I've been reading and having to delete comments relating to anonymous posting and posting in general, and I think this merits a new thread. First, let me enumerate the relevant settings that determine how this blog could be run. Current settings marked with (*):
Visibility:
1. Only people I chose - only specific people can even read the blog.
2. Blog authors - only the authors of the blog can read the blog.
3. Anybody - the blog is readable by anyone. (*)
Comments:
1. Anyone - pretty obvious, anyone can leave comments. (*)
2. Registered Users & Google Account holders - anyone with google or openID accounts can leave comments.
3. Members of the blog - only people invited to leave comments can leave comments
Moderation:
1. On - comments must be approved before they are published on a thread.
2. Off - comments are automatically published when they are submitted. (*)
Searchability:
1. Content is visible to search engines.
2. Content is not visible to search engines. (*)
Anonymous posting seems to be a recurring theme on this blog. As most of you know, I prefer a more permissive blog. I think it's obvious from the previous thread that strictly limiting a thread to the topic and removing anything that has the "potential to really divide and hurt people" has the effect of stifling any discussion at all.
I've recently received some pressure from the student exec committee to close off the blog and give access only to current students (one person went so far as telling me I HAVE to change it). Well, I was none too pleased that a group of students who play no part in the administration of this blog wanted to dictate how it is run. First, I not want to administer up to 600 users which would require constant updating, but I think the modicum of accountability offered by making this change would discourage open and frank discussion.
This is not to say all of their comments were rejected, the blog's logo has now been changed to avoid any TM or copyright issues, and the blog content is no longer visible to search engines-two changes I was happy to make.
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Reposting, since this thread seemed more appropriate than the last. Also, I would like to add that if any member of the student body administration is being pressured to close down this blog or restrict it in any way, I think that is a giant pile of horse shit, plain and simple.
LS
I'd just like to throw out a few random thoughts:
First, I'm all for an open forum on this blog. I think that anonymous comments and a permissive atmosphere are a good thing. Do I like abusive and nasty anonymous comments? No. However, I would happily put up with those comments as the price for an open and frank dialog on this site.
Secondly, and this is somewhat off topic, I disagree with the initial system used for professors and administrators. While I understand and appreciate the rationale with respect to students, professors and administrators are public in a way that students are not. Since this blog has been (and hopefully continues to be) an open forum for the airing of grievances, I think it is productive to name a professor or admin by name. If dean X or prof Y is being an ass, I say name them. I am a big believer in having a student voice on that sort of thing, and listing a dean by an ambiguous initial does nothing for present and potential students.
Third, I sincerely hope that this blog doesn't go away. I've seen it accomplish change at the law school, seen it used as a helpful outlet for frustrated sentiments, and have seen it be occasionally hilarious. These things have a life cycle like anything else, but I hope that it isn't killed with comment-deleting kindness.
um, this is still on google... that's how I found it...
I just wanted to add - that the "this blog is too open and evil" debate has gone on since I was a 1L and it usually happens when it's dark and cold and close to spring break...
I agree that anon postings can be harsh, but ... even those of us with accounts can get a bit crazy now and then and post uncool things, so getting rid of anon posting really won't make things better.
My suggestion is not to overadmin the blog. It's not worth your time admins... go skiing or see a movie with your BF/GF instead!
Here is an idea. Move it to a new address. Call it "bufflaw.blogspot.com" or "Ralphielaw.blogspot.com" or "Studentswithweirdshapedheads.blogspot.com". or whatever.
Keep this one up, keep it heavily moderated, even members-only(especially if you offer "CUBLAWG MEMBERS ONLY jackets). Require log-ins with actual names or e-mails.
You can publish it on this site. Then... 1. It doesn't come up on Google. 2. It is not connected to the ABA. 3. It can stay the same.
4. It is truly unaffiliated.
The result is one "serious" blog that hits the "important" issues like the lameness of casebooks and the SBA and one "irreverant" blogs where people can bitch and complain about everything, parody the administration, and use words like "douche" and "balls" without repercussions (feel free to edit out the last two words).
P.S. Sorry about the horrible grammar in the last post, but you get the point.
