Four of the last five weeks, the same person (based on IP addresses, at least) has left a comment on my Editor’s Note. They work the same sort of theme: Dan Gibson sucks.
A recap:
“This sad little paper. How far it has fallen. Gibson is just a symptom.”
“”Fellow” journalists? That’s a reach. Oh, I guess you mean your book, Besides the Bible. Ground-breaker, that is. So to speak.”
“The genius of Dan’s columns is their self-infatuated inter-changeability. Key is “I, me, me, me, me and I.” The rest is just filler. Plug in a new topic, and you’re good to go.”
“Dan Gibson talking about authenticity. That’s rich.”
I don’t mention this to say that I can’t (or don’t have the desire to) handle criticism. I get it, it’s part of the job (for better or likely worse). It’s not even to say that people can’t leave anonymous comments, since I think the possibility of good (someone having the opportunity to state their opinion without the fear of retribution) outweighs the bad (trolls) that comes from our decision to allow them.
It’s more that I don’t understand why someone would feel the need to spend even a minute of their time this way. No one makes you read the Weekly or even more specifically the Editor’s Note. It’s not forced upon you somehow, so if the paper is “sad” or I’m a self-infatuated pseudo-journalist, just walk on by. I have my guess of who this person is, but it doesn’t really matter. I actually wish for whoever it is more happiness than could possibly come from caring so much about me.
But hey, at some point on Saturday, if the trend holds up, maybe “Anne” (or “Joni” or whatever name this particular user is going by this week) will provide some insight online regarding what I’ve done that’s worth taking a bit of time out of their weekend to heckle me at TucsonWeekly.com. I sort of hope not, though.
Dan Gibson, Editor
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2014.
Dan,
I think one can see the kind of comments you are referring to as abuse. Abusers abuse because they know it can make others feel bad which gives them a sense of control.
We try to teach children not to tolerate abuse and to report it. We tell women and men that they need not tolerate abuse.
If it feels like abuse, it probably is abuse. People can and should know the difference between a personal attack and a construction criticism.
Personally, I think the Tucson Weekly -Tucson’s alternative newspaper – has improved since the time you became its editor.
Stand tall, and don’t be shy about shutting down the abuse of anyone good enough to write for the TW.
Face it, Dan. He’s pissed off about the price of subscriptions to the Weekly.
Or something.
You have my sympathy Dan. I know what it feels like to be continually bullied. You have to remember to consider the source.
Unless you are wrong about everything.
Dan,
TW has been my “go to” source for news in the Baked Pueblo for over 20 years and with few exceptions it has never disappointed. Lately there has been a tendency for TW writers and editors to strike back at those offering comments attacking their published work. Safier’s childish rant tops the list and now this.
If, “I get it, it’s part of the job (for better or likely worse).” means anything, learning to ignore specious attacks is part of standing before the oven cooking up the next meal. It does not mean checking the IP addresses of suspected naysayers. You really have the time – your own or your IT staff’s – to sift through the muck to determine who had the temerity to assault you with a foam baton?
TW continues its fine work under your leadership, don’t demean it or yourself with petty witch hunts for disagreeable commenters.
It only takes a few seconds to check the IP attached to a comment. Not sure that constitutes a “witch hunt”. More like outing trolls/stalkers who are too cowardly to stand by their attacks IRL. I’ve been on the receiving end of this sort of behavior on my blog and it can be really creepy and unsettling. I don’t blame Gibson a bit for addressing it.
Not me,but as I said before,since 1033 took over,there is less Investigative jouralism in TW,and ruined website re-design,with more clutter slows down the website. People FORGET that poor people use older cumpters,and with only 1.1 million bytes per second.(That what you get when using CenturyLink $9.99 special!
Rick: On the admin side, the IP address shows next to the comment…it’s mostly to just keep track of if people are leaving multiple comments under different usernames. Doesn’t come up often, but it takes zero effort and is a relatively common feature.
I think I did a terrible job of getting the idea across, but I don’t so much care about negative comments. Let’s take Rat T, for example, who hates nearly everything we do, but mostly sticks to criticizing the content and not lobbing personal attacks on the writers. I get the the idea of “hate-reading” a website, but it seems like there are better ways to spend one’s time. But hey, every click counts, right?
Thanks for the clarification Dan. Here I had you confused with the NSA (smile).
Keep up the fine work.
Thanks for the mention Dan, but I wouldn’t keep coming back if I didn’t enjoy it. I think many people get the wrong opinion of my opinions. I don’t spend time commenting on things I like. Just assume I like them. But then again, my printed comments look like I hate everything because I comment on the things I disagree with.
You guys do a great job of getting me to comment.
Thank you.
Dan, I just saw this:
http://tucson.com/business/local/editor-gibson-to-leave-tucson-weekly/article_842f0982-7024-11e4-9f3a-63c334aca38a.html
…and I want to wish you well. we would all do well to promote Tucson as people that visit come back. Some bring their families, some bring their companies, and Tucson needs all the visits it can get.
First idea (and I would like to help you with many) is to forge a deal that connects the folks with the bicycle ranch idea, together at Colossal cave and then link an offroad route to the fairgrounds. This would bring restaurants and ultimately hotels to Houghton/Vail and I-10. (and lots of other commerce)
Next we need a Tucson Jazzfest modeled after New Orleans Venue. One venue downtown, one at Kino Stadium and one at the fairgrounds. Force Suntran to get their act together and provide transportation between the venues. Late March/early April.
You want visitors? That will do it.