies to readers of Muse and my thanks to those who took the time to point out that my actions were over the top. I’m a passionate man with strong opinions and sometimes I let both traits overcome judgment.
July 2, 2006:
I overreacted with a mocking post about his feelings. I was wrong and I apologize publicly to Fred here and now. While we may disagree about things like the sign, I should not have attacked him publicly over it.
February 26, 2006:
My over-the-top tirade has no place here, went beyond the bounds of rational discourse and has been removed from this blog.
Note to Mr. King: You claimed you’ve “seen retractions or corrctions, not eliminations.” I had no trouble finding three examples above where eliminations were cited and discussed. I also have, on more than one occasion, posted something that I later thought was inappropriate and emailed Mr. Thompson to ask him to modify or remove the post. He was kind enough to do so for me.
Some other observations:
I have visited Mr. Thompson in his studio at The Village Green. He is always gracious and willing to drop whatever he is doing to take the time to discuss the community, its people and the issues. I’ve found him self-effacing and modest, not the “legend in his own mind” attack issued by Mr. King.
I also know for a fact that he is always willing to donate his time to charitable causes and I have one of his photos that I bought at a charity auction at The Jacksonville Center. When you talk to him you find that he cares deeply about his home and the people who live in Floyd County.
Hardly the man described by Mr. King. I wonder if he has taken the time to get to know Mr. Thompson?
…and some that I have been thinking about since the dust-up with Jack Russell a few days ago.
As I told Jack, I do edit comments from time to time and I try to tell readers when I do. Sometimes I have failed to note the edit and that was wrong. I’ve made it a point to make sure to add an "updated" tag to the end of any post of comment when it is modified or to add a comment letting readers know when posts are eliminated.
I’m a passionate man driven by strong emotions. Regular readers here also know that I’m a recovering alcoholic and most alcoholics must deal with anger management. I have a hair-trigger temper that must be controlled. If you think I’m an arrogant asshole now you should have known me when I was drinking. On second thought, no one should have had to deal with me in those days. My wife endured my drinking for longer than anyone should ever had needed to and I work every day to return the love she showed me in those difficult times.
I’m sorry you feel that I am, as you put it, "a legend in my own mind." I don’t consider myself either superior or inferior to anyone else. I’m a country boy who was lucky enough to do many of things I dreamed of doing when I was young. I made the most of some opportunities and I squandered others. As a human being, I have many failings. I also hope I have a few strengths, one being to admit when I’m wrong and take the steps necessary to correct my mistakes.
I fired off an inappropriate response to Eric when he first commented here and went back and edited it (which was noted). I do not believe that when something inappropriate or out-of-line is posted it should be allowed to stand. It should be corrected and an apology should be issued. We apparently disagree on this but we will have to be on opposite ends of the spectrum on this.
I’m working this weekend on changes to the commenting section of Muse to set up a system that will allow readers to register, be verified, and post comments without having to have them approved. Registered readers will also be allowed to edit their comments if they wish to make changes.
Those who do not wish to register will still be allowed to comment but their comments will be reviewed and approved before posting. I’m hoping this will stop some of those who swoop in here under the cloak of anonymity and stir up debates with personal attacks or flames.
Anyone who has any thoughts on this is encouraged to add them. My goal is an open, civil discourse on issues and an end to personal animosity.
(Updated at 5:48 p.m. to add additional thoughts)
As a new comer I have to laugh. I clicked on the comment section to see what everyone had to say about new comers and all I got was people upset that Mr. Thompson edited some posts. I guess we new comers aren’t that interesting to write about. =-)
PS; I have felt welcome here. Its a good place to live.