ESCONDIDO CA : PRO ILLEGAL ALIEN COUNCILWOMAN SEEKS TO BLOCK FREE SPEACH IN NEWSPAPER BLOGS

ESCONDIDO: Critics want newspapers to end anonymous comments

By DAVID GARRICK dgarrick@nctimes.com
Posted: Saturday, September 3, 2011 4:00 pm | (145) Comments


Contending that local debate is poisoned by inflammatory Web comments attached to online newspaper stories, Councilwoman Olga Diaz and some other Escondido leaders want the North County Times and The San Diego Union-Tribune to start requiring readers who post comments to use their real names.

"The story blogs have become more toxic than productive," said Diaz, referring to the comments sections attached to online stories, which some people call "blogs." "They've become detrimental to the psyche of our community, with most people anonymously attacking others or spewing hate and bigotry."

But supporters say anonymous comments frequently enrich local debate, because they allow people to suggest unconventional ideas or policies without their co-workers or neighbors knowing that the ideas came from them.

They also argue that requiring names would stifle free speech.

"This push is coming from a very small minority of complainers who don't like free speech," said Jeff Schwilk, founder of the anti-illegal-immigration group San Diego Minutemen. "They know if you force people to give their names, they will not be able to speak as freely."

The North County Times announced last December that it would begin requiring names from commenters in 2011, contending that anonymity had created an atmosphere of nastiness and bigotry.

But the paper hasn't followed through.

Publisher Peter York said last week that Lee Enterprises, a newspaper chain based in Iowa that owns the North County Times, told him last winter that the change couldn't happen because of technical issues.

"We got excited about doing it and thought it'd be a good idea," York said. "But we're not going to be able to do it right away, or any time soon."

York agreed that some online comments were inflammatory and inappropriate, but explained that the paper quickly removes such comments when staff members notice them or when readers complain.

The paper reviewed each comment before posting it when the comments section launched in 2005, but staff cuts forced a change to the policy about three years ago.

York also said the North County Times wasn't out of step with most other newspapers, estimating that fewer than 5 percent of papers require people who post online comments to give their real names.

Jeff Light, editor of the Union-Tribune, said last week that his paper plans to start requiring names sometime in the next few weeks.

Although he said the move wasn't prompted by complaints from Diaz, Light agreed that anonymous comments were often divisive and antagonistic, and that they rarely add something worthwhile to local debate.

He said the Union-Tribune was making the change for the same reason that the paper was reluctant to use anonymous sources in its stories.

"Identity and accountability go together," Light said, predicting that the change would improve the tone and quality of debate in the comments sections. "People are more careful when they have to use their real names. We think we'll be doing our website and our community a favor."

Stifling debate?

Escondido resident Jerry Davis, who frequently posts comments on North County Times stories that add information or help clear up confusion, said it would be a big mistake for the papers to eliminate anonymous comments.

"People would like to express their opinion without it becoming an issue in their workplace or their church," said Davis, predicting that comments would begin coming mostly from extremists unafraid to give their names. "You're going to lose your middle-of-the-road people ---- your moderates."

Davis agreed that the comments sometimes become petty and unproductive, but said there has been less nastiness since the North County Times began posting its guidelines for appropriate comments more conspicuously two years ago.

"I attempt to contribute and add knowledge most of the time," Davis said. "I occasionally get snarky with people when they get snarky with me, but the site's rules against personal attacks have helped quite a bit."

Escondido Councilman Ed Gallo said he also had no problem with anonymous comments, contending that free speech was more important than decorum.

Gallo said it's disappointing that some people post comments about subjects such as immigration on stories unrelated to that topic, but he said people will always attack politicians and policies regardless of whether they have to give their name.

Schwilk, the San Diego Minutemen founder, said he thinks the debate over immigration policies is a key reason why Diaz and others want to end anonymous comments.

"People who are pro-illegal immigration get very upset when people express their opinion that we should enforce the laws of this country," he said.

But Diaz said many comments on illegal immigration go too far, including those on a recent story about a new city plan to embrace Escondido's racial diversity instead of ignoring it.

One commenter said: "Dump Diaz! She openly supports La Raza and illegal immigrants." Another said, "It seems to me Olga wants to have more power to support her illegal EMIGRANTS instead of gradually trying to merge the legal part of the city together."

'The cowardice of anonymity'

Diaz said last week that having to give one's name will make people more careful and reduce the number of inflammatory posts.

"The cowardice of anonymity has made the blogs poisonous," she said, contending that the North County Times' site is far worse than the Union-Tribune's. "They're not a beacon of great thought and expression. Many blogs are uninformed and most are mean-spirited."

Diaz conceded that some people will continue to post vitriol even if they have to give their names, but she said they would at least become accountable for what they write.

Some critics of anonymous comments suggest newspapers are reluctant to prohibit them based on fear that fewer people will visit their websites, which could decrease online advertising revenue.

But Diaz called that a shortsighted business decision, suggesting that advertisers don't want their products and services associated with a website where hatred and racism are prominent.

Danny Perez, a local activist and community organizer who attaches his name and picture to his North County Times Web posts, agreed with Diaz.

"I think the politicians should see who's attacking them," he said.

Mayor Sam Abed said he'd also like to see changes.

"The blogs have reached the lowest point of dialogue and feedback that a democracy can have," he said. "Out of 100 posts, you have maybe two or three that are reasonable and worthwhile."

Abed said the comments make it harder for city leaders to unite the community.

"Personal back-and-forth attacks are the most polarizing dialogue," he said. "It's doing more harm than good."


Call staff writer David Garrick at 760-740-5468


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