describe this website
tommyLast week, development consultant David Campo wrote a letter to the editor at the Tampa Tribune. A Sticks of Fire reader also got a copy of the entire email, and posted the unedited version on Sticks comments.
The part that cracks me up (and was deleted from the Trib’s Ed-Op page), refers to Sticks of Fire as a “left wing extremist website.”
Coupled with the obvious and blatant political agenda of Wetlands Division staff (see Jadell Kerr’s rant on left wing extremist website), it has become an unfair and ridiculously costly burden.
How would you describe this website?
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July 30th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
As with most elections, I desire a “none of the above” or write-in option. Also spell-checking the choices wouldn’t hurt either ;-).
I’d say the most comprehensive Tampa Bay Blog.
July 30th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
my fault on the mispeelings (pun intended). Pron is intentional though.
July 30th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
yes, pron is a staple of the intertubes.
July 30th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Frankly, if you’re really looking for feedback, I’ll tell ya I don’t know what the hell you’re doing anymore.
Are you just editorials and boilerplate e-columns? Are you trying to get as many local views in as possible?
I’m not sure - the voices aren’t particularly cohesive, but they do seem somewhat uniformly aligned on the political continuum.
For awhile, I thought you were trying to be neo-news, but when I wrote you something that all the newspapers actually took quite happily from me, you sent me this pissed-off email telling me I was presumptuous and then asking me if I was getting paid (not that that was presumptuous or anything).
I never figured out why you were so annoyed, because I considered SoF a viable source of information equal in audience and respectability to the papers (and, also, you wouldn’t pick up your phone!).
The point being how can anyone say anything definitive about Sticks of Fire? You’ve got a ton of readers because there’s at least one post every few days that someone can kill some time with and think about, but other than that, it’s this jumble that defies any criticism of the sort you’re asking about simply because, well, your intentions are a little unclear, so who’s to say you haven’t fulfilled them perfectly or not?
Either way, I don’t know that I’d sweat an angry developer who did not actually mention you.
July 30th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
You communist bastard.
July 30th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Die Capitalist PIGS!
July 30th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Rachel was it the homeless beating game you are talking about or did you post something I missed? I was offline for part of the past couple of months.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:28 am
Trib’s making a huge amount of mistakes lately. Those layoffs are taking a toll.
Tommy I wouldn’t sweat Rachel Onestar (out of 4), she’s here because nobody is reading her blog. I notice that happens with a LOT of bloggers in our fair city.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:59 am
Tommy…..I enjoy your blog….keep up the good work!
July 31st, 2007 at 10:53 am
Lots of neat comments!
Hey Rachel! I wasn’t really looking for REAL feedback. Just found it funny to be called a “left wing extremist website,” and thought I would point it out. I ain’t sweatin’ it at all.
Having said that, I DO appreciate everyone’s opinions. And to answer your questions, I do wish to have a place where all opinions and viewpoints are welcome. Cohesion is not necessary.
Although I must say it does get old when some of you who comment appear to hold a grudge forever.
July 31st, 2007 at 11:44 am
Hold a grudge? Are you talking about that emo monster kid from that movie? I wouldn’t hold one of those, they probably bite. Or maybe they’ll bludgeon me to death with the reams of paper they’ve used to write bad poetry.
And to clarify - I was making fun of Tommy. I got nothin’ against Rachel. Don’t really get the anger either, but /shrug.
July 31st, 2007 at 11:55 am
I LIKE ALL KIND OF BLOGS SO I CAN WRITE ON DIFFERENT SUBJECTS. I PROBABLY WOULD NOT IF THE TRIBUNE WAS NOT DESTROYING IT’S OWN PAPER-LIKE PUTTING FRIDAYS BAYLIFE IN THE EXTRA, ELIMINATING FACTS IN THE SECOND PAGE OF THE FRONT-IF PEOPLE ARE LIKE I AM THEY WANT TO KNOW FACTS THAT HAPPENED YEARS AGO-BY FIRING 7 EMPLOYEES ESPECIALLY JUDY HILL,I MAY HAVE NOT AGREED WITH EVERYTHING SHE WROTE ABOUT-BUT I STILL LOVED HER JOURNALISM,PLUS THEY HAVE TO MANY RULES- YOU CAN SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR ONLY ONCE A MONTH-IT HAS TO BE 150 LETTERS OR LESS AND HAS TO BE TYPED NO HAND WRITTEN-I COULD GO ON,BUT I WILL NOT.
July 31st, 2007 at 1:51 pm
To just forgo the entire argument of what Sticks of Fire is or isn’t: It always gets me when people who are faced with dissenting opinions just dismiss those opinions as being sourced by an extremist group.
I guess it’s populist extremism to complain about the insurance rates at current, or the property tax situation… It’s extremism if we have a problem how government operates — don’t you know we’re just supposed to lay down for the powers that be and hold no one accountable at any time?
Extremism is in vogue as much as apathy is now — people aren’t truly either, but those who are effected by either are quick to throw out those labels. Dissent or the lack there of may just mean the support you assume is there, isn’t.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:59 pm
John… “Populist extremism” is a bit of an oxymoron, isn’t it?? If it’s popular, it’s not extreme - and if it’s extreme, it’s not popular.
“Extremist” is the new “Communist”.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Well here’s the thing — we stood up for wetlands protection and the bulk of the county supports wetlands protection…
Therefore it’s popular extremism if we take that developer at his word that we’re a left-wing-extremist website. And if we’re extremists for conservation, and Charlie Crist is a populist governor with conservation and green ideas of his own… Doesn’t the “populist extremist” oxymoron apply?
Regardless — anyone with a dissenting opinion must be the worst imaginable thing because they dissent to a concept or notion… At least that’s what’s behind the developer who wants to sully the reputation of someone trying to preserve the wetland protections.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Rachel* - you gripe all the time, except when you are fanning your ego about how great you are.
Please be quiet, do shut up, perhaps grow up and see other people in the world.
You make yourself look shallow and bitter every time you post.