OPINIONS ARE LIKE….. UMM, NOSES

EVERYBODY HAS ONE

Over the last couple of weeks many of you have posted comments on this and many other sites about Mayor Bill Grace directing the minimum staffing level to be lowered from 17 to 14 at the Elyria Fire Department. In turn the Fire Chief announced that when staffing is below 17, Station Two located on East Broad Street would be not staffed with Firefighters. I have read some very sincere comments and I have also seen some vicious comments. I have seen comments supporting Mayor Grace saying that he is doing what is in the best interest of the city fiscally and I have seen comments supporting the Fire Department saying that the Administration should respect the expertise of the Fire Chief and not mess with his budget.

I suppose the truth lies somewhere in the middle of this battle. There are numbers being put out from both sides and it is difficult to understand to those of us who are not in city government or on a Fire Department. We can just look at the numbers and explanations that are being put out for us, and examine them in an objective way to reach our own conclusions. As I read the comments sections on our site along with others, I see far too many people not being objective and not truly leaning all of the facts before reaching their conclusions. While in Las Vegas I received a phone call from a woman who said she supports the Fire Department and wanted to know if I could remove a comment posted by someone who wrote something negative about the Firefighters. I looked into it and the poster not only signed the post, they have a blogger profile. Although I will not remove the post, I will address it here.

The person made the accusation that the Elyria Fire Department sabotaged the Engine that fell apart on East Broad Street with a crew of three on board. The person also called into question the next back up truck not starting. Freedom of Speech allows this person and others to have these asinine thoughts. I cannot see any right thinking person coming to that same conclusion. How freaking idiotic are you? To think that any of the Firefighters would purposely rig the truck to fall apart risking serious harm or death to other Firefighters and possibly citizens on the road is the MOST absurd, ridiculous, moronic comment I have ever heard. I am not sure if the person truly believes this or is just writing it to provoke others into responding. In any case this person has taken the right of Freedom of Speech and spit on it.

So this brings me back to the old question, what to do about the comment section. I have no control over the way the page is set up, that is all Blogger. There are three options given to people who want to post comments, I cannot change that. Here is what I will be doing. I am asking you how it should be handled. There are three options that I am presenting to the readers to vote on.

1. Do away with comments all together
2. Free for all. Only slanderous posts will be denied.
3. As editor I have the right to delete any anonymous comment if it is slanderous or it is unsigned and deemed stupid

I will also be sending an Email to all Gold Card Members allowing them to vote and also recommend any other suggestions. Just one of the Gold Card perks!

I would hate to see the comments section gone and I’m sure most of you feel the same way. Like everything else though, a few bad apples ruin good things for everyone else.

We’ll see over the next week or so what you all think and then we will make a decision.

In the meantime, enjoy life, drive safe and STOP TEXTING WHILE DRIVING!

TMC