Re: Editorial “We won’t be bullied by anyone,” published Aug. 26.
So you are insulted that someone trashed your reporter and paper anonymously.
Have you ever read the comments in your online forum? That is where you encourage your readers to trash whatever and whomever they want anonymously, and they do.
Of course, you do print a disclaimer so you cannot be held responsible. Maybe clean up your own act and then you will have the right to be insulted.
Keith Harris
Sudbury
Editor’s response:
Like it or not, the ability to post anonymously or under an assumed name on media websites is the common practice. We agree, an unfortunate symptom of this system is that encourages trolling behaviour in some visitors.
The difference, though, between a media site like NorthernLife.ca and Wikileaks Sudbury is that we attempt to encourage discussion and debate, not name-calling, through our comment guidelines, by allowing readers to flag comments for review if they feel something is inappropriate, and through regularly monitoring discussions to remove comments that fall outside the rules of good decorum. The system also allows us to ban readers for repeated trolling.
Is it a perfect system? No, comments do get missed, but it is one that strikes a balance between a free-for-all and a closed debate.
We do not encourage “readers to trash whatever and whomever they want.” In fact, the trolls are few compared to the readers who simply want to share their opinions, and who do a pretty good job of helping us police the trolls.
This is a far cry from sites like Wikileaks Sudbury, in which the debate is one way and one opinion, delivered anonymously and without sources, credentials or proof of any accusation being made. If someone takes issue with something we’ve printed, or with a comment posted on the website, Northern Life is just a phone call or car ride away. Someone defamed by Wikileaks Sudbury has no recourse at all.
Mark Gentili
Managing Editor