Folks,
These are grim times for many of us. Things are tense. I get it.
But take a breath. You may not agree with everybody who posts here, but try to remember that, in the end, there are real people behind those comments - especially the ones from people who have gone to the trouble of registering an account here. Disagree with what they say? Have at it, but try to disagree with what they say and not get all expletive-y and ad-hominemish. Imagine if that person were sitting right across from you.
You do that and I'll do my best to keep hitting the delete key on the really vile stuff anon posters keep trying to sneak through (like the ones I'm sure will be quickly posted here, but my official motto these days is "I Don't Care" and after I mutter that, flick, there goes the check in that little old delete box). And I'll try to remember to count to ten, also.
Thanks.
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Comments
Thanks.
By SalSal
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 11:10pm
I read other comment sections and even when an interesting discussion starts up it's apt to get obscured by troll-fights. I enjoy reading the relatively civilized comments here, even when the subject is bikes.
I am merely a very occasional commenter here
By u-hub-fan
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 11:29pm
but I feel I should observe that is is very likely to be an uphill battle for you, Adam. For the reality is that "behaving like an asshole" is the new national pastime, due to the example quite deliberately set by our leadership. Reasonable disagreement is simply NOT part of the new value system, and an increasing number of people will be responding to the encouragement to get their freak on as vituperatively as possible.
Anger is the new coin of the realm, and setting people at each others' throats is the very goal. Human nature means we were already all capable of it. We've just never seen it leveraged in such an unmistakeably deliberate way before in our lifetimes.
OKOK...
By dmcboston
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 11:34pm
I won't say anything bad about the opossums anymore.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/ldSEMTM.jpg[/img]
Oh thank you!
By rachel_sez
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 12:05am
Seriously, what is the point of the internet if there aren't pictures of baby animals?
Bravo!
Opossums are Proof
By Stevil
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 10:20am
That even God makes mistakes.
Had lyme disease yet?
By anon
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 11:45am
No?
Thank a possum. These critters are voracious tick munchers.
Thanks Adam
By 413
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 4:00am
Long time lurker, very infrequent poster (though I did today, ironically) and I have found the tone in the comments very nasty of late (I'm no conservative, trust me) and good to know you picked up on it too. Here's to civil conversation (or as civil as it can be on the internet)
(edited to clarify point)
Thanks Adam
By Stevil
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 11:45pm
Well said and good advice for ALL of us and not just on the Trump stuff. And yes, there are probably a few occasions where I need to look in the mirror myself -though not on the Trump stuff which I think I generally just plain avoid!
My 2017 resolution is officially to be more polite to my fellow UHub commenters with an official apology to Michael Kerpan, a very nice person that I think I offended a while back on an entirely un-Trump thread.
Program on Negotiation. Defuse an Argument...
By theszak
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 1:04am
Program on Negotiation
http://pon.harvard.edu
Alex C. Huynh
To Defuse an Argument, Think About the Future
https://hbr.org/2017/01/to-defuse-an-argument-thin...
Thanks, Adam...
By Div2Supt
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 2:31am
This is yet another example of why I consider UHub my #1 source of local news and commentary.
Seeing comment sections at The Globe and Herald sometimes boil over to the point of almost becoming "4Chan for Bored Suburbanites" I admire your resolve and willingness to balance freedom of discussion with occasionally calling shenanigans.
There are none better and damn few as good as Universal Hub.
Keep up the great work!
Try the trending section in Facebook.
By Cleary Squared
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 4:53pm
I recently removed my Facebook app from my phone because after reading some of the comments in the Trending section, I was appalled on how purely nasty people can get, even if they think they're justified in doing so. One reasonable comment devolves into a hundred sidefights, of which 50 are merely attacking the original post, 30 are defending the commenter, and 20 are "my SO/sibling earned $X an hour working from home..." scams.
I try my best to be reasonable when commenting, If I ever slip, Adam or other posters will let me know (even theszak, whose posts are entertaining IMHO).
Blood Boiling
By cybah
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 7:49am
I'm not anymore really. It has gotten nasty yes, but no longer surprised at any of this. I've just been online a very long time to realize how being behind a keyboard gives them such power. It's just easier to be nasty behind a keyboard than in person.
I just learned not to bother reading Trending articles anymore.. unless I want my blood to boil.
But I second the Facebook comment.. slowly getting tired of social media all together. (Twitter is alright, but Facebook is for the birds these days) Not because of Trump News itself.. but the way people act now (both the right.. and many of my life friends). And I have a high tolerance for this stuff as I've been online for over 25 years now.. but if I want nothing to do with now.. it's gotta be pretty bad.
Signaloud gloves.
By theszak
Fri, 01/27/2017 - 9:06am
Signaloud gloves translate sign language into speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0rxxJvD5Rw
Will there be cake?
By anon
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 6:13am
Will there be cake?
Thanks and how do I register?
By hydeparkish
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 7:47am
Cheers!
Up at the top of most pages ...
By adamg
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 9:07am
Click on the Log In / Register link, then on Create New Account. Fill out the form. You might have to wait for approval for a bit, since all the account requests come to me (damn spammers, they ruin everything), if it takes awhile, I apologize in advance for the delay.
Thank you, Adam, on a couple of counts
By ladycommentariat
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 8:12am
I moved to Boston a couple of years ago from the other side of the country and discovered UHub in my search for a local news blog so I could begin to get to know my new city from a local's perspective. UHub has been fantastic for this.
And while I agree things in the comment section have gotten nastier lately, as others have mentioned, this is still one of the more civil places on the internet. Moderating is hard work, and a necessity for civilized online discourse in a public forum, so thanks for that as well.