Can't we create a password only entry into the blog, then anyone that wants to post can email the admin for a password, and periodically, s/he can resend the passwords out.
BTW - what happened to the 'real' 3L superlatives?
First, I can't believe my comment in the last post was erased. Second, there is nothing wrong with the blog as it was. Third, you're letting the minority dictate the administration of this blog. Fourth, if you don't want pressure, give the blog to someone else who has preserved anonymity.
Done.
I'd just like to add my thanks to RE for administering the blawg this year, since it certainly isn't a job I'd have wanted.
RiceEater,
All that needs to change on the blawg is that people should have to "sign in" to post on the blawg using a colorado email address.
It would still be anonymous, but one admin (ie you) would have access to the information. It would be confidential.
I'm all for free speech, but some of the stuff on the blawg over the last year has truly disgraced this forum. That said, RE, don't let the school attempt to dictate terms to you. I hope you'll consider the CU email log in suggestion - it could easily solve the concerns mentioned.
TLSFKA_
Personally, I don't want the admins having access to my information. Sorry, guys. I don't trust you.
Blogger is not going to re-architect its systems just so that the whiners on this blog can keep out the riffraff with a sign-in system connected to Colorado's directory system. Not going to happen, so stop asking for it.
Back in the day the admins had access to each others' info, there were no anonymous comments, mimi wesson wrote posts, and things were an order of magnitude more civil. Coincidence? I think not.
TLSFKA,
Unfortunately, blogger has not implemented any such functionality. Please stop asking for this "magic" switch as it is not happening anytime soon.
blogger
Okay (1) this is off topic (2) it may get me in trouble. But, has anyone noticed how many babies are coming to our classes nowadays. I love kids, don't get me wrong. But the babies are rather distracting, whether they are crying or giggling.
I don't mind the kids, usually. It's just when they start whining or something and the parent doesn't immediately exit the classroom with the kid that annoys me.
If a child so much as coos at you in the classroom I find it is a distraction. I have noticed that one person in particular is a repeat offender.
As a classmate I am respectfully asking that if you can't find a sitter, please do not come to class.
What bothers me almost as much as the babies in class is the breastfeeding in public. Seriously ridiculous.
Why would you give a s#$@ about breastfeeding in public. I am not a fan of it, but seriously, it just doesn't affect anyone. Get a life.
The breast feeding isn't a big deal. But the in class disruptions can be hard.
Maybe anonymous posts should have to be approved. Also, MS's posts should probably require advance approval too since about 1 in 10 is appropriate. I'm all for free speech, but offensive comments designed to harass classmates have no place on this blog. Can we out MS already?
Babies are distracting. Can people have a fellow student watch their kids during class if they must bring them? Everyone's always fawning over the babies in the hall. I stare at them the entire time, even if they're just sleeping.
If you have such great ideas about administering the blog, then perhaps you should volunteer to build one that does everything you want it to, or you should volunteer to help RE with administration or writing of posts. Alternatively, there's really nothing preventing you from starting your own blog, as Blogger is open to all comers. Either way, many of you seem more prone to complain than act.
On the subject of the SBAcrats trying to censor, it's worth remembering that the first things that dictatorial fascists usually want to control is the media.
Anon 11:15, RE asked for input. I'll gladly help administer the blog.
Anon 11:03, I think you were being generous when you said 1 out of 10 of MS's comments were appropriate. I would go with zero.
Whoever MS is, he gets off on "inciting a flame war" (borrowed words from a previous post), and we know he is "bitter" and he probably does not have that many friends because of his mean streak. But I also think he is simply determined to have this blawg shut by harassing fellow students, especially the female student who he was aiming at most recently.
I think the best way to deal with that type of idiot is to ignore him and let the admins keep deleting his comments. BTW, thanks admins for your hard work.
MS is surprisingly not as much of a dick in real life.
I say no more censoring. The real problem are the people who react to the comments.
Does anyone know when the fall schedule will post?
"I'm all for free speech, but offensive comments designed to harass classmates have no place on this blog."
