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Online Discussion Forums – Good & Bad
Today the Mayor of Hardy personally contacted both website owners of this site in regards to some post on our community
forums section. The Mayor called some post in the forums “lies and trash talk” and felt that when someone post these negative topics that it was bad for Hardy and for area events. We here at the Main Street Hardy Online website and the Friends Of Hardy Arkansas understand her concerns, but also firmly believe in FREEDOM OF SPEECH and that includes the right of individuals to express opinions, thoughts, ideas, comments etc. One of the site owners clearly explained to the Mayor repeatedly that our site has a separate section called forums for the community. This is separate from our News and Static Page sections that are reviewed and approved prior to posting.
“Without Freedom of thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such thing as public Liberty, without Freedom of Speech” – Benjamin Franklin
We were told that by allowing individuals to speak freely and have open discussions on our site that included information that wasn’t positive of Hardy, that the City Of Hardy would not and could not support this site. ( Note: Our site is currently not supported by any city funds.) Also, we were told that by allowing such post we were driving people away from Hardy. One citizen who posted in the forums about a the parks water fountains, could cause the Homesteaders Day organizers to pull out and not have the event in Hardy. In other words, our site according to the Mayor would be the ones to blame if the event cancels because of a individuals opionion made online.
First and foremost, you are welcome to not only read that discussion HERE but even register so you can respond with your own thoughts and opinions. Feel free to start a new topic of interest or ask a question too in the community forums. You are also just as free to not read the forums section too. It’s up to you!
The Friends Of Hardy Arkansas strongly believe in Hardy and its community. We also believe in the right of free speech and invite you to not only contribute News and stories to our site but to also enjoy the sometimes lively discussions in our site FORUMS. If this is such a bad thing, we are sorry to hear it. But this site will not remove a post just because it isn’t only HAPPY, GOOD POSITIVE INFORMATION. No one is perfect, no town is perfect. Do we wish everything was – yes. Should we ignore things that are wrong or bothering us just to give the illusion of perfection. I don’t think so, because then that is truly a LIE !
Now, just to help those who have read this far. We do have some restrictions on what can be said online in the forums section. Most specifically – all posted comments and forum post are in the public domain. We do not discriminate against any views, but we reserve the right not to post stories and comments or forum post. Additionally we will not allow racist statements or profanity on our site.
Effective Online Forum Usage
What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence, a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it. – Herbert Simon
Online forums, message boards, and newsgroups are now ubiquitous. These powerful communication tools offer many strong benefits. However, forum participation can also become a destructive addiction, where the benefits are overshadowed by negative side effects.
Here are some potential benefits of regular online forum participation:
- •Intellectual exchange
- •Learning new ideas and refining old ones
- •Enjoying community membership
- •Influencing the forum’s evolution
- •Contributing to others
- •Making new friends and contacts
- •New business leads
- •Keeping up with current events
- •Learning about new opportunities
Here are some potential negative effects of excessive forum usage:
- •Reduced concentration and focus
- •Reduced productivity
- •Chronic procrastination
- •Increased pessimism and/or apathy
- •Being distracted by endless debates and idle gossip
- •Gradually substituting tribal group think for your own intelligence
- •Impaired social skills, neglected relationships, and a weakened social circle (a consequence of substituting online socialization for face-to-face conversations)
- •Reduced energy (forum participation is sedentary compared to more active social outlets)
- •Reduced self-esteem
- •Career and income may suffer (including loss of employment)
- •Forum addiction
9 Responses to Online Discussion Forums – Good & Bad
Note…this is a shameless plug…The Ozark Classic Crafts Mall is having a 4th of July special…a free dizzy disc to anyone who mentions the fact that I said that I’d give them away this weekend on this website. One per family please. free is nice, but its not free for me…only for you.
