State lawmaker acknowledges making anonymous online posts, apologizes
Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, attacked constituents, who support shale-gas drilling in Washington, anonymously online.
“It was a shock that he would go to this, (that) a public official who's an educated man would go to this depth of harassing people when he doesn't have to.White's statement:
“He can debate and have his opinion. And he doesn't have to bash his constituents.”
These attacks have included anonymous or fictitious posts on various websites,” White, 34, said in an emailed statement. “On occasion, I have exercised my First Amendment rights and responded in kind, which was an error in judgment that I regret.Here in Mt. Lebanon, we know our school board would never do this. Elaine Cappucci has told me flat out at a budget meeting that she has no desire to write on my blog. In a phone call to me, Mary Birks said that she works full time and doesn't have the time or the desire to read my blog. Of course, the heaviest blog traffic is during work hours on weekdays. Certainly Central Administration would never read this blog, let alone post on it. Even our Municipal and District public information officers, would never post anonymously.
“To be clear, I did not use government resources while posting comments on these sites.”
14 comments:
I never understood the need to be anonymous when posting comments. If you wouldn't say it to the person's face then don't say it at all. Maybe, I'm different but what you read is what you get in person, except there might be times I use "colorful" language in person more than in writing.
Perhaps the IRS and AG Holder stories in the news are biggert than some of the stuff going on in MTL.
But, think about it for a few minutes please. Go back and review how many times anonymous bloggers (is it one or more?) that disagree with Elaine's "wing nuts" called for those anonymous bloggers to identify themselves while they hide behind anonymity themselves.
Why do they need identities while hiding???? What could they do with that information?0
What Holder did shows exactly why I remain anonymous here.
The kid(s) I have in the district need not be retaliated against by teachers, school board members, or administrators.
I challenge you do provide proof that any child was "retaliated against" by any school board member, teacher or administator.
Hey 2:54, I challenge you to identify yourself.
There you go... once again the Black Knight appears under the cover of anonymity to 'challenge' a bloggers comment.
Two problems with that. First, the definition of a challenge from the online dictionary:
challenge[ chal-inj
noun
1. a call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength, etc.
2. something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort, etc.: Space exploration offers a challenge to humankind.
3. a call to fight, as a battle, a duel, etc.
Wouldn't chivalry dictate that if you're going to throw down the gauntlet, the challenged party should know with whom they are going to duel?
But beside that, as we're seeing with the IRS a lone individual could present all the evidence they want of misdeeds, as some tea party groups claimed. Nobody believed it for years.
Same here, it's not like the relatliatuon would be done openly and documented.
2:54's anonymous 'challenge' is enough to cause at least suspicion that 2:17 may have something to worry about.
2:54 PM, the very nature of your challenge is comical. Do you expect someone to identify him or herself and provide proof? Really? Sadly, there are many horror stories out there, none of which I will provide details. You know it. I know it. The board knows it. Don't be ridiculous and challenge anyone over that. I wouldn't want to publish it either.
Elaine
There are no horror stories! Lies and rumors is all.
there is no proof because no teacher, administrator or elected official ever retaliated against any child.
They're smart enough to cover their tracks 2:54.
Yeah, you're right, 5:35 PM. wink wink.
Elaine
I guess 2:54 sees no reason to respond to a challenge.
5:35 I challenge you to prove "there's no there there!" :-)
yeah, wink, nod, spread malicious rumors, but in reality you have no proof, you have no smoking gun, what you have is Jack #$@#!
You'll make yourselves look crazy, maybe there is some truth to the "wing - nut" moniker.
Yeah, you got me. The District has never been sued.
Thanks for reading.
Elaine
After reading 6:13's post with its usual "I don't have an intelligent rebuttal, so I'll resort to name calling" response, I hope and pray this person has nothing to do with the management or operations of our school district.
Why, because apparently they have no clue of what civild discourse is. From wiki: "Civil discourse is engagement indiscourse (conversation) intended to enhance understanding.
Kenneth J. Gergen describes civil discourse as "the language of dispassionate objectivity", and suggests that it requires respect of the other participants, such as the reader. It neither diminishes the other's moral worth, nor questions their good judgment; it avoids hostility, direct antagonism, or excessive persuasion; it requires modesty and an appreciation for the other participant's experiences."
I know, I know they also have aproblem with wiki, so maybe they need to take the following course. One should never be too old to learn.
Civil Discourse in the Classroom—based on lessons tested in diverse classrooms across the United States and proven effective with a wide range of students and topics—will introduce educators to basic tools for teaching civil discourse. It is not subject-specific; on the contrary, the tools of argumentation and discussion lend themselves to any subject in any classroom. Although it is primarily designed for young adolescents, the curriculum can be adapted for students of any age.
Using these lessons, students will be able to turn their unsubstantiated opinions into reasoned arguments. They also will learn how to effectively challenge an opposing argument—not with fists and fury, but rather with a step-by-step process for refutation.
These tools lay the groundwork for productive, reasoned and lively discussions on a variety of topics. They also will give students “training wheels” for learning how to have reasoned arguments outside the classroom.
For Civil Discourse in the Classroom as a booklet, click the link below for the PDF.
http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/TT_Civil%20Discourse_whtppr_0.pdf
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