Are you serious? This comment embodies everything that's wrong about peoples' half-assed commitment to free speech. You either believe in free speech, or you don't. I do, and that's why even MS's innane, offensive, juvenile comments should be permitted without censorship. Everyone needs to realize that words can't hurt you, and just let people talk.
some of the free speech is out of hand though--such as insulting/spreading rumors about the deceased. that was the real problem, not the comments about someone having a weird shaped head.
Anon 10:27 -- I disagree. Those comments don't show that "free speech is out of hand." They show that insenstive jackasses said things that are indefensible. Free speech has to be absolute to mean anything, because once you start drawing lines, however well meaning, you've eviscerated the basic concept. I say admins should stop deleting MS's comments, even though I'd like to stamp him in the nuts if I ever meet him in real life.
But what if a comment is aimed at one particular person? That is what MS was doing with his comment few days ago. It was soon deleted by admins. He said his comment was not to hurt her, but to "compliment" (that was the word he used) her on her physical attribute. But by saying that he was making her the victim of a demeaning comment AGAIN. Shouldn't admins delete a comment that is intended to insult her more than once?
In my opinion, no. I don't see what his purported intent in posting a comment has to do with some third-person's right to take that comment down, and decide for the rest of us whether or not it merits consideration. It's a slippery slope. If he's posting to demean people, then he's just going to look like a jerk (as he already does), but it won't really hurt the person at whom he's directing his attack since everyone will know that he's just being a prick. Even if he starts spouting personal stuff about people that could really affect their reputations, I still won't censor him;I think those are the types of risks we take in order to have a free conversation. I personally dispise him, and his smug brand of asinine commenting, but I wouldn't out him, either, even if I knew how he was -- anonymity is too important to the free discourse in this forum to out particular people, even if we hate them. I'd just ignore his comments as I would the calls of anyone who wants to censor him.
this is MM, too lazy to log in.
The anonymous posting discussion occurs every year.
We're (presumably) all for free speech, and I agree with whoever said earlier that it's all or nothing, and we have to put up with the bad in order to have the good. However, the purpose of this blawg is not an exercise in free speech. It's to discuss school, profs, admin, jobs, etc. It's not a place to bitch about each other or to see how much we can annoy each other. If people want to bitch about each other, then go home and say it to your friend/roommate/dog/toaster.
Side note, I recall an article saying that top firms last year had to reduce new hiring in order to afford the exorbitant salaries being paid to new hires. So thanks a lot, top 10 percent-ers. -just kidding-
oh and the fall schedule is up. colorado.edu/law/academics
Speaking of free speech-- the reality is that, anonymous or not, this blawg can easily be a forum of free speech. Here's my problem with it- you are all free to speak, but you need to have the back bone to stand by your positions and comments. The "fear of repercussions" mentioned by a previous poster is ridiculous! What are your fellow students that you insult on this blog going to do? Oh, they're going to know how you feel about them and what you really think when you smile and say hello in the hallway. Those are the repercussion you are fearing? Free speech is not a vehicle for you to express your bad thoughts while hiding behind anonymity. It is not ok for you to insult others and really not allow them to defend themselves (let's be frank, no one successfully defended themselves on the blog without getting even more in the fire of mean anonymous postings) and make a grand case of first amendment rights out of it. Come on. Grow up. Stand by your positions, thoughts, and opinions and feel free to express them here or anywhere else.
We can have free speech with a minimal degree of interference. I don't know where all of you free speech die hards live. The U.S. has a number of restrictions on free speech. See fighting words, libel/slander, etc. It's not an all or nothing proposition. I have no problem with admins deleting comments, such as MS's that are designed to sexually harass or intimidate a classmate.
I think people may fear repercussions from the administration/professors far more than their classmates. Do you really think 1Ls would complain about RB if their emails were attached to their comments?
And as the recent postings from employers reveal, the comments aren't harmless. Let's take a deep breath and realize that we aren't losing much (if anything) when admins delete comments. There's nothing constructive that you can't say while abiding by the blog rules. I have yet to see a substantive post deleted.
How was the Grizzly Rose?
How was the MPRE?
The MPRE sucked. I have a feeling that it will suck even more when I have to take it again. I definitely should have studied more. FYI, the actual test is harder than the practice tests. I'd highly recommend Barbri.
