I see Balls.....lots and lots of balls
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3109398kiloman (503 posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:14 AM
Original message
Rrstar.com Banned all Democrats Today.
Advertisements [?]Our Cities only newspaper forum The Rockford Register Star, Rrstar.com
today purged and banned every single Democrat ,Progressive and Left leaning
independent today. That included myself and one other D.Uer.
Having lived here for more than thirty years I know there is a very strong
right wing presence here. The 16th. Congressional district has elected
and reelected Don Manzullo for pretty much a life term.
During this election year the right wingers have become increasingly hostile
to anyone that does not toll the Bush line but I never in a million years
thought this News Organization would go to such lengths.
I’ve PM’d and E-Mailed with no response. This is fascism at its very worst
Hopefully its not a preview of things to come nationwide.
-4 for making me click on the link and read this drivel............................they don't even try anymore, but as usual the primitives prove once again that they are IDJITS
babylonsister (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:17 AM
Response to Original message
1. That's probably illegal, or should be. Kick and recommend for input and outrage. nt
Donnachaidh (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:18 AM
Response to Original message
2. Send the information to Countdown
And let him give them a Worst person's award. And keep doing it until the forum explains it censorship.
kiloman (503 posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:22 AM
Response to Original message
3. This is what they have been pushing for
Edited on Sat Apr-05-08 01:23 AM by kiloman
A post from one of the Right Wingers
You know what? It is really doesn't bother me that FATCAT is still posting at RRStar under almost a half dozen usernames while my account there still remains inactive.
bootstrapbob
TomJoadsGhost
fastfreddy
Bruce_Butler
System of a Down
Jonathon Blaise
Stone Cold Steve
Psychotic Mastermind
D GR8 DB8R
The Lone Gunman
RastaGal
Chop Suey
Chi Town Charlie
Sergeant Major
Shockwave
Mirth Munch
ZEE
FatCat was banned some 6 months ago, Really gave it to em.
Every one on his list above AND MORE were kicked off
I believe that the story is starting to shed some light on the truth, yet the primitive idjits are to stoopid to understand personal
responsibility
murielm99 (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:24 AM
Response to Original message
4. Did you find out why you were banned?
Did they make a statement?
kiloman (503 posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:27 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. It only states that you are banned
I think the moderator may be a right winger and is taking the word of the aboveposter that we are all trouble makers of dupes of this fatcat guy.
Multiple accounts, etc.
I broke the rules and they are making me pay the price.......I just thought I would say that all liberals, democrats and progressives were banned sounded better, than I broke the rules and was punished.
PATRICK (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:29 AM
Response to Original message
7. Picket, boycott and drop
leaflets?
lonestarnot (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:30 AM
Response to Original message
8. Sue!
We're going to ignore the truth here...................facist boosh paper evil jack booters
kiloman (503 posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:42 AM
Response to Reply #9
12. Yes, Gatehouse
one of the banned members, TomJoadsGhost was forwarding some
of crap going on there directly to Gatehouse.
Obviously did no good, Bunker mentality
spuds (15 posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:33 AM
Response to Original message
10. Nazi's
you have a printer? print up a big swastika and stick one on all there public papper boxes and underneath tell the publick what they have done.
kiloman (503 posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:38 AM
Response to Original message
11. I signed up under a new screen name and posted this
Edited on Sat Apr-05-08 01:40 AM by kiloman
You ahve banned every Democrat
What gives you the Right to exclude people for thier views or on the word of an obvious dupe right wing dupe, Johnny Blaze.
I hope you know that lawsuit comes to mind here.
I dont expect an answer from MGT., Just more name calling from the Bush Crew.
Sorry, I'm pretty upset
http://community.e-rockford.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=...
Do people not read EULA's anymore??
kevinbgoode (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:43 AM
Response to Original message
13. You need to handle this is a very pro-active, very pragmatic manner
There are a few things you can do to make your voices heard, but it is going to take some work and perseverence.
First, you've acknowledged that you are not receiving any responses from the newspaper's editorial department concerning the ban. At this point, you don't know if this was an editorial decision by the newspaper management, or an ideological decision made by the website operator employed by the company for online content. You need to call the managing editor for the entire newspaper, followed by the publisher. If you can't email them directly, I suggest a phone call.
In this contact, you need to specifically point out issues you have with how you are being treated by the newspaper - and be specific. Ask them for the purpose of their online forum, ask if this is their entire newspaper editorial policy now, and be prepared to give them specific examples of inherent bias. Be polite and reasonable - even if they sound unreasonable.
