I know we have only met a couple of times but I consider you a friend. It was brought to my attention that our school directors were referred to as "whores" on a post that you permitted to appear on your blog. Several of these directors are my friends. How can I continue to be your friend if you allow this awful term to be used in relation to other friends?I replied with:
Thank you for your email. I do appreciate your concern, however many of the comments published on my blog do not reflect my opinion. I do know that some of your friends have not been kind on my blog and elsewhere, so I hesitate to start editing comments. Freedom of speech is one of our constitutional rights.
To which I received:
Please inform me in the future if any elected official from the Democratic Party addresses you w/such vulgarity.
So I am asking Lebo Citizens readers a favor. Could you please tone it down when referring to our school board? Even though these elected officials have hired a campaign manager to solicit funds to cover their extravagant spending habits, that doesn't make them...well, you know, that word. They can roll their eyes at us, treat us with disrespect, display open contempt, break the law during elections, submit hurtful anonymous posts to this blog, and cause us financial hardship, they are volunteers.
Thanks for your help.
64 comments:
I'm sure the commenter who used salty language was referring to the way ladies of the evening collect their fees for service, not in any way questioning the sexual relations or moral character of elected officials.
In this instance, I have to agree with the Democratic Committee.
On the other hand, there have been barbs, inneudo, disrepect thrown from all quarters, some intentionally, some untentional,some from a poorly turned phrase.
Thought there had been some progress neighbors getting along after the dog park issue, but apparently some people just don't want to get along.
For Elaine's sake and for the sake of having productive debatei hope everyone plays a little nicer and tHat the powers that be lead the way with transparency and respect.
To be honest, this reader took it more as an association to the urban dictionary definition of whoring.
"1. whoring-to use in a non-sexual reference; as in partaking in alot of something; OVERINDULGING
He was whoring all of my potato chips and didn't leave any for me."
I cringed when I read it, but I'm curious... did anyone seriously think they were calling people "ladies of the evening."
When I hear conversations about selling district/municipal naming rights or selling field signs, my initial thoughts were "do we really want whore out our public spaces chasing the mighty buck?"
And then after we've plastered an advertising slogan or corporate logo on everything that isn't moving, where do we go from there once we've used up all that revenue?
Tattooing our public servents with company logos?
Painting our police cars like NASCAR racers?
I took it to mean sellouts.
a person who betrays a cause, organization, principles, etc., esp. for money or personal advantage
Is this where k-12 education in America is headed...
Samsung School.
What is next...
Oscar Meyer Cafeteria?
Speedo Pool?
Amazon Library?
UPMC Nurse's Office?
Aljeezera School Paper?
Sassy Sensations Health Class?
As long as someone or some company is willing to fork over a ton of cash we'll 'whore' of school spacr
Drat... forgot to include the link to the referenced Samsung School.
http://www.trivalleycentral.com/eloy_enterprise/education/samsung-classroom-technology-helping-close-digital-divide/article_99dca40c-20b5-11e3-b5e3-001a4bcf887a.html
Sorry.
It's hard to think kindly about people who spend our money like there is no tomorrow, stare us down like we're criminals for disagreeing with them and refuse to see how they are making this district a laughingstock.
The city is almost at our doorstep and they don't seem to understand this.
Other districts are just sitting back and waiting for us to implode.
Implode - a little bit of hyperbole, perhaps.
But, can anyone honestly say they would be reading something like this onthe OpEd page of The Almanac 10-20 years ago?
http://www.thealmanac.net/article/20130911/OPINION01/130919971/-1/opinion#.UjFpoSd5mc0
"Peters Township is the place to go for a good education and to buy an upscale home for more money than the average Joe makes in a decade."
"Peters Township is the place to go for a good education", I thought it was undeniable, and irrefutable that Lebo was, is and will always be- the go to place.
Especially if you're looking for an expensive home.
Peters has many astoundingly beautiful residential areas and there's a lot more land to develop, too.
I might add that the residential sections are quiet and peaceful, unlike many of ours.
Peters Township - the place to go for a good education? Say it isn't so!
Elaine
According to The Almanac it is.
"So I am asking Lebo Citizens readers a favor. Could you please tone it down when referring to our school board? Even though these elected officials have hired a campaign manager to solicit funds to cover their extravagant spending habits, that doesn't make them...well, you know, that word. They can roll their eyes at us, treat us with disrespect, display open contempt, break the law during elections, submit hurtful anonymous posts to this blog, and cause us financial hardship, they are volunteers."
This paragraph is the equivalent of an "eye roll" as well as "open contempt".
