Moderation?

"Mmmm.this original post was headed good news! It seems to have spiralled into a pit of eternal doom."

It was I who suggested this thread because I felt then as this poster does now.

I have placed over 100 posts in various threads of Swanageview since the New Year, and every one has been either positive, or contains constructive criticism, or where I have had to be strongly critical, I have explained my views and I have avoided rants or personal attacks, and have attempted to provide an alternative solution.

I have been surprised how even my light-hearted comments, aimed at providing a smile after some heated posts, are pounced upon! An example - in another thread I commented that it is a shame that we don't have Spitting Image any more - that politics has become too cynical. This provoked a lengthy response that seemed disproportionate to the quip. Oh well, that's the thing about blogs! I rarely respond to ranters; why feed their egos? And bloggers do have the right, after all. Free speech and all that.

What I (and the person I quote above) am concerned about is the negative image this blog may be producing about Swanage to the outside world; one gent asked whether Swanage is a good place to move to; what followed would certainly make me reconsider a move here; we may appear to be on the whole a grumpy and inward looking bunch of old farts. Maybe some of us are, but not all of us; perhaps this blog is a reflection of part of our community soul. I don't think so, but I may be wrong.

I ask: does posting our little petty secrets, fears, arguments and foibles online, for all of posterity to read, really help the image of Swanage?

If not, then, should this blog be moderated according to some sort of agreed standards, so that there is some control? The Echo does this, as do all newspapers. If readers feel this would inhibit some very useful free debate over town issues, I might suggest that a closed blog, for members who sign up via email address, would be the forum for this sort of vigorous debate, rather than this 'open to the world' forum, which is 'out there' for all and sundry to read - forever, by the way! The Owners Association at SBV have such a closed forum, and I can assure you it is a lively and provocative - and democratic - forum indeed - and therefore more productive!

Perhaps these questions could become a new thread.

Discuss....