Monday, January 26, 2009

The Morning Call Gives Hate a Forum

At our recent post, “We Like Downtown Allentown,” an Allentown Mom comment-copied Mrs. Dottie and me on this communication she had sent to The Morning Call …

"Hello, I am writing to the paper as a mother, stepmother, and concerned resident of Allentown. My adolescent stepdaughter was doing research for a school paper on internet communication, which led her to the comment [Forum] sections of many of your newspaper stories. Needless to say, as a child of partial Hispanic heritage, she was devastated. We reported abuse on several comments which were not removed. I have known of and heard about the racist, ignorant comments on The Morning Call [web] site, but I have now seen first hand how it can affect young individuals. I ask you to speak to your editor, to consider the number of relevant, intelligent comments attached to your articles, and consider the impact of these words on the children of Allentown. Or, as they are known in your reader forums: Animals, stinkin' ricans, pork chops, bean eaters, pieces of trash. It is disgusting!”

Our Allentown Mom did get a response from The Morning Call, which in our experience is surprising, and encouraging, on the surface anyway.

Vicki Mayk, The Morning Call’s Director of Community Relations & Communications got back with this:

“I will certainly pass your comments along to our online editors. I apologize that your daughter found these comments while visiting The Morning Call’s Web site. We are aware that such comments do get posted on our site. Unfortunately, an outside vendor is responsible for the posting – and the removal -- of comments. I tell you this, not because I am saying that we are not responsible, but to explain why it takes time for such comments to be removed. I am sorry that they are not always removed from the site in a timely fashion – and I agree that these are unacceptable.”

Morning Call Online Producer Ted Williams replied:

“Can I ask to what articles you refer? Unfortunately, your complaint is very, very common. We seem to have people who just want to start trouble, and it’s difficult to control. What we will do is find the comments and pass on the user name to the vendor, who will ban them and warn them. But in all honesty, on today’s Web, it’s very hard to keep such people off the site. There are ways around any blocks. We’re very sorry for your stepdaughter having to see this. I think we all realize the people who make such comments are the people who have real problems, but that doesn’t make the effect of what they say any easier to take. We will do all we can to address this particular case [emphasis added by Mr. Dottie]. We can hope that this person will realize the hurt they can cause by saying such disgusting things.”

Nice sentiments from Vicki and Ted. But the Allentown Mom’s letter to the newspaper obviously didn’t change anything at its Hate Forum. And for every “Allentown Mom” who is offended and writes to the newspaper, there may be thousands of Forum readers who are equally offended but don’t bother writing.

Here at “Lehigh Valley Somebody,” we can't think of a bigger roadblock to Allentown "Moving Forward Together" than the bigotry, intolerance, xenophobia, and hatred that exists in peoples' hearts and minds.

And while racism can't be abolished, that these idiots' vile bile is given an unbridled FORUM in our town's monopoly newspaper is outrageous and totally unacceptable.

But apparently HATE SELLS, so it remains online at The Morning Call Forum.

According to Morning Call columnist/blogger, Bill White:

"The tremendous traffic on our Web site is a selling point for advertisers and future subscribers. And the [Forum] comments, warts and all, attract a lot of those clicks."

Readers, we encourage you to read the full text of Bill White’s rationalizations and justifications for the free-flowing hatred at The Morning Call Forum in his “Blogging with Bill White” post entitled, "Cockroaches," where one can’t help but wonder if Mr. White is propagandizing in a quasi-official capacity for the newspaper. But what's most illuminating are the comments at Bill White’s “Cockroaches” post from local bloggers friskily denouncing the hatred on The Morning Call Forum.

Ah yes, those were the days ... the days before "Valley Blogosphere" and "Blogger Tuesday" at The Morning Call Forum.

Q. Whatever happened to those vocal, Morning Call dissenting local bloggers who used to champion STOPPING THE HATE at The Morning Call Forum?

Well, in the opinion of this blog, they sold out, and became compliant members of "Valley Blogosphere" at The Morning Call Forum. Yep.

As you may have noticed too, since the introduction of “Valley Blogosphere” and “Blogger Tuesday" at The Morning Call Forum (both created by Morning Call Editorial & Opinions VP Glenn Kranzley, with consultancy input from “Valley Blogosphere” blogger B.O'Hare), all previously healthy dissent in our local blogosphere against The Morning Call (on a variety of relevant issues) has vanished. GONE. POOF.

Why? Simple. “Don’t bite the hand that feeds your ego.”

