Readers’ Note: On Oct. 27 The Chronicle, Duke Univeristy’s student newspaper, ran an editorial, “Bloggers get point. Miss complexity.”
I tried to leave the comment below on the thread that follows the editorial. I kept getting error messages and have contacted the online editor.
I encourage all of you to read the editorial and the comment thread. As I say in the comment here, I’ll soon post on the editorial.
John
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I'd like to thank all the commenters who've spoken here on behalf of responsible bloggers. You've pointed out important things The Chronicle editors ignored.
I especially appreciate your comments because I’m one of only two bloggers (KC Johnson's the other) The Chronicle specifically mentioned in its editorial criticizing bloggers for, among other things, vilifying President Brodhead and for our lack of expertise and study regarding complex issues related to the Hoax case.
Do any of you think we'll soon see a Chronicle editorial explaining the appreciation for complexity and expertise a blogger or any decent person must have in order to criticize, as I have, President Brodhead and the A&S faculty for remaining silent when racists hollered threats, including "There's a dead man walking," at Reade Seligmann on May 18?
You don't need to be an expert to ask, as I have: "Why did President Brodhead refuse to meet with the lax parents on Mar. 25; and having not met with the parents then, why has he failed to meet with them since?"
I'll be saying more at my blog later today and in the next few days about the editorial, including addressing the issues of anonymity, vetting and editing.
Thank you again for speaking out.
John
www.johnincarolina.com
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Commenting at The Chronicle
Posted by JWM at 10:43 AM
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5 comments:
The comments are "human reviewed" before posting - there is significant delay. Is that the error of which you speak? I thought they had tossed my comments but they showed up finally. I made another comment this morning that has not yet appeared.
I seem to be posting successfully. Want me to copy your comments over there?
I'm sorry, but there is simply nothing complex to the reaction of Duke University or the Minister of Justice in Durham.
Both are guilty of ignoring due process and granting the lacrosse players the right to which they are entitled: the presumption of innocence. Abiding by this fundamental principle of our legal tradition would have saved both parties the extreme humiliation they both have earning.
This is even more true for Duke University since they relied upon an official of the court who was not very reliable. I wonder how Mr. Broadhead feels about suspending the team and firing the Coach and expelling the students based upon the statements of the DA who now admits he has never even interviewed the "victim." Its too bad that Mr. Broadhead refused to be a leader and take an unpopular stand with a liberal faculty that was virtually orgasmic with the thought that there was an episode to demonsrate the White Male Pariarchy boogy man. But, since he did adopt the views of Mr. Nifong and take action on them and act without a backbone, he now owns the disaster. Its time for Mr. Broadhead to resign.
As for Nifong, he doesn't have enough towels to wipe the egg from his face. I trust that the voters and the state bar, and if there is justice, the FBI or SBI will deal with him in due time.
But The Chronicle is merely trying to straddle the fence by suggesting that there are "complexities". There are none here. The rights of the accused were ignored. This is an attempt to play to both ends of the extreme. But there is no wiggle room, there is no doubt about anything now. At the outset, one could have doubted the innocence of the players, but still given them the presumption to which they are entitled.
There should be no reference to "complexities" now. The truth is clear and those who ignored the presumption to which each citizen is entitled should own up to their mistake. Broadhead should resign, the gang of 88 each should go, and well Nifong he should get life.
Don't you think that Duke has dug itself in so deep into the PC idiocy that there is no practical way we can get rid of Bonehead and the 88, not even considering tenure.
To 4:06 Excellent and accurate analysis of the situation. Well said.
John,
Thanks for the great job you do. I have posted a comment at the Chronicle in support of the blogs and their dedication to being truth seekers.
I left a comment at The Chronicle this afternoon; presumably it is hung up in moderation.
It's ironic that the editor (editors) repeatedly describe the deficiencies of those bloggers, but without supplying hyperlinks to the posts they apparently have in mind.
Imagine if a blogger cultivated this habit of saying "just trust me" to his or her readers, in preference to linking relevant articles. How long would it be until readership fell to the single digits?
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