I didn't see the fall schedule. Am I stupid? What's the exact URL?
I haven't read the blawg in while, but it used to be funny and witty.
Now it is full of free speech arguments?
anon, you're not stupid, I have a bad memory. Fall schedule can be accessed via cuconnect - plus - registration - course status.
This is BBB. I'm also pretty sure I failed the MPRE. I didn't think so until I got back to my car and looked at the materials and found about 10 questions right off the bat that I thought were right but got wrong! It wasn't *hard.* I just didn't study enough.
As far as free speech, this is my stance on the issue for those who care: I think we should be very liberal in what we allow on this blawg, but I think we should delete comments that are aimed at certain individual students or are just so digusting AND irrelevant that everyone's like, WTF? I also think that if someone puts up a post that clearly has boundaries established in it (for example, me, about Jenn) and people disregard those boundaries, it is okay to delete posts that ignore them. Obviously, it would be a truly rare event to have a post that expressly limits the types of comments allowed. I've never done it before and haven't done it since.
I didn't take on the responsibility of administering this blawg when I could have because, frankly, it was this very sticky free speech v. censorship issue that I didn't want to deal with. You can never make everyone happy as an admin. So, I applaud RE for stepping up to the plate.
BBB, I am sure you did fine. If I passed, so can you.
WRT to the commenting issue, what about using Intense Debate? They're a Colorado-based start-up, so it might make sense to lend them support. You could also try Disqus.
http://www.wtvq.com/content/midatlantic/tvq/video.apx.-content-articles-TVQ-2008-03-05-0011.html
The Kentucky legislature is taking up the cause.
How about Patrick Swayze and his pancreas? All I have to say is WOLVERINE!!!!
Free Speech is not all-or-nothing. You are welcome to criticize me or call me names, critique the administration, or anyone, but when your comments could be construed as:
a) Sexual harassment,
b) Violation of the ABA Rules of Professional Conduct, or
c) Violation of the Honor Code;
then those comments should be deleted.
I would love for this blog to provide a mechanism for feedback and discussion of issues facing the school and class officers. An important part of that is maintaining anonymity, even though I personally feel like anything you want to say you shouldn't be too chicken to say to their face.
As legal professionals we must all aspire to a higher standard of personal and professional conduct than your regular internet user, and I don't think asking people to refrain from potential libel, fraud, misrepresentation, or sexual harassment is asking too much.
It might help to require people to log in to post -- it is still anonymous, but would require an extra click to make someone think twice about what they are posting.
Jason
If we have to start abiding by honor codes this thing is dead.
I agree with Jason and think he should be an admin next year.
Jason, I do agree with your point. But you forget that you are dealing with a classmate, who was roundly criticized for his offensive writing several weeks ago, but he again continued his offensive conduct by sexually harassing or ridiculing a fellow classmate who voiced her opinion under her real name.
He really should compliment her in person and not use the blawg as a vehicle to voice his obsession.
Calling for civility and higher standard of conduct is great, but it does not work for some people like MS. It is too bad that he is ruining it for all of us.
Also if this blawg is to be maintained by ethics code and honor code, then don't we have a duty to snitch on each other? If we know something and we don't report it, isn't that honor code violation? So whoever knows his identity should report him, or else it is a violation?
If Jason is JS from Class of 2010 then I agree he should be admin as well. He has made quite a few posts lately and they seem to be fair and reasonable for both sides of the free speech argument. Would he be an admin next year if asked?
relating this blog to the honor code? You people are completely out of your minds.
Has anyone noticed MS stopped posting on the blawg a while ago - yet we are still complaining about him?
I'm sure he loves the attention. And he posted about a week ago, but I think that his posts lately have all been taken down. Can't say that I miss them.
Isn't the honor code supposed to operate all the time?
Admins should have a sense of humor, too.
Anyone know who won the Excellency in Teaching award? Leaks?
i'll still be here next year to admin. I'm sure i'll need some help.
Wow! This is an unofficial blog, not sponsored by law school bureaucrats, not affiliated with the law school and we want the HONOR CODE and bs bureaucracy to apply?