You see, that same "tremendous traffic" at The Morning Call's website that Bill White tells us "attracts advertisers" appears to have also gotten some previously Morning Call dissenting local bloggers just absolutely "A-Quiver" at the thought of this “tremendous traffic” possibly reading and responding to their blog musings and ramblings which would be accessible via The Morning Call’s website Forum.

In a nutshell, as these local bloggers started seeing their pictures on The Morning Call’s website, and in The Morning Call "newspaper" every “Blogger Tuesday,” they also started “seeing stars” in their bathroom mirrors every morning: “Hey you, you could be the next Bill White!"

With "Valley Blogosphere," and "Blogger Tuesday," in one diabolically smooth move, Glenn Kranzley quashed all local blogosphere dissent against The Morning Call, while simultaneously covering the 30 or so recently terminated (and salaried) Morning Call reporters with A-Quiver local bloggers who were now eagerly and compliantly writing for The Morning Call ... for FREE.

And what about that previously dissented against HATE at The Morning Call Forum, which “Valley Blogosphere” and "Blogger Tuesday" were now a part of? Well ... um ... er … you know … that (alleged) Forum Hate wasn't all that much of a big deal anymore now was it?

Morning Call Dissenters Become
Morning Call Cheerleaders & Apologists

The sad fact is, our A-Quiver local bloggers didn’t want to even discuss the hate at The Morning Call Forum anymore, let alone consider this thought-leader blog’s concept of boycotting The Morning Call’s new local blogger "spotlight" products.

And this is painfully evident in an August 2008 blog discussion involving some formerly dissenting local bloggers who had been magically transformed into Morning Call cheerleaders and apologists by having been “honored” with inclusion as Morning Call “Valley Blogosphere” bloggers. The blog post was aptly titled "Should an honor be questioned?" and it is one heck of an eye-opener, as we’re sure you’ll see when you read through it.

There’s another reason why we ask that you read through the blog post "Should an honor be questioned?" Editor's Note: "Inclusion by Michael Donovan" blog author, Michael Donovan, has rigged it so that our link won't work. Should you find the blog post, you'll probably not be able to tell that Donovan deleted all the comments from this blog post because he doesn't want you to read them.

Near the end of the comments, I ask a simple and reasonable question about The Morning Call Hate Forum that I’ve been trying to get an answer on since August 2008.

As you will see in the blog post "Should an honor be questioned?" my reasonable question is totally ignored by the A-Quiver bloggers in the discussion, and of course it’s been totally ignored by The Morning Call too.

Here’s my question, which was also sent as an email to Glenn Kranzley and Ted Williams on August 7, 2008:

Mr. Kranzley and Mr. Williams:

The Morning Call is making registration a requirement for commenters to participate in its new "Sounding Board" civil discourse Forum [at your web site].

Q. Could The Morning Call implement "registration required" at its "Forum" too? This would, one would think, pre-eliminate and deter a significant percentage of the "hate speech" at the Forum, by requiring commenters at both Sounding Board and the Forum to comment as themselves-- i.e., any hate speech spewing would have a real name (and some accountability) attached to it.

Apparently, the "registration required" technology is there for "Sounding Board."

Could the same technology be applied to the Forum to eliminate or greatly reduce the racism, misogyny, and other forms of hate speech at the Morning Call Forum?

I'm still waiting for an answer.

Maybe someone else should ask the question?

And if the answer is “no,” well then what CAN be done to eliminate the Hate Speech at The Morning Call Forum? Because the only people not bothered by it, it seems, are Glenn Kranzley, Bill White, the racists who are posting it, the advertisers who are endorsing it, and the “Valley Blogosphere” bloggers who are ignoring it.

I'm confident the majority of us want the racist HATE at The Morning Call Forum GONE. POOF. ASAP.

So let's make that happen, what do you say?

This post was written by Mr. Dottie/Bill Villa.

53 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Apparently, the "registration required" technology is there for "Sounding Board." Could the same technology be applied to the Forum to eliminate or greatly reduce the racism, misogyny, and other forms of hate speech at the Morning Call Forum?"

Maybe someone else should ask the question?

> glenn.kranzley@mcall.com, 610-770-3717

> vicki.mayk@mcall.com, 610-820-6709

> theodore.williams@mcall.com, 610-770-3769

Mrs. Dottie said...

I think that registration should be required at The Forum, since it is required for TMC's QCD Blog, and other blogs, and The Sounding Board. I wonder if other newspapers require registration?

Sometimes when I read the comments at the Forum it seems like the racist and hateful comments outweigh the positive and intelligent comments. But I really don't believe that it is representative of the majority of people in Allentown. I think since these bigots are allowed to spew, then the hate will just keep growing. And some people may even be persuaded to think like these jerks, and that would be dangerous.

