Opinion
Ruthless criticism has no part in intelligent debate
Looking for a print version?
Simply use your browser’s ‘Print’ command and a printer-friendly document will be generated automatically.
Also by Cristina Daglas:
- Herald coverage of TAA well focused (December 1, 2005)
- Journey worth treasuring (May 5, 2005)
- Herald unleashed childish attack on Kumar (December 8, 2005)
- Voicing healthy criticism of The Badger Herald (September 1, 2005)
- Labels unnecessary, Katrina coverage lacking (September 8, 2005)
Sharing tools:
E-mail this article:
College newspapers are faced with striking a balance between both professionalism and the temptation of humor usage. The students that comprise The Badger Herald staff have strived over the past few years (that's all I can truly speak to) to present their work in the most mature of fashions while also having a bit of fun.
This past week, there were a number of hard news stories (think state Legislature) as well as a few articles and photos in anticipation of last Friday's rivalry football game between the two campus dailies. These certain articles and pictures could be construed as a display of poor sportsmanship, inappropriate or unprofessional but I haven't heard a complaint yet. And I'm not complaining either. I'm all for a good laugh as often as possible.
College papers are charged with appealing to their audience — an eccentric, young and vibrant group of thousands of students. And humor is often a way to keep students interested (think shout-outs).
As the Herald attempts to engage students on a daily basis, editors open up web space for dialogue. As many of you know, anyone can comment on an opinion piece either anonymously or with identification at www.badgerherald.com.
More than a year ago, the Herald had a different website and thus a different commenting system. Online feedback was steady and sometimes harsh, but never as brutal as it would become during the 2004-05 academic year. Due to the brutality, feedback became limited to opinion pieces; it was previously open and encouraged on all articles in every section. Months passed and harsh, unbelievably off-topic comments continued.
With problems still persisting, another filter was instilled this year leaving editors to personally approve every comment submitted. Imagine the time commitment and internal struggle of censorship when the "decline" button is pushed. Take it from someone who knows: it is a mentally draining task.
Because of the now inherent delay in posting a comment and seeing it appear on the site, statements have started appearing criticizing the new system Herald staffers are forced to use.
And why must this system be used? Because a few twenty-somethings on the University of Wisconsin campus find fun in tearing apart those brave enough to voice opinions in a student publication. I must disclose that I've been party to much criticism in my day but feel privileged to have avoided many of the harshest comments I've read.
As the editor in chief of the Herald last year, one of my most intense headaches became dealing with the drama that was online commenting. Journalists (especially college journalists) make mistakes, twenty-somethings often have radical views and students are the first to speak their minds in response to these views.
As the current academic year flies into its second month, online commenting is still one of my biggest headaches. And now as the ombudsman, I'm using my privilege to serve as a mediator between the paper and its readers to address this topic. As this mediator, I'm on my hands and knees begging for change.
Have we become a society solely capable of criticism and completely inept at giving compliments? And apart from society as a whole, are twenty-somethings so stuck in a state of perpetual immaturity as to immediately criticize say a woman for her looks or her ideologies?
We live in a city drastically separated by political views. What you classify as might as well be branded on your forehead because if you throw out progressive views, a conservative will jump on your back before reading them … and vice versa. No one seems to pay attention to the argument but rather jumps all over the individual because of what label he or she has attached to their person.
One of my favorite comments from the week was this: "Just curious, do you actually think for yourself or just regurgitate the conservative arguments I made when I was 7? You really give conservatives a bad name. The fact that you somehow managed to get into graduate school makes me wonder at the quality of UW as an institution."
To the writer of this comment: if you're irritated with the column, write something constructive. Please keep adding to the discourse, but please be productive in the dialogue you and we are hoping to foster on the site.
I hope that in the near future commenting can be reopened to all articles and dialogue can become productive.
For three years I've wanted to address this, and now I have. I can't wait to see the online feedback on this one. Cabbage Patch comments anyone?
Cristina Daglas, former editor in chief of The Badger Herald, is now the paper's ombudsman. Readers are encouraged to e-mail thoughts, criticisms and observations of the paper to cdaglas@badgerherald.com or call her at (608) 257-4712 ext. 168. Her column will appear every Thursday on this page.
7 Comments | Leave a comment
Leave a comment
Herald Blogs
The Beat Goes On
Brother Ali makes an ‘Exclusive’ stop
Muckrakers
Report: Barrett to make decision by the end of the week
Extra Points
Top Classified Ads (view all)
HOUSES FOR Fall 2010. All houses are on W Dayton or N Bassett. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 bedrooms. All have parking. madisoncampusrentals.com
I wish you would have addressed my posting on the definition of Ombudsman.
Oh - also - the comments stuff has been vicious since 1996 (when Kohlbeck put the Herald online).
The new system does suck primarily because it arbitrarily censors, but also because it reduces the level of activity. I once got a job offer during the Audrey Seiler debate.
I guess the truth hit a little too close to home.
Welcome to the Internet, Cristina, where debate is personal, petty, stupid - and ruthless. It certainly isn't limited to comments on the BH website; if you really want to get depressed, check out FreeRepublic.com or Democratic Underground. The only way for you to get rid of it is to shut down the comments entirely. However, if you got rid of the anonymous comments and made people sign up, it would cut down on some of the crap.
It just takes toooooooo long for feedback to be posted.
Little back and forth - takes too long.
Here's some for you: You sound like an old woman, constantly referring to "twenty-somethings" who are really your peers. Drop the arrogance.
Cristina
Nice work on the article.
As a Christian with an increasingly unpopular world view, I rarely have a conversation that involves the issue at hand. I am immediately critized and personally attacked. This does not always occur, but usually does. THis is very unfortunate because I would love nothing more than an open, honest and intellectually stimulating conversation; I have no desire to ridicule, belittle or judge anyone for their beliefs.
I have attempted to discuss I.D. many times, but have been berated over and over. I completely understand that my world view goes against mainstream ideas, but if people would actually listen instead of bringing immediate ire, then we would have something to discuss.
Thanks again for your attempts to bring mature and productive discussion back to life!!!
toy_amonte@yahoo.com