Unmask Irresponsible Local Commentator
We've got an unfortunate and unprecedented breech of ethics seriously infecting both the print and broadcast media on our dear Central Coast.
The problem can be found regularly at a local radio station and local newspaper where a mysterious person is allowed week in and week out to hide behind a pseudonym and spout opinions that many people find destructive to the well-being of our community.
But the problem isn't the opinions. Being allowed to express opinions--even the most wrong-headed-- is one of the sacred freedoms we are afforded in the United States. The problem is the anonymous nature of this local commentator who hides behind the nickname of "Conservative Bob."
This mystery person is a frequently featured guest and guest host on The Dave Congalton radio program on KVEC 920 AM and writes a regularly appearing column in the Coast News. The powers that be at these media outlets have inexplicably freed this commentator from the responsibility of attaching his true identity to his words. (On the Dave Congalton show, all we are told is that he is from Atascadero, as if that is explanation enough.)
Who is Conservative Bob and why won't he stand behind his words with his true identity? Why can't we "Google" his (or her?) real name like we can other local columnists and radio personalities?
Anonymity seems to breed meanness and violence. Big cities, where it is easy to be just another face in a crowd, are notorious for being less than friendly places.
Rudeness on our roadways is rampant, where drivers, identities obscured within their rolling walls of steel and plastic, frequently exhibit aggressiveness they would never allow themselves in face-to-face situations.
Can you imagine a supermarket aisle where shoppers routinely curse at each other, give the middle finger salute, or ram their shopping carts into others who have slowed them down on their journey through the aisles? That behavior would be a wild aberration even among the most harried and frustrated shoppers.
On the internet meanness and anonymity go hand-in-hand, where it is a cyberspace custom to obscure true identity behind various nicknames and spout off the most ill-thought opinions and caustic attacks against others whose identities are not hidden. Traditional media such as radio and newspapers have for the most part, thankfully, resisted descending to this level.
When others can see and know who we are, we are naturally more thoughtful and, more often then not, check our anger and meanness, not wanting it associated with our good name and reputations.
But now on the Central Coast we have "Conservative Bob" and at least two prominent media outlets continue to help him mask his identity and avoid responsibility for his frequent comments that burn the friends and neighbors we know by name and face.
It is time people demand that Conservative Bob remove the mask if he or she is to continue as a local, regularly featured media pundit. Otherwise he or she should step back and let the privilege be awarded people unafraid to attach their true name and reputation to their words.
The problem can be found regularly at a local radio station and local newspaper where a mysterious person is allowed week in and week out to hide behind a pseudonym and spout opinions that many people find destructive to the well-being of our community.
But the problem isn't the opinions. Being allowed to express opinions--even the most wrong-headed-- is one of the sacred freedoms we are afforded in the United States. The problem is the anonymous nature of this local commentator who hides behind the nickname of "Conservative Bob."
This mystery person is a frequently featured guest and guest host on The Dave Congalton radio program on KVEC 920 AM and writes a regularly appearing column in the Coast News. The powers that be at these media outlets have inexplicably freed this commentator from the responsibility of attaching his true identity to his words. (On the Dave Congalton show, all we are told is that he is from Atascadero, as if that is explanation enough.)
Who is Conservative Bob and why won't he stand behind his words with his true identity? Why can't we "Google" his (or her?) real name like we can other local columnists and radio personalities?
Anonymity seems to breed meanness and violence. Big cities, where it is easy to be just another face in a crowd, are notorious for being less than friendly places.
Rudeness on our roadways is rampant, where drivers, identities obscured within their rolling walls of steel and plastic, frequently exhibit aggressiveness they would never allow themselves in face-to-face situations.
Can you imagine a supermarket aisle where shoppers routinely curse at each other, give the middle finger salute, or ram their shopping carts into others who have slowed them down on their journey through the aisles? That behavior would be a wild aberration even among the most harried and frustrated shoppers.
On the internet meanness and anonymity go hand-in-hand, where it is a cyberspace custom to obscure true identity behind various nicknames and spout off the most ill-thought opinions and caustic attacks against others whose identities are not hidden. Traditional media such as radio and newspapers have for the most part, thankfully, resisted descending to this level.
When others can see and know who we are, we are naturally more thoughtful and, more often then not, check our anger and meanness, not wanting it associated with our good name and reputations.
But now on the Central Coast we have "Conservative Bob" and at least two prominent media outlets continue to help him mask his identity and avoid responsibility for his frequent comments that burn the friends and neighbors we know by name and face.
