I was reading the online Jackson County Tribune this morning and found two things that really make me crazy. Actually, both totally piss me off, and I would love to hear what you think too.
First…
If you are a news source and you’re providing NEWS online — why allow people to comment? Why allow opinions to appear when you’re supposed to be providing FACTS?
For example, today is election day. There’s an informative article about the two candidates vying for Sheriff of Jackson County. But the freaking Tribune allows comments after the news article!! So you have people posting about the current Sheriff buying food at Aldi’s and marking it up to make money — and someone else complaining about the opponent mudslinging.
Tribune — you should not be considered a news source. You’re a blog — nothing more. Same with IBJ. Some bloggers have more integrity. Just put your “news” on topix.com. There’s little difference anymore. We’ll all still read it. We love gossip. Right?
Second thing…
I read the article about a 20 year-old sex offender arrested on charges of rape and child molestation of a 13 year-old girl. Arrested the first time in 2009 on 2 counts of child molesting (this girl was 12), who was it exactly that figured it was ok for him to be out of jail, going to parties, and hanging around with underage friends? And then, of course the Tribune allows people to comment! Blah!! One person blamed it on the probation officer. I don’t even know him/her, but from what I read insofar as charges against those committing crimes in Jackson County, Indiana — the majority of offenders receive a 365 day sentence, all of it suspended, and 365 days of probation. How is anyone going to keep up with that? And, who decides that when someone commits a crime while on probation, they should get probation again?
I think Izit could do better. She could crank out some kind of justice for sure.
(World of Warcraft Shaman — Izit)