The choice was between this and requiring registration prior to commenting. I decided I didn't want to do this and would instead decide which comments will become viewable and which will be dismissed.
You can read the offending remarks below (the desensitizing of the term Nazi is what particularly bothered me, you can read more on the problem this causes by someone else here). The entire thread is still available - What Does Community Pride Mean to You? It is disappointing to me, but I guess as the site grows and word spreads I've got to manage it more carefully. What scares me is the fact that this person seems to be a teacher in the Nazareth School District.
Twelve years ago I made the unfortunate decision to settle in Nazareth and raise a family. I made the incorrect assumption that a community over 250 years old would have more tradition and community pride than this one does.
An even bigger disappointment has been the vastly over-rated schools. There are a number of good teachers, but we they are basically instructed to teach with the single minded goal of performing well on the standardized tests. What you basically see is a school with a good demographic getting good results while they should be getting great ones.
The recreation facilities stink ... no community centers, a lousy track, no pool, etc. The longer you wait the more it will cost. And all we do is cater to the elderly - lets let them into sporting events for free. Nice move Don Keller. Why? If you don't build the facilities your football, boys basketball, etc. are going to stink.
Since you don't have the facilities of an LVC school you might as well go back to the Colonial League and wrestle Easton, Northampton, etc. independently.
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Posted by Anonymous to NewsOverCoffee: Nazareth News at 8/10/2006 09:07:58 AM
NOC, thanks for driving home another point that I neglected to make. As a whole, the people of this town lack introspection. They think they have it going on, but the really don't. Actually, not even close. Others do not perceive you as you perceive yourselves.
I chuckled a few years back when a Bethlehem NAACP member implied that Nazareth was a racist community. The leadership of Nazi-reth was appalled.
It takes much more than throwing money at a situation to fix it. And you can't fix a problem with intolerance until you acknowledge there is one.
Your schools are a Columbine waiting to happen. Parents pit their kids against each other. The problems start at the top - its nuture (or lack thereof) not nature. The culture in this community stinks.
I love how you spend your recreation $$$s. What is 2/3 of the money allocated to the lame Nazareth days. Meanwhile, where is the Boro's girls softball program? Oh, thats right you neglected it to the point where it was dissolved. The girls equipment was so poor that Upper Nazareth threw it all away because it was garbage.
A skate park, a track, a community center with gymnasium space. Please, anything. You are the second wealthiest district in Norco outside of Saucon yet you offer the teachers an insulting pay increase and have no recreation to offer the young families that are misled on the "great" school district.
Nazi-reth. DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE.
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Posted by Anonymous to NewsOverCoffee: Nazareth News at 8/10/2006 04:12:37 PM
I can't take the credit for coming up with the moniker, but that is what people from the Lehigh Valley call our wonderful town.
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Posted by Anonymous to NewsOverCoffee: Nazareth News at 8/10/2006 05:22:29 PM
3 comments:
Ross, I'll be frank since you are moderating the comment. First, I don't think the comments made were inappropriate. No individual was attacked. Someone honestly believes Nazareth is bigoted and fascist. That is not a view I share, but it is a view I've heard echoed throughout the Lehigh Valley. Second, I notice that when blogs are moderated or don't allow comment at all, they lose a lot of readers. The give and take is part of the fun. Yesterday, I checked your blog at least ten times to see oif ther were any new comments. Third, you own the blog. If something offends you, why not simply remove it?
I think you do an outstanding job covering Nazareth, and think the flkurry of comments yesterday is a compliment to you and your ability. People won't associate that remark with you. And really, it should be heard so it can be dioscounted. Just my opinion, buddy, from one blogger to another.
No reason for you to post this comment. Just think about it.
To clarify, and so everyone understands:
You can still post anonymous comments or identified ones.
The only difference is that I will be able to read them and then determine whether or not to post them.
I will not edit them.
Don't be afraid to shock me, but if you are offensive in my opinion I will not publish the comment.
Sorry to have to increase the delay in the conversation, but I think it is important that everyone is comfortable posting their opinion and comment without fear of being flamed online.
This site was intended for us to work together, not to rant, rave, and rationalize one's own short-comings by attacking others.
To those who have contributed and read on a regular basis, thank you for understanding, and if I've missed something on this, please don't hesitate to let me know.
Have a great weekend,
Ross
In truth I don't want to moderate, it takes time and effort, but I also didn't want to make everyone register.
I could go and remove a comment here and there and maybe I'll try that.
I'm perfectly fine with someone expressing their opinion. If the person believes Nazareth is racist and bigoted, go ahead and say it. To sound off and call it Nazi-reth is disrespectful and belittles what took place in Nazi Germany. It shows no concern or compassion to the five million plus people who were killed by the nazi's, and desensitizes people to the atrocity.
Again, I appreciate your comments and agree with the notion of removing posts. I don't want to moderate it this closely mostly because it does disrupt the conversation, especially on a day like today when I have no ability to check all day long, but at the same time that would mean a post that is offensive is online for that time as well.
I'll think it over during the weekend - enjoy.
Ross
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