It is time people demand that Conservative Bob remove the mask if he or she is to continue as a local, regularly featured media pundit. Otherwise he or she should step back and let the privilege be awarded people unafraid to attach their true name and reputation to their words.
posted by David C. at 11:15 AM
9 Comments:
Can you be specific in stating just what "Conservative Bob" has said that is so "mean" and burns "the friends and neighbors we know by name and face?"
This is a good topic; don't let it go!
Because "Conservative Bob" had made so many of his remarks on the radio, for which there is no longer a recoord, I won't try to catalog a list of specific quotes, but I can say that he frequently makes very disparaging remarks, outright insults actually, against Democrats and Liberals. As for other things that upset friends and neighbors, just a couple include his call for laws that allow the execution of children who have committed certain crimes and advocating that the U.S. threaten nations with nuclear attacks. For other examples consider checking out back issues of The Coast News, in which he contributes a regularly featured column.
Speaking of good questions, who is the "annoymous" person who asked the above question? I hope you won't take offense at this, but while I certainly encourage comments and feedback about what I write, I want to discourage comments from "annoymous" sources for reasons that include those alluded to in my piece about "Bob." If you've got something to say, have enough conviction to put your name with it, please.
Thank you--David Ciaffardini
This is just one more reason why David Ciaffardini is so full of shit.
Hey David -- you rage on against anonymous media sources? Two responses.
(1) Ever hear of something called The Shredder? DUH?
(2) And how about that piece-of-crap shill committee that you and Goodman and Kempton formed last year, the Committe for Positive Media, or whatever? You NEVER identified yourself publicly. The three of you hid behind that sham of a group and repeatedly refused to identify yourselves.
Nice try, David. Wrong again!
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Dear Dave Congalton:
I like feedback, and try to tolerate and learn from criticism, but in all seriousness, I would prefer it if you would not use that kind of foul language when you leave comments to my postings. There are others who'll read this who prefer not to be subjected to that kind of thing. I don't really like it myself.
I would hope this blog site would not descend into that level of gross discourse. I think it is especially important in the early stages of Central Coast News Mission that we keep the dialog at a higher level. I am hoping that all of us contributors set a refined and civil foundation that can be a good example for future contributors to build upon.
There are already too many forums where that kind of crude and rude language and sentiment runs rampant. I hope we can rise above that, at least a little bit.
You made a relevant point: I did forget about The Shredder when I wrote about the problems associated with your masking of "Conservative Bob's" real identity. I think the anonymous nature of The Shredder also encourages the mean and irresponsible tone of that column.
I don't think the example set by The Shredder is a good one to emulate. I recall recently that even you were publicly complaining about the relevance of The Shredder. I say unmask The Shredder as well. But at least the New Times management stands behind The Shredder. Who stands behind the words from mysterious "Conservative Bob"?
I recall you telling your radio program listeners this week that it was YOUR idea to hide the true identity of "Conservative Bob." Now when I hear "Conservative Bob" on the radio conversing with you, I visualize a ventriloquist's dummy. Do you write the "Conservative Bob" column as well?
David Ciaffardini
David,
You probably didn't know when I was a young teenager, I learned to "throw" my voice "into" a small, wooden mannequin. A "dummy."
At the mo---xx##4,957iu... Hey! My name is Mr Naugh, and I don't like ANYONE using that most dismisunderestimasted word. Dumm--ahh, I can't even write it by itself.
Hey, "Newsstand!" Take five! I got something to say. Heh.
I must tell you I'm a member of the most powerful ADDC. The Anti-Dummy Defamation Club.
We are sick and tired of how society spreads untrue stories about us. Our little splinter was manipulated by that incompetent carpenter. The Disney people took advantage of the situation manufacturing a complete distortion, "for the kids."
They paid its wooden star with a box of 3-in-1 oil. That's it. Walt took home a mountain o' money. It's unfair!
Pinocchio was an actor, I tell you, and a good one...not a liar!
There are millions of "dummy" books which smear and ridicule those of us who sometimes get unhinged with bouts clumsiness. It's a huge libel case waiting to happen!
Our Anti-Dummy Defamation club demands a halt to brainwashing children with the "Pinocchio" story; equal shelf space for every "dummy" book on sale at Barnes & Noble, plus a room in the Smithsonian devoted to the "truth" behind ventriloquism.
Mr Naugh says "in the memory of Senor Wences' lipstick hand to Edgar Bergen, from Paul Winchell to Mystery Science Theater 3000, we will accept NOTHING less!"
YES! WE Yy--ahh--x486*$##, mmm, you're done Mr Naugh, my friend. Say 'goodnight, David' and get back in the box. "Mmmf! Goodnight Dave."
This is my signed comment after all. By the way, I just ate some popcorn. You gotta toothpick?
Hey Newstand,
You've left my dummy speachless.
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