Comments on: New communications director an old friend of Vision

By: david hadaway

david hadaway — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:18:15 +0000

Well, I wish my buddies would float me into a new job from which someone else’s buddies would sack me after two years with half a million severance.

By: PGH

PGH — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:38:06 +0000

I wish my boss let me show up for my 8:30 am start time at 9:05.

By: FBT

FBT — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:33:25 +0000

Thats all too funny because there are those of us who know, whom many of those people are, we just respect the anonymity they’ve pursued.

For all the rest, keep wondering!

By: Gassy Jack's Ghost

Gassy Jack's Ghost — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:37:02 +0000

Blaffergassted, I applied for the ED job thinking (perhaps a little too optimistically) that a member of the undead would be best qualified for this position, but I haven’t heard anything yet. Will keep you ghosted.

As for the other thread that developed: I hate it when people use only first names or psuedonyms too, but not because they are generally uncivil or their arguments are weaker (for example, AGT, Keam, Geller and I don’t use psuedonyms, and we are often the gassiest and most pernicious posters). The real reason we hate psuedonyms is because we would really love to know who Glissando Remy, the Hoarse Whisperer, GMGW, Joe Just Joe, Spartikus, Not Running for Mayor, and the rest of the cast of whacky yet articulate characters who frequent this site really are. We are curious beasts, after all!

By: spartikus

spartikus — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:25:46 +0000

I’m not sure it aliases that breed incivility per se, after all, one of this blog’s prominent commentators does so under their real name and seems to revel in being rude. Rather, I think the ability to respond instantly and the inability to read body language of the person you’re responding too plays the greater role.

Personally, I view my pseudonym as a sort of “brand-name” that I try to take care of.

By: City Watcher

City Watcher — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:09:28 +0000

Brenton,
The Director of Communications position does not report to the Mayor or his Chief of Staff. This is a non-political position reporting ultimately to the City Manager. That’s the official structure anyway, however in practice these lines do get blurred.

By: Chris Keam

Chris Keam — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:46:32 +0000

FBT has no argument. All he/she did is hack Peter Ladner, question my motives, and call me pathetic for providing a link and some background information.

I don’t have a problem with aliases or pseudonyms at all, it’s the behaviour of some who utilize them I find wryly amusing. I think my observation that they seem to breed incivility and name-calling is a valid one. Why? Been there, done that.

By: spartikus

spartikus — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:09:08 +0000

Unless you are claiming some sort of special background or inside knowledge – for example “Melina Scholefield is resigning because she is unhappy with the way things are going at City Hall” – the use of anonymity or a pseudonym is irrelevant to the strength or weakness of one’s argument.

I don’t put much stock in the argument, or lack thereof, made by FBT on this thread, but I don’t care FBT goes by “FBT”.

By: Chris Keam

Chris Keam — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:19:06 +0000

It’s with some trepidation I tackle the topic, but I’m guessing Alex wouldn’t classify himself as a politician or advocate. My guess is ‘independent commentator’ or similar would be his preferred term for what he does.

Having said that, I don’t have an appetite for his methods, but I wouldn’t for a second deny him his due in recognizing his ability to garner attention. In that sense he is very definitely ‘doing it right.’

By: FBT

FBT — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:28:47 +0000

Well then I guess your buddy Alex Tsakumis is right on the money then.