As a 53-year-old, it is exciting, challenging and fun to keep up with the new media that has burst upon us the last couple of years through the internet.
It has opened up a needed outlet that allows us to research and express our ideas in a very wide and expansive forum, as the makers of the First Amendment could have never imagined.
As a daily user of Facebook, it has given me a new, expeditious way to share thoughts, feelings and ideas to my friends in an instantaneous way I never thought possible. If I am going to a movie, restaurant, a stage show or considering patronizing a local merchant, I can instantly bring up reviews — from not only professional reviewers but the general public — with lightning speed to assist in my decision-making.
This is great. But as I discuss with my family, do not always take what you read as the truth in the media.
My first sense of this came a year ago when I was having lunch with a friend who owns a retail business.
In business for 16 years, he has worked hard to build it up and now to maintain it through the difficult financial waters that many in retail are experiencing.
He complained to me he had taken a hit because of one competitor utilizing the internet to give less than glowing reviews of his products and services under a pseudonym. It was purely an attempt to drive customers away from my friend and toward the “complainer.”
Until then, I had not given much consideration to the possibility of manipulation of the new media to this extreme.
I write because during much of the current campaign for School Board, I never have seen lies and all around mean- spirited attacks on candidates and individuals in the 20 years I have followed and participated in local politics.
I enjoy reading and participating in debate, disagreement and lively discussion over an array of subjects that affect our great city.
But there always has been a level of decorum and respect that people gave each other.
I encourage those who have been deleted or censored to consider their comments prior to hitting the Enter button.
I do want to read what you have to say, but in a way that allows you to express yourself fully without defaming and insulting others.
Mr. Cooper, a member of the City Council, may be contacted at Jeffrey.R.Cooper@wellsfargo.com
A Time to Thank Not Attack Fellow District Employees
From Sherri Prendergast
I am a 40-year resident of Culver City and an employee of CCUSD for the past 16-plus years.
I have been reading the articles in thefrontpageonline.com up until the last couple of weeks. I know it’s an election year. But give me a break.
What happened to discussing the merits of the candidates instead of attacking them? The campaign has taken an extremely negative approach.
I voted via absentee ballot for a candidate who rises above all the b.s.
Guess who? Nancy Goldberg.
By the way, Debbie Hamme, our fearless ACE (Assn. of Classified Employees) leader, has gone to bat for each one of our positions that the administrators and certain School Board members wanted to slash due to budget cuts.
Instead of attacking our fellow employees, we should be thanking them for all their effort.
We have a wonderful community and an excellent School District. Let’s embrace them.
Ms. Prendergast may be contacted at cchssoccer2@hotmail.com
