Posted by Hal Bailey, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Feb 19, 2007 at 9:20 am

Dear Gina,

Your Town Square Forum has created a volume of e-chain commentary, but no postings. Since e-chains serve neighborhoods, and create the desired distribution for their authors, that explains why PUBLIC postings are not occurring on your site.

More importantly, community groups restrict commentary to verbal discussions within their meetings and individual members do not make PUBLIC comments unless such commentary is decided by their boards. AIA would be an excellent example.

As Natalie O'Neill can confirm, I have attempted to invite groups and committees to post comments. I received replies from many, but no postings were made.

With the history of intimidation and retaliation by various aggregated political groups related to Contra Costa County, we both need to understand that PUBLIC comment invites such actions.

THUS, Polls on topics might invite response and, as more readers review the Town Square Forum, the PUBLIC postings should grow.

I love it!

Hal

Posted by Hal Bailey, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Jan 27, 2012 at 8:57 am

Gina,

It has been nearly five years since the hope for a community forum was supported. Five years of abusive commentary filled with disrespect, defamation, condescension and misinformation has confirmed the failure of the town square forum.

You are left with very few commentators due to your sponsorship of such abuse. That should cause you to re-ask your question, "As the new publisher, I'd like to know what you like or dislike about the site?"

Let's accept that most of Dolores' readers miss The Danville Weekly and do not see Express websites as an adequate replacement.

halbailey@yahoo.com, CDSI Member Information