Update: this whole sordid affair has now drawn the attention of the Baltimore Sun. Talk about an ego stroke.
I wasn’t necessarily planning on writing this today, but recent developments have made me consider saying my piece about them. It’s sort of unfortunate that I have to write this on April Fool’s Day, when a number of internet-based practical jokes are pulled, but as usual I’m serious here.
Today the Daily Times ran a story written by Sharahn Boykin on Roberta Wechsler’s Tuesday “rant” against Joe Albero. I had my own reaction to the piece, which I’ll share here as a slightly cleaned up version:
Perhaps it’s a sorry state of affairs that, with an election upcoming that could help decide the fate of Salisbury and the surrounding area over the next two years, this post has drawn the most comments. But I believe I have something to add to the discussion.
As it so happens I’ve been involved in the blogging business for about the same amount of time as Joe (his site came online in July 2006, mine in December 2005) – suffice to say, we’ve both spent a significant amount of time on our respective endeavors. Obviously we have our different styles and areas of interest, and for what he has accomplished Joe deserves a certain amount of respect.
But as time goes on it’s more apparent that he’s built a Potemkin village, dealing less and less with the investigative journalism with which he made his name and more on personally attacking those he doesn’t like. Look at it this way – I don’t like the effects of Leftist politics on my nation, state, and local government yet I get along with most who would be enemies politically. Maybe not being such a polarizing figure means I have fewer readers because of it, but I sleep well at night too.
Certainly I don’t agree with much of what the Daily Times writes, but look how they built this story: using the premise of Mrs. Wechsler’s remarks they interviewed a number of people affected on both sides of the issue. Moreover, they are accepting most of the feedback which springs from the article (with some exceptions, presumably those which violate terms of service.) There’s a few Albero haters here and some who support him within this comment thread. From many reports, that’s a fairness that Albero lacks on his own site, which has devolved to a simple news aggregator.
It’s interesting to note that many local bloggers have some experience with Joe Albero as current or former contributors, for better or worse. One needs to ask just why most of them backed away?
I had that chance too but I relish my independence.
Ironically, today the Daily Times website is featuring a USA Today story about the Modesto Bee pulling the plug on its blogger site, citing the “chaotic free-for-all of vitriolic name-calling, finger-pointing and mud-slinging.” So it’s not just us, Salisbury.
I’m not naive enough to believe there aren’t people who will bend the truth to suit their needs; unfortunately our political world is infested with them. When I put my own opinion out there it’s indeed an opinion no matter how much I wish it may not be so. I can’t claim to have every single fact on my side but I believe I have a pretty good preponderance of the evidence based on where we have been and where I think we could be going.
As to the local blogging scene, human nature being what it is I suspect things might get worse before they get better – hopefully I’m wrong on that one. Now we hear about boycotting this, making fun of that, and other character assassination that makes me wonder where the truth is being served? As I note, we have an election in four days yet public interest is more riveted on this story of personalities.
Indeed, this is why I don’t write about politics all the time because it’s a cesspool which can suck you in if you’re not careful. I like having an outsider’s view looking in.
It’s also why I believe that many of our ills could be cured if money and power were removed from the comparatively small enclave of Washington, D.C. and restored to the broader base of our state capitals and county seats. At least that way if someone is too power-hungry for their own britches we have a natural check and balance; unfortunately we are missing that here.
But that’s just me. In many respects what we have lost over my lifetime and perhaps a generation or two prior is our character. Sure, there are some who still carry themselves with honor in their lives but over time too many are corrupted by the siren song of instant gratification, wealth, and fame. I think this is what happened in the Albero case, although many debate whether he ever had that character to begin with. One has to wonder what made him so vindictive toward certain people, enough so to smear them all over his website. On the other hand, one also has to ponder the character of those who let his actions affect them to the point where they obsess over every move Joe makes. It’s a vicious circle, much like water swirling down the drain.
Maybe I don’t do as good of a job as I should of staying above the fray, but there are times I feel my reputation is threatened by the actions of this group. I can choose my friends but I can’t always choose my associates, and there are many good bloggers out there who get hurt by the bad apples.
It’s for them I say this piece, too. May they all rise above the bilge that has lately been spewed out on the local blogosphere and bring the level of conversation to one befitting our society.
