[RP TownTalk] Opinions & Links

Thu Aug 16 13:56:21 UTC 2007

Lou,
How can it not be personal when there's only like 20 active (I stress the 
active part) posters on this list? And what YOU are asking for is other 
people to tell YOU their opinion, right? It sounds kinda personal. I assume 
this is because you not only have an interest, but you think it would make 
for better discussion.

I previously addressed you offlist because I didn't see how my post would 
really add to the discussion, although I did forget to ask for your 
opinion--how would you like to see the TownTalk list run or what purpose do 
you think it is best suited for?

I don't think it's well-suited for passionate debate given the current 
posting guidelines (somebody always crosses the line, gets moderated, and 
either leaves or stops posting their passionate opinions). It's kind of like 
an online cafe--some people drop by to post announcements or drop off 
flyers, a few are chatting about news or town issues, rumors arise and are 
dispelled, and now and again somebody walks in looking for advice related to 
losts pets/local contractors or services/etc. Are you concerned that 
Riverdale Park itself is not front and center or that not enough 
effort/passion is being put toward our town? I'm just trying to get a better 
understanding of why you're "cranky."

It's a good way to keep each other informed, get to know one another a 
little better, share ideas, and ultimately act as a staging area for real 
change and actual activities to begin offlist.

-Marc Molino
4801 Queensbury

From: Lou King <lking at knob.com>
To: TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Opinions & Links
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:08:47 -0400

I surely don't want to make this personal, because it isn't. But if you
will read my post carefully you will see that Jim's earlier post is not
one of those I was addressing.

On 11 Aug, in addition to the attached .pdf file Jim said "After
trawling through Hyattsville's HOPE list, I found noted urban planner
Richard Layman's quotation of some interesting European ways to handle
our speeding issues. Do check out the enclosed document as a means of
moving forward on our problems."

Of course I don't have an example of  "postings on the forum that are
just a link to some article/webpage."

Mr Coleman, I  have found your postings to have a good amount of
personal comment attached to the link. So IMHO you are NOT "one of the
guilty parties." Your comments give value to this forum.

Lou

jcolema3 at aim.com wrote:
 > From a local joker tired of opinions without solutions to my favorite
 > old coot, I am one of the guilty parties who sends out links. After
 > considering opinions voiced in our list, I generally find myself worn
 > out by the discourse without resolutions. Those who do follow the
 > links I present on a regular basis will find that I have not only read
 > the material, I can testify to the applicability of the documents I
 > send to others. Perhaps I believe that if others gave my evidence the
 > time of day, instead of requiring persuasion, they might find that I
 > offer a breath of fresh air in a sea of polemics. For your
 > consideration, I am offering my latest post on traffic solutions that
 > offer not only solutions to our speeding woes but solutions that would
 > further beautify our town.
 >
 > Here's an article about fixing our speeding problem:
 >
 > 
depts.washington.edu/open2100/pdf/2_OpenSpaceTypes/Open_Space_Types/*woonerfs*.pdf
 >
 > You never know what you'll find until you open your mind to the
 > thinking of others (much smarter than me).
 >
 > Cheers,
 >
 > jc
 >
 > -----Original Message-----
 > From: cranky old coot <lking at knob.com>
 > To: TownTalk <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
 > Sent: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 8:18 pm
 > Subject: [RP TownTalk] I want you opinion
 >
 > Before I get on my soapbox what do you think?  You have been saved from
 >
 >
 > a long winded tirade because Windows crashed just as I was about to send
 >
 >
 > the email to TownTalk.
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > Lately I have noticed several emails, interspersed with the opinions of
 >
 >
 > Riverdale Park residents, that are from groups outside of town or are
 >
 >
 > just emails that are forwarded to the forum without comment.
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > Don't get me wrong, one of the reasons I read each and every email on
 >
 >
 > this forum is because I want to know/understand what the diverse
 >
 >
 > residences of Riverdale Park thank/are passionate about.
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > When I see mass mailings from Hyattsville CDC (who ever they are) or
 >
 >
 > anyone else to 7 or 8 addressees including yhoogroups it makes me feel
 >
 >
 > soooo "special."  I seldom see why I, a Riverdale Park residence, should
 >
 >
 > care except that Hyattsville is a neighbor. Artists have to live some
 >
 >
 > where, so anyone can have "local" artists. Are any of them from
 >
 >
 > Riverdale? Are we supporting Hyattsville's diversity or ours?  Has
 >
 >
 > TownTalk become the modern equivalent of the old memeographed fliers
 >
 >
 > cranked out in a church basement and delivered to your mail slot by a
 >
 >
 > neighbor kid. No more targeting than you are in the neighborhood.
 >
 >
 > (Remember the smell?)
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > The other group that gets my goat are the emails that are forwarded to
 >
 >
 > the forum by members without comment. You I "know." It's your opinion I
 >
 >
 > want. Mary ReallyPassionate may make the argument in the most elegant
 >
 >
 > manner, but I don't know her from Joe BlowHard.  Her message to the
 >
 >
 > converted (you) is similar to quoting Bible verses to heathens; I'm not
 >
 >
 > sure it adds to the discourse.
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > And while I'm here, postings on the forum that are just a link to some
 >
 >
 > article/webpage.  Given my myopic view of the world why should I follow
 >
 >
 > the link? Could you summarize the article? Tell me why I should read it.
 >
 >
 > If you don't have time, why should I?
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > It has been brought to my attention (more than once) that I won't learn
 >
 >
 > anything with my mouth open. So I will be quit and listen.
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > Lou
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > _______________________________________________
 >
 >
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 >
 >
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 >
 >
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 >
 >
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 >
 >
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 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > For more information about Riverdale Park, visit 
http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us
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