Anonymous said...

"Should an honor be questioned?" is one heck of an eye-opener

Indeed it is.

Anonymous said...

since these bigots are allowed to spew, then the hate will just keep growing. And some people may even be persuaded to think like these jerks


The Morning Call is not only providsing a forum for hate speech, they are legitimizing it and okaying it to be "mainstream." For ad dollar$.

Mrs. Dottie said...

Speaking of legitimizing the hate and okaying it to be mainstream, it's kinda like how reality tv has become so popular, and that there is so much low brow, vacuuous, and sexist smut that has become so mainstream and acceptable on television, and in our society in general. The tide needs to turn away from this crap, and the bar needs to be raised. I think TMC has fallen to tough economic times, and I understand that, but giving racists a forum is bad for our community.

As a parent I know I have to monitor what my child sees or reads, but children are encouraged to read newspapers, and most kids probably read them online. I would expect higher standards for newspapers.

Anonymous said...

nobody gets it worse than hispanics at the mc forum. you'll see stuff up there on jews, "ni**ers," "queers," ect, ect, but hispanics definitly get the worst of it

Concerned Citizen said...

Kudos for being vigilant and militant. This issue is the kind of issue a blogasphere if united couldmake a difference on. I agree that trying to move Allentown forward (together?) will not work if ethnic groups are alloowed to be belittled by their hometown newspaper.

Anonymous said...

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Bill Villa said...

... and your point is?

Mrs. Dottie said...

Tim Wise from Lip Magazine wrote this:


"On the one hand, the free speech folks ignore several examples of speech limitations that we live with everyday, and that most all would think legitimate. So, we are not free to slander others, to print libelous information about others, to engage in false advertising, to harass others, to print and disseminate personal information about others (such as their confidential medical or financial records), to engage in speech that seeks to further a criminal conspiracy, to speak in a way that creates a hostile work environment (as with sexual harassment), to engage in plagiarized speech, or to lie under oath by way of dishonest speech. In other words, First Amendment absolutism is not only inconsistent with Constitutional jurisprudence; it is also a moral and practical absurdity, as these and other legitimate limitations make fairly apparent.

Secondly, the free speech rights of racists, by definition, must be balanced against the equal protection rights of those targeted by said speech. If people have the right to be educated or employed in non-hostile environments (and the courts and common sense both suggest they do), and if these rights extend to both public and private institutions (and they do), then to favor the free speech rights of racists, over and above the right to equal protection for their targets, is to trample the latter for the sake of the former. In other words, there is always a balance that must be struck, and an argument can be made that certain kinds of racist speech create such a hostile and intimidating environment that certain limits would be not only acceptable, but required, as a prerequisite for equal protection of the laws, and equal opportunity."

jdg said...

Tim Wise/Mrs. Dottie: 1

Morning Call Cheerleaders/Apologists: 0

Mrs. Dottie said...

THanks jdg, Tim Wise expresses things much better than I ever could. I was just going to put up a link to his website, but Mr D. got to it first! He's worth checking out.

jdg said...

Don't sell yourself short Mrs. Dottie, you're a blogging gem.

McJudas said...

here's hoping you can have a positive influence on the morning call. the forum's rampant & rabid hatred is despicable and disgusting.

Anonymous said...

Could curtailing the hate speech at the Morning Call website really be as simple as requiring participants to register?

Bill Villa said...

It could be. But we won't know one way or the other until The Morning Call answers this simple question. I'd ask them (again) myself but they won't answer my questions-- simple, excellent, or otherwise. We're hoping one (or hundreds) of our readers will ask "the question" ...

Anonymous said...

"Ah yes, those were the days ... the days before "Valley Blogosphere" and "Blogger Tuesday" at The Morning Call Forum."

Morning Call Enables Anti-Semitic Rants

Anonymous said...

VERY interesting. In the links provided by "anon 3:21," and "Jo Jo," the same local blogger who in May 2008 was threatening to lead an "ADVERTISER BOYCOTT" of The Morning Call "NEXT WEEK" (over the hate at the Forum), by August 2008 this same blogger was nixing any suggestions that he boycott even being a Morning Call "Blogger Tuesday" blogger until the Forum hate is removed. WOW. WOW. Some flip-flop 180.

Anonymous said...