Your right. You can stick it to us and we aren't permitted to say anything negative. Got it.
10:05 PM, you're permitted. They would like to think you're not. You can roll your eyes too, but Mr. Cooper will scold you for that, if you go to a meeting. The school board has made it so unpleasant for residents to attend that there are never any more than three residents in attendance. Sometimes there are more reporters present than residents. One of the residents only goes to record uncensored meetings for me.
I just wish the Democratic Committee would recognize how some of their elected officials need to tone it down and show a little respect to the people who elected them.
Elaine
"Our government... teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy." -- Louis D. Brandeis
Elaine,
The Democratic committee is controlled by the teachers union and so are their school board members. The union can disrupt this whole town and the lives of hundreds of families to argue for more salary, healthcare, pensions, step placement, but they can't take the heat of being called what they really are.
Oh, the POOR BABYS! or should I call them MONEY GRUBBERS
How many of you watched this video on Fox News?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU1e992LSfM
Many years ago I attended Mt Lebanon. My classmates used to talk about a very popular teacher who allegedly used to invite 3-5 boys from his class over to his house for a drink on Friday nights. It was brought to my attention from several of these students that this individual didn't care for me or my politcial views. Apparently he said something about me living 50 years in the past, being a dinosaur, etc.
Were the rumors about this man getting drunk with his students true? Who knows. But I can tell you that over a period of 15 years I heard the same stories about drinking with this man from other students who didn't know each other. I also heard it from a retired Mt Lebanon teacher who told me that he and the teachers management knew of it also.
A dinosaur? Perhaps. But I will never be laying around in my 50's getting shit-faced with a group of teenage boys.
My point is that the left has vilified those of us with a conservative political orientation for years. Usually, they revert to very negative and very personal attacks. It's tragic that radical leftists have taken over our educational system, transformed the classroom first into a platform of advocacy and then into an indoctrination camp.
I read the post that Elaine cited. Frankly, I have heard worse when someone gets cut-off in rush hour traffic!
I can appreciate that there are many people in Mt Lebanon who want to see this website closed.
Face it, this communication channel has been a real problem to a lot of people who have pulled a lot of dirt on all of us.
Like it or not folks, social media is here to stay. There may come a day when Elaine will tire and either pass the torch to someone else, or close this blog. Of course, that doesn't mean that another site will never open and communicate similar messages.
Please pay close attention to the comment at the end of the video - and then decide if you are inclined to continue to exercise your right to free speech, to get involved, to vote and to make a difference.
The Democratic Party brought us commissioners who want dog parks. Wait until someone brings a dog in heat to a neighborhood park where children play.
Only half of them. Check Monday's Discussion Session agenda. Deer is first on the list. Twenty five minutes worth! They all want to kill deer. Of course firing high powered weapons is safe. Dogs on leashes isn't. Makes perfect sense.
Elaine
The school board needs to change its set-up big time. First, why aren't the meetings video taped? Second, why are resident comments at the end? Third, instead of editing video/taped footage, request perhaps, that specific names of problem people are not stated publicly until the matter is addressed. Fourth, change the set-up so it doesn't feel like you are addressing a king and queen. Cannot think of a more inhospitable environment than speaking at a school board meeting. I had an easier time defending my dissertation.
If speed limits abided by consistently in Mt Lebanon, nobody would have to worry about killing deer because they are a so-called danger. In the meantime, our roads would be safer for everyone.
I like Bambi each and every time I see her, even when she is in my yard eating my grass.
The avid gardeners could consider motion sensors around their gardens that either spray water or act in some other manner to scare the deer away.
The real danger in Mt Lebanon is our drivers. Beyond that, it is our impaired drivers - drinking and doing drugs.
How many school board directors emailed with you a complaint, Elaine? Or do we have to file a RTK to find out who was offended?
It's amazing someone would actually defend the school board. Amazing.
11:43 PM, the meetings are video taped. They are not available or archived on the MTLSD website. Speaking at a school board meeting is very stressful. I think that is intentional.
About the deer, 11:47 PM. Did you know that deer like to eat poison ivy? That is a bonus for people like me who start scratching just thinking about poison ivy.
Elaine
Zero school board members emailed me. What I shared on the blog did not come from an elected official.
In fact, I emailed the school board today about the new Super contract and never received a response.
Elaine
Mr. Kendrick,
I've heard about your alcoholic teacher that drinks with kids. His last name begins with a letter in the first half of the alphabet.
If we merge wit Keystone Oaks we will be Picksburg's neighbor to da South jest like Shaler skul District is Picksburg's neighbor to da North. Lebo will be Shaler two.