I love the UniversalHub community....
By Greg Cook
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 8:31am
Thank you Adam for weighing in. Thank you to Adam and everyone here for all the conversation, always,for creating this community about our community. UniversalHub is one of the things I love most about Boston. I love all the smarts and insights into this place. I love hearing from everyone from SwirlyGrrl to O-FISH-L. Really. And I appreciate how great a reporter Adam is and how great a connector Adam is and how great a host Adam is. I appreciate the arguments in the comments. (Let's talk bicycling!) They're illuminating--even as they can become painful. Thank you Adam and everyone for endeavoring to comment and debate and fiercely disagree--while not tearing each other and the whole thing down. <3
I was a fan of UHub from its
By anon
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 8:54am
I was a fan of UHub from its inception but left UHub back in November because it was clear Adam had his favorites. I was registered at the time. Got sick of the negative, toxic environment the site generates. Sorry, but that's how I feel and my feelings can't be changed. Sorry Adam.
Negative and toxic?
By anon
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 9:19am
Or an environment where no bs goes unchallenged?
Some people call that hostile, but in a post-fact world I find it refreshing.
How can we miss you if you won't leave?
By Jeff F
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 9:34am
You left back in November...but just happened to read this article and decided to respond?
Murp.
I meant to say I stopped
By anon
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 11:34am
I meant to say I stopped contributing comments since November. I still read the site. I stopped contributing comments because my comments usually generated toxic responses. Therefore, I decided not to contribute to any toxicity.
Adam
By M
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 9:23am
You're awesome, and we need what you're doing right now - thank you.
Great post
By Tim in Charlestown
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 9:23am
Thanks Adam.
Just made a $50.00 contribution
By SEBstn
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 9:54am
What better way to show Adam some love and support ? Do I always agree with him? No. Can he be a bit snarky? Yes. Does UHub do an incredible job covering neighborhood issues? Yes.
Bottom line - if you don't like what he writes, or how he writes it, don't read him.
I support people supporting Adam
By erik g
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 10:56am
I also pony up once or twice a year. More news than you'd get from the Globe, with twice the snark and no annoying UHub Direct ads showing up on my front steps every week.
Thank you, Adam.
By whyaduck
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 10:21am
We can disagree but we can be civil.
We are conservative about the things we know
By EM Painter
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 10:57am
By this time, you should understand what your vision is for this site, and you can shape it here and there to get it to look the way you want.
We are all most conservative about the things we know best. You're attracting trolls because you depend on them to do the opposing and slap-fighting of the dumb comments from your own side.
I listen to and read plenty of lefty media because I don't care to listen to dumb porno-thought from my own side. Pornography is wish fulfillment and it's dehumanizing yourself to consume it for your bodily needs as for your political needs.
Boston is super liberal and I accept that dealing with news here will always be slanted that way. The lefty media that works is the kind where the owner acts as a dictator especially over his own side. Otherwise it's too easy to fly off together into some fantasy land.
The best way to deal with "dumb comments" from any side
By anon
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 11:43am
Facts, logic, reasoning, evidence.
Facts?
By u-hub-fan
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 1:45pm
Do such things still exist in America 2017?
Adam I might argue that you
By anon
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 11:47am
Adam I might argue that you instigate such behavior and also support any negative posts that favor your own personal political opinions. So do better.
If you don't like my opinions
By adamg
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 12:47pm
That's your right. But sorry, I'm going to continue expressing my opinions, no matter how obliquely I do that sometimes (I've never written anything like a UHub manifesto, say, but, yeah, it's pretty obvious how I voted in November). And so will other folks. Just hopefully in a less personal manner. And if you feel compelled to go nuclear in an argument, you probably need to seek another Web site to do that on.
I scencerly respect that you
By anon
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 12:56pm
I scencerly respect that you have opinions but the way you express them can be snarky and of course highly biased
Most opinions are biased
By adamg
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 1:08pm
That's why they're opinions. That's not the same as (trigger alert for hungry Southern folks) ad-hominem attacks.
As you just displayed, the
By anon
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 4:56pm
As you just displayed, the south and southerners are one major prejudice you exhibit. I don't think Gatlinburg had missed you sir.
I admit, I have a prejudice ...
By adamg
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 5:45pm
Against people who jump to conclusions.
No slight against Southerners, you may put down your sword, suh! It was a response to somebody else's comment in this discussion about how I should stop using the phrase "ad hominemy" not because I made it up and it's dumb, but because it makes him hungry. For hominy. Which is a Southern food. It may not rank up there with a riposte by Twain or Shaw or Churchill, but, then, you're not paying me for that elevated level of comeback mockery.
In any case, you've missed the point of what I asked. But, whatevs.
read the whole thread
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 10:32pm
This was referencing a comment by another contributor.
You are just making yourself sound like you have grits between the ears.
The Manifesto
By erik g
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 1:25pm
Chapter 1: Turkeys: Threat Or Menace?
Chapter 2: Parking Savers and the People Who Use Them
Chapter 3: Those $&^! Bikers Can Go $&%! Themselves
I almost killed myself reading that comment
By Nancy
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 4:19pm
I'm sitting here minding my own business, reading the comments and sucking on a jawbreaker. When I read your comment I snort laughed and started choking on my candy. I coughed it back up but it was kind of hairy for a minute there. Thanks for not causing my death today. I appreciate it.
Congrats
By adamg
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 5:46pm
You win the UHubs today!
Also the UHub French Toast Alert
By Greg Cook
Fri, 01/27/2017 - 6:46am
Also the UHub French Toast Alert/Weather Bureau: http://www.universalhub.com/french-toast
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