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People just write stupid things - anonymously. Because they can - it's their Internet right
While I do enjoy intelligent and constructive discussion when I see one (seems to be dying out now), more than often I just wish that some comment sections could be closed, so I will not be exposed to the embarrassing stupidity of others.
People just write stupid things - anonymously. Because they can - it's their Internet right
While I do enjoy intelligent and constructive discussion when I see one (seems to be dying out now), more than often I just wish that some comment sections could be closed, so I will not be exposed to the embarrassing stupidity of others.
That's the problem with most comment sections, they are in serious need of moderation. You're entirely right about the anonymity issue as a lot of people use that as an excuse to indulge in grotesque behaviour. Even IMDB shut down their message boards earlier this year because it was getting out of hand.
It's been more than a month now; MSN is still trying to "figure out" the comments section gone sideways. Pour moi, the hint is that I'd NEVER take a jury trial in Canada. Too sketchy.
You think a media company by now would have built simple software for rating a comment. One started by making you read/rank another thread. You'd only need to rank the comments "off topic", relevant, or outright illegal, immoral, and fattening. Once the rankings reached a certain level the comment would implode.
I think shutting down the comments sections IS the best solution and I approve of it. Providing the comments sections was a generous gesture but it was never a necessary thing. I'm sure the media outlets that provided comments sections never did it anticipating they might eventually be invaded and taken over by thousands of ignorant trolls who have nothing important or intelligent to say and just want to see their own drivel in print online. Even discussion forums like this one can be taken over and brought down by trolls if there aren't strict monitoring, censorship and posting protocols put in place.
You think a media company by now would have built simple software for rating a comment. One started by making you read/rank another thread. You'd only need to rank the comments "off topic", relevant, or outright illegal, immoral, and fattening. Once the rankings reached a certain level the comment would implode.
I think it's probably a lot less complicated to just shut down the comments features. It's not as though it's an essential service that readers actually need, it was just a courtesy to people and it was getting abused.
there are so many errors made in this type of "new journalism" that almost every story I read needs to be called out for bull and/or is making a major error. The comments section can be a good proof reader.
I think that having some 26 year old Journalism graduate who has never lived outside of downtown Toronto, or equivalent, decide which issues get free speech and which don't is a kinda bad idea.
I think that having some 26 year old Journalism graduate who has never lived outside of downtown Toronto, or equivalent, decide which issues get free speech and which don't is a kinda bad idea.
I'm not sure what you're getting at here. Certainly all Canadian media outlets have freedom of the press, as per Charter s. 2(b). They can print/broadcast whatever they like.
The most respected journalism school in Canada is Carleton University in Ottawa--hard to see how somebody who has never lived outside of downtown Toronto (your words) could fit the mould of somebody who had to attend classes at Carleton every day. It would be one heckuva commute, to live in Toronto and commute to Ottawa for classes.
As for deciding "which issues get free speech and which don't," that's between you and the media. The Canadian government cannot shut you up, as per Charter s. 2(b). The private media (Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Global, CTV, etc.) can shut you up, as they are private entities, and not subject to the Charter; but they are answerable to the public. If the Toronto Star (for example) doesn't report a major story, as determined by other news outlets, expect questions to be asked of the Star. Is the Star biased on this issue? Perhaps. Will it be called to account and asked to justify its silence? Most definitely. In the end, the Star will be excoriated or vindicated. That's the way the Canadian free press works.
Short answer: Try launching a s. 2(b) lawsuit against the Globe and Mail, because it didn't print your Letter to the Editor; and watch the courts laugh at you.
Sadly, many Canadians do not understand that their Charter protections only extend against governments. They do not understand that private entities have no obligations to honour the Charter (though alleged discriminatory injustices can be prosecuted under provincial/federal human rights law). At any rate, I see no injustices in Wilson's allegation that Canadian journalists see things from an uneducated Toronto-only perspective.
Last edited by ChevySpoons; 08-06-2017 at 04:47 AM..
I think that having some 26 year old Journalism graduate who has never lived outside of downtown Toronto, or equivalent, decide which issues get free speech and which don't is a kinda bad idea.
I seem to see most of them coming out of Australia and England. But still, not much life experience. If I see "gobsmacked" used in one more USA article I'm going to send a letter of reprimand to the Queen.
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Do you care to give your own perspective?
thank you, Rupert Murdock