I spoke out about the hate in the MC a year ago and have actually went head to head with racist bloggers who blame the downfall of Allentown/Lehigh Valley on certain cultures and beliefs. I actually won and lost some battles. Believe it or not, at the VISON MEETING that was held last year in A-town, a White disheveled man with mussed hair, missing teeth, and dingy looking t-shirt and jeans saw my name tag and approached me. He
asked if I was the same Alfonso Todd that was always on MCALL blogs and I nervously said,"Yes"; he then extended his hand out and we shook hands. He told me that, although, he didn't agree with alot of what I wrote, he appreciated HOW I wrote it, meaning that I didn't just TELL him that all 'people of color" are not gangsters, thugs, and baby's mommas, but I showed him. Racism on the MC blogosphere, as well as around the world, will ALWAYS exist and people ARE entitled to THEIR opinions. I believe that is what the blogosphere is for, freedom to express thoughts, points, and opinions. Unfortunately, the little lady and her mom were exposed to a harsh reality that many opinions are not ALWAYS about sunshine, gumdrops, rainbows, and fairnes, as a whole. There are some sick and warped individuals out there who have nothing better to do than to spread hate and division. In my opinion, the best thing we can do is as Martin Luther King did, love them, show them the reality, and ultimately, ignore them. Their species is a dying breed anyway. There will always be HATE but as information is spread at the speed of light, people will realize Black people do not have tails (as told in World War II) and not all of us are about the bling-bling and have 4-5 illegitimate kids. The same will occur for other nationalities also. Just remember, though, it is a two edged sword. WE can be just as racist toward people of NON-COLOR and that still is WRONG. Let's not just TALK about it, let's BE about it.

I like the idea of an advertising boycott but in reality, businesses have already been abandoning the MC left and right already; but NOTHING FAILS but a TRY so I will help organize and put it forward if you all are serious.

Alfonso Todd

"Anon 4:41" said...

Lately, the "local blogger" referenced above has been using a different "profile photo" every day, "for laughs."

Is this his (coy) way of flaunting to the local blogosphere that he posts as different comment characters that include "The Banker," "Consigliere," "Hayshaker," "Father Alex," "Retired ASD Teacher," "Jonah," "anonymous" (wink wink), etc., etc., etc., do you think?

Bill Villa said...

That's how we interpret it, yes, but let's stay on topic ...

Mrs. Dottie said...

Readers, we've just rejected a borderline pornographic comment from an "Anonymous" (wink wink) Morning Call Cheerleader/Apologist.

Bill Villa said...

Readers, we've just rejected another comment from an "Anonymous" (wink wink) Morning Call Cheerleader/Apologist who is clearly trying to start trouble. We won't take his bait and will instead continue to ignore him. We don't need controversy to goose our already #1 Ranking.

Mrs. Dottie said...

" local blogger has been using a different "profile photo" every day, "for laughs.""

That local blogger must be suffering from multiple personality disorder. I hope he gets the help he needs.

Now, back to our topic....

Anonymous said...

I will attempt to open a dialogue with him and see what happens. Thanks for the info...

Alfonso Todd

Bill Villa said...

Thank you, Alfonso.

If The Morning Call blows you off (as they've done to me over 200 times in the last year), and/or, isn't willing to do anything about the HATE at their Forum, I'll stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in going after them "with both barrels" via organizing and executing an ADVERTISER BOYCOTT OF THE MORNING CALL.

I hope Glenn Kranzley responds to you and arranges for the re-institution of "Registration Required" at The Morning Call Forum.

It seems like such a simple solution.

Keep us posted, and thank you again for your willingness and your activism.

Jonas said...

Worth Repeating Department:

"unlike other local bloggers who have announced a threat to organize an advertiser boycott (NEXT WEEK!!) only to be ego-lured into becoming a "Blogger Tuesday" Consultant and Morning Call Cheerleader/Apologist over scrapple breakfasts with Glenn Kranzley--we are serious about organizing an advertiser boycott of The Morning Call." -Bill Villa

Anonymous said...

Curious, indeed ...

The Blanker

Bill Villa said...

All relevant points (in the "scheme of things"), but let's stay on the topic of getting The Morning Call Forum's HATE GONE. POOF. ASAP.

Rehired ASD Teacher said...

Here's what I find most "curious" (but not really). The MC ally "sell out" blogs respond to (and they usually provoke/initiate) all manner of tit for tat back & forth on just about everything stated at this blog. They routinely quote passages from this blog at their blogs, and offer unsolicited (and wacky) rebuttals; and they're constantly sending offensive "anonymous" (wink wink) comments here (that get rejected) in an effort to disrupt the proceedings and scare commenters away. Obviously, they hang on every word written here.

And yet, not a word out of them on this post :)

How very curious indeed.

Bill Villa said...