5:53 Nobody has said that we will merge with KO. There are some fine people in both the KO and Pittsburgh School Districts. Your elitist derision is disgusting.
Does everyone still think that it's a good idea for the police to let the teachers decide which kids to prosecute?
Mme. Moderator: Civility is an important element of successful democratic process. The problem is that those who are first to scream "not civil" ("fire"??) are usually the ones who seek to marginalize, if not to shut down any opposition speech. Remember the Act 43 hearings, for example? It is not an uninformed electorate that the SB must educate, it is an unresponsive government that we must open up by relentless petition of grievances. When the SB begins listening I am confident that the screaming will stop because the frustration born of lack of respect for the public by elected office holders will dissipate.
The Swamp Fox #2
Holding a public office means you have no choice but to listen to constituents. It's only fair---after all, those in office are spending public money.
Sorry, but that's the way the game is played.
I find this whole conservation rediculous.for several key reasons.
#1. I'm betting the very people offended by the use of the word- "whore" are probably members of the same group of people that had no problem sending little kids onto the sidewalks with signs declaring "What the Kluck!"
Wonder if they spent anytime filling the kids in on the meaning?
#2. when an elected official felt it was her obligation to make disparaging remarks about a resident's building experience and credentials (admittedly she didn't call them a whore) in a newspaper, I don't remember hearing one democrat critical of the letter!
The road to respect and civility is a two way street.
Lets examine the definition of whore
1. A prostitute.
2. A person considered sexually promiscuous.
3. A person considered as having compromised principles for personal gain.
Would not selling parking spaces to students to finance bonuses be considered as having compromised principles for personal gain? 10:10 is on the right track.
You're not making it easy for me, 12:53 PM.
Elaine
My sympathies to Mrs. Jeanine Szalinski, Open Records Officer for MTLSD.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postgazette/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=167065153#fbLoggedOut
Elaine
This is the first time the Superintendent's salary was not announced in the meeting motion which said the board would vote on the motion "in substantially the form presented." Did Timmy and Tommy fill in the blank for our super Super's salary? What was unsettled in the motion?
The Super deal was remarkable because it was an early bird deal, too late for the earlier discussion session, and needing to be acted on months before it needed to be acted on, so as to be put to bed before the community sleeps through another election, no several elections, in the self-affirming power grab for the current board.
12:53, the issue of charging students $5,000 in parking fees because the district 'supposedily' is desperate for cash, then turning around and doling out $5,000 in bonuses is maddening.
But, the people that profited did not approve either the fee or the bonuses, the board did.
Which brings up the important question.
How can the board, via the advice from the administration, I'd imagine... constantly be clamoring for more and more revenue?
Higher taxes, more state reimbursement, new and higher fees and now for the first time in the history of this affluent community's history... begging.
The problem we need to pay attention to- is what is driving the need for ever more money.
It can't be we're not paying our SD employees enough. They're already at levels far above average.
It can't be they're falling behind, it was announce this week that median income in this country has actually declined for the last ten years. We know for sure the districts paychecks haven't been stagnant.
I get it, it's that we don't offer inexpensive health insurance or lucrative pensions! That's it, right?
While the local republican party hasn't given us much in the way of alternatives, one thing voters can do is retain Gov. Corbett is counter the powerful teachers union.
He seems to be a thorn in their side.
Know what would be fun, a round table disussion in MTL magazine with current and former blog owners.
Susan Morgans Fleming, Elaine Gillen, Kristen Linfante, Joe Polk, Mike Madison, Tom Moertel, the Fraaschs, Jo Posti, Mike Madison, Dave Franklin.
Some of the question could be:
Why do you blog?
Do you think your blog is objective? Should it be?
Do comments need to be civil on a blog?
Should elected officials be responsible to correct misinformation?
Since MTL magazine is the "official" community magazine wouldn't this be of interest to the community?
Social media is a trendy topic right now.
Just a thought. I'd be interesting hearing others' opinions though I doubt our community magazine editor would ever do anything so heavy or controversial.
OMG, are you trying to kill me? Fun? I would rather get a root canal. I do like the majority of those people though, probably because you listed Mike Madison twice.
There was something like you described. It was "How to disagree without being disagreeable" Remember? They didn't like anonymous comments. You want to go back to that?
Elaine
Sorry, no I'd hate to see you or your blog killed.
Yes, I do remember the "Disagreeable" town hall now that you've reminded me.
Funny, they didn't invite anyone that might have strong opposing convictions.
