On Civil Discourse

What is it about the Internet that makes people think they have the right to be mean, rude and disrespectful?

I mean, people must be emboldened because they are not face to face to say whatever they want, damn the truth and even worse, damn common courtesy, respect and good manners. Online bullying is not only a big problem with our youth it is alive and well among “adults.”

I think a big part of the problem is people get to hide behind their screen names online. You know those clever (and not so clever) names that illustrate something about the person’s life they identify with. Of course, don’t ask me what that means about the folks with alcohol or the devil in their screen name!

I take a pretty big beating online, mostly by people posting under a fake name. It is rude, discourteous, uncivil and cowardly. Of course, people are also critical of me who use their real names, but they are usually pretty civil, and I am perfectly fine with that. In a free and civil society it a part of the bargain to disagree and debate - but the key word is civil.  

I always respect others' right to their own opinions, even when I disagree with them, so it never ceases to amaze me that people can be so rude and disrespectful. Recent posts on the Stratford Patch have told me to “calm down,” “shut up” and worse.

Just because I did not win re-election does not mean I lost my right to express my opinions. All Americans are entitled to the protections afforded by the First Amendment, even former mayors that lost a bid for re-election.

Additionally, like me or the job I did as mayor or not, my opinions come with the background, knowledge and information of having served as mayor and, I respectfully submit, can help the public debate. I continue to weigh in on issues not because I wish to re-hash my term as mayor (although I will certainly set the record straight if it needs to be), but because Stratford is still my hometown and I care about our people and the future of our town.

In doing so, I do not need a clever screen name to hide behind. I have no hidden agenda to grind away at - anonymous to the world.

No one can accuse me of not being a straight talker and willing to take on a fight, perhaps to a fault. Something I learned as a United States Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division has stayed with me to this day - you fight for what you believe in.

I just wonder: is it too much to ask for civility online?

You can read more from Jim at www.JimMironBlog.com