I pondered posting earlier in the week about the blogfight going on between the WaPo’s ombudsman and Media Matters but decided it was a little too net-centric for us. I try to err on the side of caution there since I’m a high-order nerd and some of my obsessions are a little rarified.
This seems pretty wide-reaching, however. The Washington Post’s online division, washingtonpost.com, apparently caught so much ire from people unhappy with their ombudsman’s recent statements that they decided to turn off comments on the post.blog. While I’m sympathetic to having to deal with ugly comments – DC Metblogs gets the occasional crank and a fair amount of spam that has to be dealt with – it seems to me that you don’t respond to heated criticism by taking your ball and going home.
Particularly not when it’s over your ombudsman declaring she’s just not going to respond anymore. Maybe I’m not understanding m-w on this. “one that investigates reported complaints (as from students or consumers), reports findings, and helps to achieve equitable settlements”
Sure sounds like she should be responding…
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
Well I used to say something in my profile about not quite being a “tinker, tailor, soldier, or spy” but Tom stole that for our about us page, so I guess I’ll have to find another way to express that I am a man of many interests.
Hmm, guess I just did.
My tastes run the gamut from sophomoric to Shakespeare and in my “professional” life I’ve sold things, served beer, written software, and carried heavy objects… sometimes at the same place. It’s that range of loves and activities that makes it so easy for me to love DC – we’ve got it all.