Apparently, certain PTA and school board campaign people didn't learn anything from that meeting, since I heard they felt empowered to rip down campaign posters at polling places they didn't like.
Mike Madison deserved two mentions!
The Democratic Committee brought us commissioners who rigged an open bid to exclude a minority woman. Tommy Dunn and the teachers union should raise the funds to pay the municipal legal fees and any other municipal expenses.
9:21 PM, that is just nonsense. The commissioners weren't even there!
Elaine
Where did you even get that information? It had nothing to do with gender. It had nothing to do with Democrats or commissioners. Jeeze. And as you like to say, get your facts straight.
Elaine
Sorry, it had nothing to do with Tommy Dunn or the teachers' union either. Or global warming. Or Hurricane Katrina, Bush or even Corbett. How do you even come up with this stuff?
Elaine
Hun?
Not following these last four comments. What is being discussed now?
9:21 PM is talking about the municipal pool bids lawsuit. He doesn't have a clue. Tommy Dunn is with the Mt. Lebanon REPUBLICAN Committee. The teachers union has nothing to do with the municipal lawsuit. Note to self: Take a deep breath and go to a happy place.
Elaine
I wish people would stay on topic. We were discussing why one Democrat resident was offended by some post jokingly using the word "whores" in the same sentence as " school board". Others have pointed out that is the party affiliation that had no problem ripping down campaign signs in polling places, a clear violation of law ( for you Democrats who arent whores, that means it was illegal.
1:00 am can you please drop the whore reference?
You're not making any friends or influencing enemies.
215: can you stop being so sensitive and find a sense of humor? Obviously Elaine thought it made the cut or she wouldnt have posted it. She has that choice. And the whore reference was the point of this entire thread. Go read the opening.
A golden rule ...
There's a quick test you can take to know whether or not you're acting properly towards others. How do you treat people that you don't have to be nice to?
You can instantly learn about a person's self-esteem by observing just how they treat people to whom they don't have to be nice.
Sadly, many people will act one way toward their boss and people they want to impress but then become demanding or rude when speaking to some others.
Ironically, it's actually a huge boost to your self-esteem when you treat other people - regardless of who they are - with tremendous respect.
This shows that you have a strong self-image and you don't need to knock someone down in order for you to feel taller. In fact, the better you can make others feel, the higher your own self-esteem will soar. It's a law of nature.
While you might feel an artificial increase in your self-esteem when others bow down to you, the exact opposite is true. So start practicing the real golden rule, and treat everyone you meet like pure gold.
-- Adam Lieberman
Elaine tries her best not to censor anyone's comments,
8:15, I think you missed the whole point of the post... "Tone it down, Guys".
I don't think that means... let's see how many ways you can use 'whore' in a sentence.
Here's a new word for you-- poopie. Now you can around the blogging room saying... poopie, poopie, poopie like some impetuous 5 year old.
See I do have a sense of humor.
You know, I have taken a lot of crap from people here in Leboland, starting with this Feb. 12, 2010 4:52 AM question I asked on Real Lebo.
"Anonymous Feb 12, 2010 04:52 AM
Tom, Mr. Ewing, or anyone else that can do the math, I have never been a numbers person. You know, left brain vs. right brain. Would you be able to show the calculations using Ms. Klein's now approved preliminary budget forecast? I never receive any of the emails that "are going around" and rely on the various Mt. Lebanon blogs and websites for information. It might help people like me, who are in awe of number crunchers.
Elaine Gillen"
I was heckled when I tried to present a petition with 3,333 signatures. I would like to blame the Democrats, but at a later meeting, was treated with
disrespect by both Democrats and Republicans when trying to submit additional signatures.
I remember the Act 34 hearing, Swamp Fox number whatever. The Swamp Fox articulated my feelings perfectly. (I heart the Swamp Fox.) The School Board has been treating constituents like the dog crap at Williamsburg Park for YEARS. And it will continue for at least two more years, when the next round of elections start. Now, they have no reason to be nice. They're all going to win.
As 1:00 AM pointed out, the school board has no ethics. I am not sure of that school board member's party affiliation at the time, when tearing down signs at the polls. We have one board member who plagiarizes. Then there is the school board member who was on national TV showing corporations how deny American workers jobs and do it legally. I try to help people look presentable at job interviews with Dress 4 Work, which is coming up again in November. There are school board presidents who are disrespectful to residents trying to speak during citizens comments. Come to think of it, that goes on now at commission meetings.
Our frustration is at an all time high. Our emails are ignored. We are told to file RTKs for every stinkin' thing.