I'm enjoying the silence. It affirms for me that I "have their number." Glenn Kranzley "ignores" me too, as does DA Jim Martin, because I have their numbers too. But we digress. Let's stay on topic ...

Hayshaken said...

Careful BV, they might trump up another "harassment" complaint against you :)

Bill Villa said...

It's a dirty job taking on Phonies, Liars, and Tyrants, but "Somebody" has got to do it.

Anonymous said...

I've been holding my tongue on this all week but I must speak out and its the Villa's example that gives me the courage to do so. On the subject of PHONIES, you got that right. The same guy (Molovinsky) who publishes all sorts of lies and bashes and smears against the Chen Arts Group and Angie Villa, has te nerve to show up at the Chen Arts blog commenting and making sexist remarks about a Chen member who died tragically recently. You have no class whatsoever Mike or brains.

http://chenarts.blogspot.com/2009/01/rest-in-peace-fran.html

Foo Foo said...

JUst a few of Molovinsky's many published lies, smears and bashes against the Chen Arts Group (CHARGE) and Angie Villa that he has "approved of" at his moderated blog (but he thought the late FRan Weaver was hot!):

* inaugural meeting of the Chen arts group. During that one, A-town arts czar [Joe] Skrapits waxed on at length, saying absolutely nothing

* most of the [Chen] artists there seemed most concerned about getting grants

* grant-seeking Stepford wife Angie [Villa] is looking to parlay her Chen position into money

* After starting off with a bold counterculture vision, the Villas quickly embraced the A-town establishment, including government (Pawlowski) and business (Butz)

* the arts suffocate in that atmosphere. So why do it? Money baby. For all I know, they're [the Villas] trying to sell a few CDs along with Angie's junior high paintings

Mrs. Dottie said...

Readers, while we do appreciate (and share) your outrage at the hypocrisy of the Evil Allied Accomplice bloggers, let's stay on our topic of ridding The Morning Call Forum of its racist hate. Thank you.

Bill Villa said...

Alfonso,

any luck engaging Morning Call Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda Glenn Kranzley?

Jack Webb Lord said...

Villas, CONGRATULATIONS, on being the #1 Most Influential Political Blog in Pennsylvania for the 2nd week in a row!

Bill Villa said...

Merci. The cream always rises to the top.

Bill Villa said...

On a related note, The Morning Call didn't deliver our Sunday (only) "newspaper" today :)

Now there's a "punishment" we can live with!

Rehired ASD Teacher said...

Bill, have any (?) of the "selected/honored" "Blogger Tuesday at The Morning Call Forum" bloggers broken ranks and expressed support for your mission to get rid of the HATE at The Morning Call Forum?

Bill Villa said...

Nope. Not a peep of Morning Call dissent out of a one of them ("Hey you, you could be the next Bill White!")

We did get an email from avowed "Blogger Tuesday" wanna-be AJ Cordi who brays:

"You should know by now that this is harassment and it is illegal."

Hayshaken said...

Bill, something I've observed about the Morning Call Allied Accomplice "attack dog" bloggers:

They can dish it out
But they can't take it.

And when someone (like you and Angie) have the courage to take a stand against their McCarthy-ism sabotage tactics and fight back, they cry "harassment." It's pathetically pusillanimous.

"Anonymous 10:12" said...

Re: crybaby phonies,

http://chenarts.blogspot.com/2009/01/rest-in-peace-fran.html

I'll say it again, absolutely shameful that Allentown Mayoral Hopeful Mike "3%" Molovinsky is leeringly fixated on a tragically deceased person's "statuesque" figure. Juyst incredible. Does he realize it's not 1960 anymore? He's disgusting.

Politically Neutered said...

...and this is the "quality" of person The Morning Call picks as a "Blogger Tuesday" blogger. It figures.

Anonymous said...

I see "aj" chose to NOT publish it, whioch is odd since he published 3 other other comments by o'hare... a.k.a. "Father Alex," "oh, for pete's sake," and "the banker."

Rehired ASD Teacher said...

They can dish it out
But they can't take it.

Mrs. Dottie said...

Readers, again, while we do appreciate (and share) your outrage at the hypocrisy of the Evil Allied Accomplice bloggers, let's stay on our topic of ridding The Morning Call Forum of its racist hate. Thank you.

Concerned Citizen said...

Villas, congratulations on being the #1 most popular and most influential political blog in Pennsylvania again this week, well-deserved.

Bill Villa said...

Merci.

Anonymous said...

Hs Alfonso heard anythng back from Gene Kransley?

Bill Villa said...

Glenn Kranzley

No word yet ...

Anonymous said...

Keep us posted on this Villas, something's not right here ...

The Blanker