[Vision2020] List Impact
Ted Moffett
starbliss at gmail.com
Sat Jan 20 14:56:22 PST 2007
All-
Vision2020 is certainly of value, offering another outlet for information
and an opportunity for open discussion without censorship or advertising
revenue to worry about. To measure the value would require a statistical
survey of the community. I suspect the impact is small, given that a
limited number of subscribers, somewhere around 500, the last I saw, read
and/or participate, though many read the archives without a subscription.
Again, without an accurate statistical survey, we don't know the impact..
This unmoderated list both causes problems yet offers a freedom that
provides benefits.
While much of the negative content drives people away, I suspect that for
another group the gossip and "heated" discussion attracts readers! And that
many who do not like the focus on certain issues or personalities, and yet
continue to subscribe, sometimes even after announcing they were cancelling
because they thought the list a waste of time, or a blot on the community,
betray that they think Vision2020 to be important.
Vision2020 can be viewed as an experiment in pure democratic speech with no
restrictions...And given this assumption, the harsh, heated, dogmatic,
hostile voices of people will inevitably be expressed. Rather than viewing
this as wholly negative, and thus rendering the list fatally flawed, I
suggest that in some respects this is healthy... It provides an outlet for
frustration and confrontation that can be relatively safe, and is a sign of
a "realness" to the debates and discussions, rather than having a sanitized
polite version of debate which hides the intense emotional nature of peoples
opinions.
Some of the personalities that have appeared on Vision2020 were a major
annoyance (to put it mildly) for many, but certain of these personalities
gave/give the list readership a taste of what real people are really
thinking about certain moral and political issues, like gay rights or
the Iraq war. This could be viewed as a wake up call regarding the opinions
of many in the USA, a window into a kind of thinking that is far more common
than some might want to realize, that is having a dramatic impact on the
direction the USA is taking.
You might not get this same kind of uncensored "wake up call" from other
forms of more regulated or censored media.
Ted Moffett
On 1/18/07, david sarff <davesway at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Dear Pat,Tim, et al.
> I don't think we can measure the full value yet. It would be hard to deny
> that it didn't impact Alturas, Wal-Mart , third street bridge, D street
> stop sign, the highway south, the last election…lots of things really.
> Pat is correct within one or two band widths of frequency. The CC and
> other
> lightning rod issues along with our individual expression of opinion,
> take
> up a lot of space. This form of communication is very young though. There
> are several levels of interaction sorting themselves out. It is crude and
> I
> wouldn't expect things to smooth out for many years.
> I happen to believe in evolution. It is a very slow process of nature and
> none of us get the option of fast forward beyond our present capabilities
> and this includes the ability to understand others and have them
> understand
> us.
> Things come in waves here. I remember a long going argument about gun
> rights
> that went on and on and on before the CC thing happened . Not a word on
> that
> in years now.
> Mr. Wilson came in here and did quickly set himself up as a lighting rod.
> But beyond Tom and Doug F's antics, that realm of discussion has evolved
> some. The wolf discussion going on now is good. There is a variety of
> stuff.
> I don't think Tom Trail , Shirley Ringo or Jennifer McFarland would post
> anything if they didn't think there was value to the community here.
> As for myself, this community has gone through some growth oriented
> changes
> that have seriously damaged my sense of identity that is personally and
> deeply founded in a wholly different kind of community. One where you just
> about knew everyone you passed on the street. Its as if somebody is
> Picassoing the Palouse with readjustments of familiar surroundings. This
> medium has made up for at least some of the dysphoria I feel about all
> that
> and so it is very welcome.
> Could it be better, well, sure thing about that.
> Dave
>
> >
> >No, v2020 really has no real affect on Moscow...most of the people in
> this
> >community do not even know it exists. Others have tried it and given up
> in
> >disgust. Only an elitists few actually read it every day and post
> anything
> >only some of which is actually valuable. It has become known as a site
> >wherein attacks on Doug Wilson are so personal as to be slanderous. And
> >those looking to throw out Christ Church have turned this site into a
> hate
> >factory. On many occasions when I have been introduced to someone here in
> >town I hear many comments on what and who posts and the hate that is
> here.
> >J ford, Joan and others have ruined it for so many. The progress of
> Moscow
> >is not and I repeat NOT tied to Christ Church.
> >Yes, I also post here and read what is being said and on occasion even
> post
> >something usually just to present something of another view point. But of
> a
> >22 thou population why would anyone think that those who post here have
> any
> >influence on the rest of this city? Vision 2020 is not about and forward
> >vision for Moscow it is a place where in J ford and others can attack and
> >individual and a church with their personal hate and try to make others
> >believe it all...Oh! and of course it is in the name of religion.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Tim Lohrmann
> > To: Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 10:42 AM
> > Subject: [Vision2020] List Impact
> >
> >
> > All,
> >
> > A subscriber to another list I check occasionally asked an interesting
> >question the other day.
> > One that might be worth discussing here as well.
> >
> > It was simply: "Overall, does this list have a positive or negative
> >impact on the community."
> >
> > What about V2020's impact?
> >
> > Later,
> > TL
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Those 'technicalities' have a name, Bobby. They're called the Bill of
> >Rights."
> >
> > ----Hank Hill
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Don't pick lemons.
> > See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos.
> >
> >
>
> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
> > =======================================================
> > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > http://www.fsr.net
> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > =======================================================
>
>
> >=======================================================
> > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > http://www.fsr.net
> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> >=======================================================
>
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>
> =======================================================
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> http://www.fsr.net
> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> =======================================================
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>
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