Recently I sent a note to my editors (Ben Smith and Gur Tsabar) in which I requested a sense of their vision for this site. You see I have observed that Room Eight isn’t attracting new blood or young blood. Out of the original writers in this colony many have left or stopped being productive. Plus, the site sometimes gets bogged down in crappy threads initiated by mischievous commenters. There is a perception out there that this site has lost some of its luster. Also, Ben Smith has lost his focus (understandably so; given his tremendous work for “Politico”, on the current presidential primary campaign); Room Eight isn’t as high on his priority-list as it was before. All this hurts this site.
So as we get to the end of our second year on this political website, I think it is time for the editors to re-examine our policies, and also to re-evaluate our objectives. What are we trying to accomplish here? Is it about educating the public relative to the politics of the five boroughs of NYC? If so; where are the writers from the outer boroughs (Queens and Staten Island)? Where are the other Larry Littlefields, Natapols or Jerry Skurniks, et al?
I believe that one of the reasons Room Eight’s quality has declined over this past year, has been because of the many silly fights on the threads. I will accept some the blame here; but only a little. I hate to start fights but I sure do not avoid them when I should. I would like the editors to revisit our policy towards anonymous commenters. They should not be allowed.
I also think that we need to recruit new writers to the colony; we need new and fresh perspectives here. We need to encourage people whose views may not necessarily conform to most of ours, to still come up here and express them. Hopefully we can inform the dialogue within the polity; hopefully we can get some robust discussions in the comments sections; discussions that hopefully would edify and broaden people’s scope on many contemporary issues.
I have always said that I will leave this site on my own terms; that is true. I have helped build this site, and as such, I believe that I have the right to come up here and express myself whenever I want to; on whatever topic or issue I feel like. If I choose to write once a week, or once a month, or every day; well, that’s my prerogative. I am free.
To my many detractors here (who seem intent on driving me off this site), let me just say that all this venom towards my views and positions suggests that I must be doing something right. I suggest that you all take a friggin chill pill. I am also suggesting that the editors ban those persons who we can easily see, as perpetuating and encouraging these nonsensical attacks on me; even if they are members of the writer’s colony; even if they were members of the original writers’ crew. This will go a long way towards restoring the site’s luster.
As a teacher, political consultant, lecturer, professor and political activist, I have introduced many students (and also many others) to the blogs (and to this site in particular); many of them now tell me that they hate coming up here to deal with the constant tiffs whereby attacks on me are common place. They find it all to be irritating and frustrating. They say that something should be done to eradicate this. I don’t know what the reasons are for all this rancor and belligerence towards me, and I won’t speculate here; all I know is that I want it to end. As such I request that the editors do something. It is time for intervention, or I will just have to keep the comment section of my articles closed from discussion, until further notice. Getting more people to participate in local politics has always been a goal of mine, and when stupid people impede the accomplishment of this goal: I feel that I must speak up and out.
Stay tuned-in.