README

This document explains a bit about the way the Norfolknet Opinions page operates.

Norfolknet is a classless society, it's strictly merit-based. No-one has more authority or more real-world presence than anyone else; credentials and stature are derived from the contents of messages posted under initials.

If someone tries to reveal the identity behind the initials of a Norfolknet reader, it will not work. Norfolknet will not "out" persons behind initials, not even if the persons themselves don't mind. By never posting under real names and never revealing identities, comments remain on an equal footing, and authors are protected from "peer pressure" to have their names known also.

Naturally, the views can be expected to be opinionated! It's the Opinions page after all. Opinions are the conclusions drawn from available facts, and are not expected to be neutral, unbiased you-make-up-your-own-mind presentations; a bibliography is a welcome bonus, but not a requirement.

The overall tone of the page is determined by the messages sent to it; I post all the comments I receive. (The general posting guidelines still apply, so Norfolk residents only, please.)

If some people post more often than others, they probably spend more time on this page than the others. If you don't like the way they perceive the world around themselves, you can try and change the world, you can try and change them, but it's not meaningful to argue "media bias."

I myself may personally agree or disagree with any number of posts. When I argue, my opinions come from a reader identified by just initials, who is special perhaps by the volume of posts he sends, but is otherwise treated like any other contributor. This page is not public media; I am not a journalist. It is a civic venture; volunteer work. This is a private undertaking, a forum I created for town residents to make their views known, mine included.

The question has come up, since I post to the page as well, why not make it clear which initials are the webmasters?

Primarily, I want my comments to stand on their own merits. I use initials as the great leveler, making my comments appear just like all the others. I was secretly also hoping to elicit more replies, on the off chance that not everyone would feel comfortable arguing with "authority."

I also do not want the legitimacy of the page to be tightly associated with my personal opinions, nor do I want my comments to be equated with Wm.'s policies. I want my views to be treated just like anyone else's who writes to the page, and I want Wm. to be respected for having final authority in setting ground rules and running the show.

In exchange I try my best to run the forum in a content-neutral manner. If someone has issues with how the webmaster runs the page, that's legit, and I would try to address that. Even though there is no obligation on me to run a fair page other than what I take on voluntarily, I do try to run a level forum.

Some have asked whether I edit posts, and why I don't leave them as-is.

The answer is, yes, as a courtesy I fix typos and spelling mistakes if I notice them. I also activate links, create thumbnails and link in images, insert paragraph breaks, and so on. I personally read all contributions (and almost all of the cited pages linked to a post), format them, and post them to the page. I try to make all messages look as good as they can, so they're judged on their content and not their appearance.

I also reserve the right to "reword or remove comments likely to offend." On this page I have been more lenient than on the main page; it is assumed that the readership here is mature, and is willing to support their opinions in the face of vigorous challenges. However, unreasonable ad-hominem and personal attacks are frowned upon, and may cause delays in posting (I would try to edit the post to remove the offending remark, or if I couldn't edit the post without leaving the meaning unaltered, would contact the author and ask them to reword their comments).

This is a private web page. The server is privately owned, I pay the fees out of my own pocket, and I am not compenstated for the time I put in running the page and updating content.

This is an independent web page. Norfolknet is not linked to any other agency or organization. I've never been paid by or been affiliated with the town; in fact, I started Norfolknet some years before there was a town municipal web page. (I did organize the Website Committee and bootstrapped the original municipal page, but that was civic volunteer work, unrelated to Norfolknet.) I don't belong to any political party, and I don't have an agenda.

- the Webmaster

1/30/2006