MAPLEWOOD ONLINE AND ME

When I launched Maplewoodian.com more than three years ago, I did it in an effort to provide local residents with some news that I believed was not being covered, as well as a place to offer my views and opinions.

I have never claimed to provide no opinion, but I have always done so with the highest regard for accuracy and journalism that I have learned in 24 years as a reporter.

In addition, I have found that posting links on Maplewood Online has helped get the word out to people. I have only posted items there in threads that were already started about a topic or about something that has not been posted elsewhere.

I believe Maplewood Online is a valid service for our community and have long praised Jamie and Dave for creating it long before any of our sites (Patch, the Local) ever came about. Jamie is truly the grandfather of Maplewood websites.

However, unfortunately, a group of people contend that MOL is not just a place for shared views but for personal attacks and unfair claims. I learned long ago that responding to such attacks is pointless, especially when many of them are hidden behind online identities and often stem from a lack of information or knowledge of how news works.

It is sad that this group has taken MOL and turned it into a place where differing views are met with scorn and personal attacks (and in my cases outright threats of violence against me).

This creates a tough task for Jamie to monitor and make sure the hateful comments do not ruin the site. But I give him credit for seeking to allow the site to police itself, which it often does. Still, many people in town avoid the site completely because of the overrun of abuse that often ruins many discussions.

I have also found that when I link to items on my site through MOL, there are hundreds of people who respond and most tell me they appreciate what I post.

I made the mistake recently of letting these hateful comments spark me to respond. Not good. But it did remind me that when I post links they serve a large group of people, even if they spark a small group to unleash their cowardly hate and anger.

In addition, many of these hateful attacks have included either inaccurate information or vague rumors, exactly the kind of thing that is dangerous on the Internet.

Also, let me make clear, I make no profit from my site and do it as a service, as well as a way for me to make sure certain issues get out there and, yes, my opinion.

Having said all of this, I will continue to post items to link to on MOL but will, as always, be diligent in not abusing the opportunity. I have also always provided space on my site for comments under each story.

Thanks for all support.