Bloggers learn their manners from newspapers

The Virginian ^ | 7/20/2010 | Moneyrunner

[moneyrunner]

Ever wonder where the intemperate, aggressive name calling comes from on the Internet? Could be newspaper people blogging from their offices.

Let’s face it; the Internet is filled with ad hominem attacks on people, often in the crudest terms. But here’s a perfectly good example that you don’t even have to turn on your computer to find. It’s right there on the opinion column of the Virginian Pilot (link to paid subscribers).

It’s penned by Gene Smith, an editorial writer for the Fayetteville Observer and here’s how he characterizes people who don’t agree with him on the illegal immigration issue: Still, I’m nostalgic for a time, less than a decade behind us, when we could talk about such things without having civil discussion hijacked by chronically enraged people with heads full of bumper stickers and mouths filled with hateful slogans. We don’t have to guess what Gene’s position is on illegal immigrants and what to do about them. He’s for something euphemistically called “comprehensive immigration reform” which is an effort by the Left to make all the illegal immigrants in this country citizens. We tried that once and were promised that if laws were passed to allow illegals to become legal citizens, the illegal immigration problem would be solved.

They lied.

So now well over half the country wants to approach the illegal immigrant problem by first stopping more illegal immigrants from entering the country and then working out a solution about those already here. So now Gene is calling those people, the majority of the country “chronically enraged ... and hateful.” Gene, let me tell you that when you make an argument by insulting your audience, you’re not going to persuade anyone.

But back to intemperate attacks on people, the editors of the Virginian Pilot who reprinted Gene's venom apparently do not consider printing an attack on more than half the people in the country in the vilest terms a problem. So, where do the bloggers who spew venom on the Internet learn their manners? On the editorial pages of their newspapers. Because it’s fun to call your opponents names. Newspaper people learned that hundreds of years ago when they were the only ones allowed to do that. Today’s blogosphere is a mirror of the abuse that the newsboys and girls have been dishing out. Look in the mirror news people, because these people are you.

[moneyrunner]

Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit was kind enough to link

[centurion316]

I just cry myself to sleep every night thinking about the terrible fate that awaits theses poor, innocent newspaper people. What is going to happen to the reporters and lawyers for the Las Vegas Journal Review, for example? How will they make it through the winter? It brings tears to my eyes, I tell you.

[FrankR]

"Let’s face it; the Internet is filled with ad hominem attacks on people, often in the crudest terms."

Make no mistake...these attacks are the blowback from years of having government crammed down our throats, with only the mainstream media's take (and opinion) on it.

We now have the means of telling OUR side of how the people feel that have been treated like sheep. We also might have the chance to awaken a few people who have always ACTED like sheep.

The liberals are ducking for cover and trying to find a way to shut us all up, but they have waited too long...if they think shutting off the internet is the answer, I've got two words for them: "relief valve".

You take away the forum we have to vent on, and that ire and anger you have caused over the years will manifest itself in other ways. Now we all know we are not ALONE in how we feel...the toothpaste is out of the tube, and there is no putting it back.

So you thinskinned, libtards go ahead and push for censorship, but don't act surprised afterwards...we'll still be here but then you won't know exactly WHERE we will be next.

[moneyrunner]

Doesn't Nevada have brothels where these media whores can make a more honest living?

[republicangel]

I pulled out my copy of the Virginian Pilot to read the article. I don't see the same thing that you see. He's just calling us "chronically enraged people". Whatever.

That was his attempt to make everyone see the illegals as just people that want a better life for themselves and their families. I don't agree with him.

The main reason we can't talk about these things like 10 years ago, is that there are so many more illegals here now (or at least it seems that way). Include the unemployment rate and that is going to cause some issues.

[moneyrunner]

Make no mistake...these attacks are the blowback from years of having government crammed down our throats, with only the mainstream media's take (and opinion) on it.

There's a good article that makes the point that Rush's term "state run media" is not accurate. If it were, they would have shilled for Bush during his term in office.

They are the One Party Media

What we have is One-Party Media: newspapers, broadcast networks, newsmagazines which represent the views and preoccupations of the Democratic Party and the political left, and consistently denigrate or ignore the views and preoccupations of the political right or centre-right; and which very often systematically ignore any news or information which might reflect badly on the one party, or reflect well on the policies, proposals, or values of the other.

It is extraordinary, and I think unprecedented, that a free press has voluntarily transformed itself into something not very different from the controlled press in an undemocratic country. But that is what has happened.

[moneyrunner]

This was a direct quote from the article describing the people he says are ruining the discussion chronically enraged people with heads full of bumper stickers and mouths filled with hateful slogans

Now I don't know about you, but when someone tells me that I'm chronically enraged spouting hateful slogans, I take offense.

Now of course this is par for the course in newspaper-land, and that's my point. These are the people who have set the table for those who now have access to the Internet and can talk back.

Regards ... Whatever.

[April Lexington]

Let’s face it; the Internet is filled with ad hominem attacks on people, often in the crudest terms.

You mean like when we say mean things about that *sswipe turd, Barrack H. Obama?

[moneyrunner]

To your other point: That was his attempt to make everyone see the illegals as just people that want a better life for themselves and their families. I don't agree with him.

Of course he's going to depict the illegals as victims, as innocents simply trying to get ahead. And truth be told, they are in many cases. One big answer to ending their victimization is to stop them from coming here and becoming victims of the people who are exploiting them.

Have you ever considered that the ones who come here illegally and are being exploited are telling the people back home in Mexico what their conditions are ... and millions more come over to be "exploited." Do you ever wonder what a hell hole Mexico must be if people by the millions are willing to come here and endure backbreaking labor for a pittance?

[moneyrunner]

Well, I've never used those terms. Feel free to do so because the press biggies at Journolist used those terms describing us.

[GOPJ]

Nice post. Thanks.

[April Lexington]

Sorry about the crudeness. I was just making point about unequal treatment...

[moneyrunner]

No, no. I was not being critical. I have been called worse things on FR than your description of St. Obama.