See you soon…
Marc Herring
Ozark Classic Crafts Mall
FOHA
To all: It is the right of EVERY american citizen to disagree with the status quo. I have done so and have become a target of the ‘powers that be’ in Hardy Arkansas. Its a familiar feeling as I’ve worn that target before. If the city employees have nothing better to do than talk about me and vilify me then, I’m honored, but I would ask this…is there nothing better and more constructive to do than to make me the object of their personal attention? If not, then I’m sure that the citizens of Hardy Arkansas could think of things that need to be done for our city that is more beneficial (4 syllable word). This store owner stands by my rights to voice my opinions and dissastisfactions of city, county, state, country and world governements. And if they come to take me away…I hope that there is a dentist wherever they are taking me.
Thanks to all those that believe that we still have rights and that we still have freedoms, even though our leaders are trying to erode them away.
To quote Patrick Henry…”Give me Liberty or give me Death”.
Marc Herring
Ozark Classic Crafts Mall
FOHA
If the Mayor can’t stand the heat,get out of the kitchen. Critical remarks are sometimes earned for wrong actions taken and can’t be dismissed by calling them trash talk and lies. Being elected or appointed to office does not render one more intelligent than the citizens of Hardy.
Our freedom is even more important today with the government getting more and more involved in our daily life. If we just sit back and say nothing..then we will just get run over. Our rights and our freedom or sometimes taken for granted. But, trust me, once yours is taken away..it will be harder to ever get back !
I don’t read the forums, not registered either – no time. I am concerned about these comments though. I respect the Mayor and what she does for Hardy. You only have to look around at the little Towns close by to see that Hardy is surviving where others are not. The difference may lie in the fact that Hardy tries to stay on top of things with good ideas and interesting activities.
Freedom of Speech is a great thing. Speaking your mind sometimes is not. Knowing the difference is the trick. My daughter went to Middle School in Jonesboro and tested the ‘freedoms’. All around her were posters, inviting her to a variety of religious events. She was hooked on’ Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, and without discussing her little project with family members, decided to start a coven based on Buffy. She hung posters all over the school which she printed at her Dad’s house. Needless to say, I got a call from the Principles office. Had to explain to the man that my daughter went to Church with me every Sunday, and was not a vampire slayer at all. Then explained to my daughter that although I understood that she had rights, if she wanted to graduate from the Christian oriented public school, she must not hang such posters. And of course, other Motherly advice that I won’t post here.
My point is that ‘Rights’ are a tricky business. They come with a lot of responsibility.
What a shame that there is so much tit~n~tat in politics in such a quaint lil’ town! Everyone should just be thankful we are here and surviving!!!
Maybe the mayor needs to check out the water fountain and get it fixed if that is a problem so Hardy does not loose the homesteaders.
If the mayor and others are really concerned about the city then I would think using the forum for getting info and help update would be to their advantage. Think out of the box every now and then you might really learn something about your city.
thinking outside the box is still admitting that there is a box to think about. True creativity has no box. Having a small town like this that has plenty of resturants and hotels/motels that provide a substantial cache of marketing money should be a no brainer. Michigan (the state) has just launched a “we love Michigan” campaign. Hardy could do it too and draw visitors from a 4 state area, including those who would have gone to the gulf and now can’t or won’t. Our rivers are clean, the air is clean and the opportunities are vast. We have 3 scenic drives that ozark gateway has developed and is now trying to become National Scenic Byways.
In 3 short years I have been able to create a marketing plan, execute said plan and have watched my business grow to such a place that I can barely maintain or control it by myself anylonger. Wouldn’t it be great if the city did the same and watched its coffers full of dollars, the streets full of visitors, our camper park full of campers…geee…what a wonderful thought. I wish I had a magic wand to make all that (and more) happen. I wonder if there is a place in Hardy where one could have a wand made?
I have visited hardy often as I can. I live in California and have property and house in Ash Flat. I am impressed with small town america and would like to obtain more property in the Ozarks perhaps Hardy. I have worked with several there and have seen you from outside in. Always remember the prize is to retain your individuality and personal freedom without being making personal attacks on anyone who may differ in opinion. Keep all retoric to fact and useful ideas. Although it is easy to pick on one another personally it is not very flattering to them or yourself. Keep the old town charm and always direct you comments for the good of the town and those around you. See you soon. I have dealt with Kim King and she is a wonderful talented person. Just one of you good folk.