Yet, the school board members have their parties try to shut me down. And I have to ask the readers to tone it down. Go figure.
Elaine
Just an FYI, this is the response I got on Real Lebo.
"Elaine Labalme Feb 12, 2010 06:00 AM
Ms. Gillen, I'd like to suggest that you attend School Board meetings, where forecasts and budgets are discussed by Jan Klein, the District's point person on these matters. She also answers questions from the Board on same. Alternatively, the meetings are televised. Further, the Board's Audit and Finance Committee meetings are also open to the public. I attend a LOT of meetings and get much good information from them.
There is a lot of armchair quarterbacking going on in our community right now and extrapolating of incomplete numbers for forecasts that are seven years out from our last audited figures. These worse-case scenarios tend to create unnecessary fear and are simply not grounded in reality.
Ms. Gillen, I know you are a frequent contributor at other local blogs. Surely, you can reach out to Mr. Moertel and Mr. Ewing for their analyses in private and/or elsewhere and do not need to post your request at this blog. It's akin to sending an email with a loaded question to one person and cc'ing a hundred others. It makes one wonder if you really want the question answered or if the point isn't to rattle the masses."
Elaine
Elaine, I don't think you have to "tone down" the questions, demands for answers or the yoir insistance for tranparency or honesty from our elected officials.
Its like the persistent demand for turf. The proponents know there isn't widespread support for it, but they push and push until they get their way or screw up everything like stormwater maintenance, road repair until the community capitulates.
If this wasn't their agenda they'd pick a field,present an accurate well thought plan and offer it as a referendum.
Thankfully, due to your blog, even with its occasional 'uncivil' flaws, residents are being informed.
We saw it on the Williamsburg dog issue. A few vocal dog owners didn't impose their wants on everybody else.
Thanks, Elaine!
Funny isn't it Elaine, that the audit and finance meetings that person directed you to attend no longer exist.
So much for transparency.
Plus, that same person sat in the audience when you did attend SB meetings, stepped up to the podium to ask your questions and snickered rudely.
Such is the MO of the 'civil' left. Then when called on their behavior, they dash behind the shield of "why are you picking on me, I'm just a mom?"
I'm wondering-- all those $150 million BOSN people that mocked their nieghbors that asked for a $60-80 million HS as they did in the DeJong meetings, where are they now?
Are any of them droppiing the $1,000, $2,000, $5,000 they would be paying in SD taxes had they gotten their way... Into the PK fundraiser.
Shouldn't they be first on the list of donors?
How about the Ward 4 commissioner, if I remember he was a big, big supporter of the $150 million new school.
Ms. LaBlame says, "Further, the Board's Audit and Finance Committee meetings are also open to the public.:
Ms. LaBlame, there is no Audit and Finance Committee and there hasn't been one for two years.
Mrs. Gillen, isn't it wonderful how Twittering-Timmy surrounds himself with half-wits who spread lies and then blocks you, who tell the truth, on his Twitter account.
The inmates are running the asylum.
The Boardrules by "Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil" unless it is someone that expects fiscal restraint and responsibilty.
Then they attack you with a vengence, like they have Elaine and Gov. Corbett.
Ms. Deluca, here's a hint for you....get a copy of the Act 34 hearing transcript and those who spoke in favor of the glitzy high school project should be your first round of "go to" folks for large pledges. At least three of them were or are currently on the school board.
Good luck with that.
Another suggestion Ms. DeLuca, appeal to their hearts, remind them that "it's for the children!"
Then if that doesn't work, go for the head. Call them heartless, cheapskates.
Hey, why not... It worked fpr the HS proponents.
1026: Its a longshot but I'm still hopeful you'll go back and read the original post for this thread and then actually grasp the dripping sarcasm. I don't want to speak for Elaine but as has been noted, the school board acts like a bunch of thugs, someone posts a bit of a shot at them and Elaine is the one being chastised. Well, and me for using the word whores when referring to the original post that referenced use of "whores". I feel terrible you don't understand irony. And I feel even worse that you thought "poopie" was a clever retort.
So I wont use the word whores to refer to our school board. I missed the memo that states we all have to cater to one individual with some aversion to the word whore. But if it's that important to one reader, then no more. I have seen the light. From this point on, I will refer to the school board as poopie. You've certainly taught me a lesson about maturity and civility. Of course, it doesnt change the behavior of the school board. You can put lipstick on a pig but
..oh, does the word pig offend you?
Was it Dave B. that sent you the email? You drive him crazy! It's so hard to not laugh in his face when he whines about your blog. Keep it up...
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