
Like many of the writers for this site, I read the comments we receive on a regular basis (nightly, for me). I go through, and see what is said to the person who posted something for you to peruse.
Most of the time, it’s fairly commonplace to see either a comment of agreement, a snarky troll attack or some sort of disagreement in opinion. It is also unsurprising to see someone complain that we fall on one side of the political spectrum or the other.
From there, though, things get weird.
Somewhere along the way, a corporate tagline became the expectation for everyone else. Fox News has made BILLIONS on the tagline of “Fair and Balanced News.” Now, whether or not you agree with them that’s what they’ve put out there, and to their mighty benefit it’s worked out pretty well for them so far.
What gets most people riled up is the idea of commentary on their shows. O’Reilly, Hannity, Beck- these guys are commentators, a Greek Chorus of voices intended to provoke the viewing masses to one side of the argument over the other. The same can be said of folks like Olbermann and Maddow, on the opposite side of the political spectrum. Now, whether you agree with their methods and arguments or not you must note the rampant success these folks have had.
The most common complaint is over the idea that any news organization has a “slant-” some sort of ideological angle from which they promote some sort of agenda. Most people tend to forget that it is only within the past 70 years that news has shifted from a definite slant to the theoretical “fair and balanced” view- and that was done as a marketing play to get higher readership rates.
There is a place for commentary and objective news reporting on television. When done well, it succeeds in the ultimate goal- to make money.
Moving to the point of this post, I look at the work done on this site. We have a group of writers that cross the political spectrum. We don’t always (or even necessarily often) agree with each others’ opinions on a multitude of topics. However, we do share these opinions with you and with each other.
What we are is a Greek Chorus. What we are not, however, is a news organization.
We are not objective. We never have been, and never will be a truly objective source of information.
However, here’s the point to remember- we never CLAIMED to be truly objective.
Why do I bring this up? Funny you ask.
I see comments from time to time saying we’re not balanced in our presentation of our opinions or stories. We should be fair, these folks say.
Bollocks, I say.
I’ve recently come to the realization that even if I don’t agree with the point someone is making on the site, if they’re part of our writing staff I will gladly back them up as one of our own. That applies to either side of the argument. (Unless, of course, they claim something completely batshit insane like “Aliens were behind 9/11″ or “Ashton Kutcher is a good actor”- I mean, come on.) I will also actively encourage anyone to argue the merits of a position based on the argument made. If you come here and read something that you disagree with and you decide to debate the points of the discussion, that’s cool with me. I like reading spirited debate, I really do. Hell, I’ll even join in that debate from time to time.
However… if you come here and attack one of our writers with nothing but bile or petty troll maneuvering, because you can’t sack up to make an actual point? If you go after one of my peeps on Wetwired because you don’t like what they say, and attack them personally?
That’s where I have a problem.
I realize that expecting common sense on the internet is like expecting fine quality meats in a sausage. However, I will have no problem with laying a smackdown on anyone who decides to break Wil Wheaton’s cardinal rule of internet communication- “Don’t be a dick.”
So, be warned. You attack one of us, you attack all of us.
Oh, and to “Fish?” The inspiration for this post? You make a bitchy comment about someone having “daddy issues,” and be ready to get your reward in kind. I don’t like seeing my peeps get attacked, and I’ll have no problem releasing the hounds on your pathetic attempt to make yourself look cool when in actuality, you make yourself look like a dim-witted, classless, weak-spoken whiny little douchenozzle who can’t put their mind where their mouth is. Bring something other than your innate shitheadedness to the table (like say, a salient point) and I’ll think about listening.
Otherwise? Consider yourself served, asswipe.
Out.