We are big fans of Independent/alternative media here at Oak Bay Starfish.

Alternative media is good about keeping an active comment section up & running. There’s always something to learn or think about from the points others make in the comment section.

Local papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

Various newspapers in the Puget Sound area have gone with this trend.

Suppressing comments, getting away from asking questions related to public policy and telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales.

Got it.

Related:

Land of Information Suppression

 

February 24, 2020 Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Fentanyl overdoses keep increasing in King County

In consideration of how we voice our opinions in the modern world, we’ve closed comments on our websites. We value the opinions of our readers and we encourage you to keep the conversation going.”

Comments are shut down and we encourage you to keep the conversation going?

No hate speech, insults, threats, foul language, attacking other commenters, etc. These are rules that make sense.

Eliminating the opportunity for all to follow some basic rules and comment is information suppression.

Over the years, I’ve seen some really good points brought up in the comments section. Manage it, don’t ban it.

 

I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of investigative reporting & newspeople asking questions. Elimination of reader comments works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.

Related:

Newspeople Ask Questions If It’s A Sports Story

Operating A Camera In A Public Place

Newspapers Need Your Help

 

Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt

 

 

 

Photo-

A winter ride on the Keystone ferry

More Keystone:

Town swipes Keystone’s claim to fame — its ferry-route name

Keystone Ferry

Don’t book a bed and breakfast stay in Coupeville and plan to walk from the ferry terminal to your accommodations:

Ferry Traffic Leaving Coupeville Terminal Routed Away From Coupeville