I remember when this blog was the compilation of a collection of blogs and was a cool place to come. Now we are being censured?
Things really have changed around here. We complain about loss of freedoms because of the Patriot Act but we are willing to be censured on our unofficial blog.
Incredible.
"The First Amendment and Hate Speech"
What: Amy Stein from the Anti-Defamation League will discuss First Amendment protections of hate speech, both on and off campus.
When: Tomorrow, March 12 at 12 noon
Where: Room 306
Vive, everyone can read the weekly emails. Using this blog to promote an event, whether or not the event is on point for a particular post, seems tacky.
No, for *&#@'s sake anon 5:41, you are not getting it. Employers have said that they read this blawg and it has had an impact on their opinion of CU Law, therefore you dont have the right to issue an ultimatum of "my way or the highway", because this blawg may be affecting my career prospects.
(cue the "oh please like a blog can impact whether someone hires you...")
Anon 5:23. I don't care if anyone goes to the event. I won't be there and am not affiliated. Since most people don't read their emails I thought it would help us figure out the anonymous vs. free speech conundrum.
This is BBB. I thought the 1st Amendment announcement was relevant, FWIW. I ignore most CU email.
Anon 9:19
We had 3 alumni post in that last thread about whether or not this affects their opinion of CU and their hiring practices.
2 said it did not. These two categorized themselves as an employer.
And the one who said it did affect his opinion added that he wasn't an "employer" yet.
I'm pretty sure most people who have the wherewithal to find this blog also realize that anonymous posting leads to folks acting like idiots, and that most CU students are nothing like those who make stupid comments on here.
Actually that is incorrect anon 10:12. While 2 said they didnt care, one employer said they would "think twice" about hiring a CU Law student, and another said that while they werent someone in charge of hiring yet, the blawg did affect the opinion of his/her colleagues regarding CU Law students.
So, if I do my math, that's a 50/50 split, and that is just too much influence for a few idiots to have over other's opinions of CU Law.
I do understand and appreciate your opinions, but as far as I'm concerned, this blog isn't worth giving CU Law a bad name to ANY person/employer/alum.
On another note, did anyone else see the centerpiece for the 2008 composite photo? It's a cool picture and I like that CF took it, but it reminds me of the desert and not Boulder.
Jokes on you guys, I'm going out of state for jobs. This blog doesn't affect me in the least.
Good for you, Cadoner. You must have realized that 80% of your fellow classmates will be competing for a very small number of jobs in a state that churns out 700+ new attorneys every year. Guess what people: it gets a hell of a lot easier if you leave Colorado!
You're somewhat foolish if you think this blog won't be seen by out-of-state employers. There's this little thing called "the Internet." It's a series of tubes that can be accessed from all over the world.
This blog doesnt affect Mushroom Stamp either (he'll be working out of state as well)... that is, as long as he remains anonymous, which won't last much longer.
If MS is who I think it is. I'm pretty sure he is sticking around.
I appreciate the anonymity of this blog, and I enjoy reading unfiltered comments from all different perspectives. At the same time, I like to see some people like the not so anonymous RE and the 1L JS put themselves out there.
I don't think suggesting that the ABA code of conduct and honor code apply outside of merely when you are taking your final exam is really that preposterous. Even within those constraints, you are still welcome to criticize (even harshly) whomever you please, make jokes, etc. It's a pretty low bar to jump over.
I don't know much about Blogger's functionality, and usually people wisely don't trust me with anything more technologically complicated than a cell phone, but I'd be happy to help out with the site in some capacity if it came to that. I really think having an easy online feedback system is incredibly important, and would like to see this space remain an open forum for opinions.
Does anyone know with Blogger why there isn't a way to edit your posts? It would be nice to have some kind of option short of just leaving a big "comment deleted by admin"
Jason
The posts can be edited, but the comments cannot be edited. They can only be 1)deleted, or 2)deleted forever.
Deleting leaves the familiar "...post has been removed by the blog administrator."
-and-
Deleting forever removes all traces of the comment.
LT I've got a way with words. I'll be OK.
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