Far from the madding crowd, I stopped at this gate on a bike ride on Nov. 10, 2024.
Being far removed from the action does not disqualify people from being interested in what goes on, right? Or from letting others know what they think?
As the photo shows, I was riding my bike in the wilds of Southern Oregon last week. But I kept abreast of developments in Albany (including the dismaying news that Albany school teachers seemed determined to walk off the job to press their demands).
I mention this matter of distance in response to the reaction one of the frequent commenters on this site occasionally gets.
The commenter used to live in Albany. Then he retired and moved away. But Albany apparently being such a fascinating place, he’s still interested. He follows this site. Often he reacts. And why not?
But he gets criticized by other commenters for no longer being a resident.
Distance has nothing to do with it. I got my start in the news business in Los Angeles. I have not lived there for more than 50 years, but I’m still interested. I get online newsletters from there — one from the Los Angeles Times and another one on bicycling in LA.
If it would do any good, I would send those people in the Southland a comment now and then, letting them know how they’re doing it all wrong. And I would resent it if somebody responded, “You don’t live here any more, so shut up.”
So, to sum up: There is no residency requirement for following this website or for commenting on its contents. Reactions are welcome from anywhere, as long a they’re reasonably civil and more or less on point. (hh)
Hasso, isn’t it Ironic that his main detractor does not live in Albany either, he lives in Salem, he used to work for the City and has a car that has been subsidized by the taxpayer.
So, Hasso, you are an expert on whether teachers’ demands for reasonable working conditions are valid or not? Other than parenting itself, teaching kids is the hardest (and most consequential) job there is. Also, it would be nice if you would openly scold the same “no-out-of-town-allowed” writers about vehemently harassing commenters who do not reveal their legal names.
childlesscatlady2, I understand that there are reasons to not give your name, but it is also abused dramatically, it allows people to throw mud with impunity, there is a certain semblance of justice for people to receive the brickbats that they deserve when they hide behind a fake name after throwing mud.
You are no doubt a white, Anglosaxon, protestant male! What in the hell do you know about fear and caution! Nothing, I would presume. And defending oneself against uppity white men throwing “brickbats” does not equate to preemptively throwing said brickbats.
I agree, but posting under a real identity can create baggage.
Which is why I respect those who disagree with me and use their real name (ex: Bob, Sharon, Ray K).
They don’t shy away from judgement or hide behind the comfort of a nom de plume.
This takes some courage. And I respect them for it.
But they are wrong on so many things…
p.s. For Hasso’s benefit, when I include the acronym AMAB with my name it normally indicates sarcasm. He can’t always decipher my intent, so I thought I’d make it easier on him.
p.s.s. By the way, AMAB means Assigned Male at Birth. Part of a lexicon that is ripe for lots of sarcasm.
I spent the first 5 decades of my 73 year life in Northern California, moving to Oregon in 2010. I still care, and often comment, about my “home” state on social media. “Why?”, you might ask. Simple. Because I care about my family and friends who still live there. It’s astonishing to me how some people feel the need to “cancel” other people’s opinions because, in their mind, they don’t “qualify”. Last time I checked, free speech was still alive, but not necessarily well.