If you don't get an adequate response, then it is time to go to their OWNERS. The Rockford newspaper is owned by GateHouse Media. . .http://www.gatehousemedia.com/aboutus /. . .you can locate a listing of management officials for the company. I'm not impressed by the lack of ethical description on their web site - meaning, they don't seem to have any posted statement of news ethics, so that may be a negative clue about their content. I haven't tried to do many other searches about the history of this company, but I suggest you do so before contacting them - the more you know about their agenda and policies, the better off you'll be in approaching them with your complaints. Those complaints can work, by the way. . .I've been a pain-in-the-ass to my local newspaper, and their parent company, for several years, and they listen to me. (of course, I have two degrees in journalism and have written a chapter in a text book, and have been a reporter, but that isn't necessary - it just means I understood how these companies are constructed. Don't be afraid of confronting the larger company with your complaint - if there is one thing a publisher hates, it's having the parent company field a complaint about their policies.
Now, there is always a chance that you won't get a good response. If that's the case, there is no reason to despair - it means you, and all of the other independent/progressives in Rockford (which has a rather large population) have reason to start organizing. If you have an entertainment newspaper in town (even a weekly) approach them with a request to write a weekly column, pointing out that the Register-Star refuses to air any point of view other than right-wing crap. If that isn't possible, it's time to get together with some other concerned locals - and create a web site that targets the content (and lack of content) in the newspaper about certain issues. Find someone with some journalism background who understands the limits and can judge the publication's ethics - if you go this route, put up flyers for people to access the site and encourage real discussion.
Newspapers are still struggling with figuring out how to handle online content. For over 100 years, they were used to being able to edit, screen, toss-aside and rewrite letters-to-the-editor, often the only forum which people could interact or question the content of the newspaper. Now, with an online presence, they suddenly realize that people are more open, more direct, sometimes more hostile, and are quick to engage in discourse with each other as they are about the newspaper content - and the paper can't run a forum and use the same level of controls as letters-to-the-editor without employing someone full-time, 24/7 to moniter the site. And this is your strongest argument. . .you are certainly within your rights as a consumer and participant, to question their dedication to providing forums for discussion if they limit participation to right wing zealots.
In the end, there are other things that are possible. Newspapers are generally not doing that well financially. . .if you organize well, their advertisers can be approached, subscribers can be encouraged to cancel subscriptions, and the parent company will certainly take notice of declining circulation and advertising dollars.
kiloman (503 posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:50 AM
Response to Reply #13
15. Thank You kevinbgoode
I may have a few ideas.
We do have a progressive weekly in the Rock Rover Times, But no online forum
Then there is the Democratic meet up crew etc.
Thats why I posted this. D.U has some great activist and can show us the
proper way to approach this.
struggle4progress (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:47 AM
Response to Original message
14. Our political fights ultimately will not be won on the internet anyway: they'll be won when
we organize moving people in the streets and workplaces
Come into my workplace protesting and you will be leaving with assistance
kiloman (503 posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:53 AM
Response to Reply #14
16. Your right, But we do need to counter their message
of hate and division.
It's late, Just wait until Sat. They will go ape once they
see what their benifactor has done for them.
I'm pulling my hair out now
kiloman (503 posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:56 AM
Response to Reply #16
17. I’m paranoid, But
has anyone else here experienced this besides in Rockford ?
nadinbrzezinski (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-05-08 01:59 AM
Response to Reply #17
18. You are not paranoid, the net
with few exceptions, has become less and less friendly to people of certain political persuasions
And people need to take to the streets, physically
NO, not holding my breath on that one either.
First ya gotta leave the basement
kiloman (503 posts) Sat Apr-05-08 02:05 AM
Response to Reply #18
19. Well, That's one plus
I wish I’d had a chance to get real world info on the others who were tossed.
The only one I know how to contact is my fellow D.Uer.
Should have known.
struggle4progress (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-05-08 02:08 AM
Response to Reply #16
20. Nothin wrong with kicking back against it: but there's plenty of this comin down the road
Bring it on biotch
Peanut Butter (25 posts) Sat Apr-05-08 03:27 AM
Response to Original message
21. In a Right Wing City, An Election Year, Hummm.
Looks like the games begin.
orleans (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-05-08 04:28 AM
Response to Original message
22. i wonder if all the dems who are rejoicing that randi rhodes has been
silenced (in effect "banned") from the airwaves are in agreement with this stunt as well.
Somebody that can search here, look up nappy headed ho's and see how they felt when...........hell that was one of their own
byronius (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-05-08 05:28 AM
Response to Reply #22
23. Jesus that had better end soon.
I love Sam, but this is nervewracking, frankly. She's my Source.
