Today the topic is open.
Let us know what you are thinking about.
We deserve better.
Brutus
On civility
March 1, 2019This came in from a thoughtful reader:
Somewhere it is written that courtesy is the lubricant of civil discourse. Apparently, that does not work in social media and other electronic forums.
Jason Gay, a writer for the Wall Street Journal, said, “Social media in 2016 is like stepping into a trash bag of angry bees. There’s disturbing, genuine hate, a sociopathic lack of empathy, and almost zero engagement with opposing opinions, unless it is to demonize or insult them ad hominem.” (From “Sixteen Thoughts on Colin Kaepernick,” Sept. 7, 2016, Wall Street Journal.)
The term for these angry bees is trolls. Elpasospeak seems to have attracted a crew of regulars that have taken up residence under the metaphorical bridge and pounce on anything or anyone who ventures an opinion. They yell in ALL CAPS, can find fault in anything, and manifest all the other characteristics described by Mr. Gay. One wonders if they are waiting for the second coming with a box of Crucifixion Nails.
Wait. That would require action – real action and commitment – and maybe personal risk.
In my youth, I heard the term slacktivism — “Engaging socially in activism that requires little or no effort as part of a lifestyle or self-identity. Slacktivism requires no personal investment and usually produces no appreciable results.” With the advent of the internet and social media, slacktivism has morphed into clicktivism, re-postivism, liketivism, and blogging. Same characteristics: no personal commitment or risk (especially when posting anonymously), no effort, and no appreciable results.
When a person was standing on a soapbox, he or she at least had to go to the street corner or town square and face his or her audience. It was hard to be a troll when you had a person in front of your instead of a computer screen.
Let us examine outrage. An observer of the modern news media has commented that today’s news stories seek to evoke one of two reactions:1) you should be scared to death about this news, or 2) you should be outraged.
Lance Morrow, also of the Journal, calls outrage the signature emotion of American life; he labeled it an addiction. In describing modern political discourse, he wrote, “The various tribes have broken off negotiations with all differing points of view. They excuse themselves from self-doubt and abandon the idea of anything so weak as compromise or, God forbid, ambivalence: No other perspective could possibly be valid. … People give themselves over to the pleasures of self-righteousness and self-importance that come with being wronged when you know you’re in the right. “
“Outrage presents itself as an assertion of conscience, but in practice it mostly bypasses conscience and judgment, and goes straight to self-righteous rage, ……But, like so much else today, it has gotten to be a racket. The coin of anger is debased. Indignation has become a meme—not an authentic political or moral reaction to facts in a serious world, but rather a reflex, a kind of irresponsible playacting, or worse, a mania. When everyone is outraged, then real grievances lose their meaning, and the endless indulgence of outrage becomes, objectively, immoral.”
It seems like we cannot be merely dissatisfied – we must be outraged.
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Posted by Brutus
EPISD board
February 28, 2019The EPISD board of trustees is a mess.
Of the seven elected positions two are currently unoccupied and a third is occupied by someone appointed by the board and not elected by the voters.
In the past cycle we have had two elected board members resign because they had higher political aspirations. One member left to run for congress and another left to become a congressional staff member. So much for the kids. So much for keeping a promise.
A third member resigned because of residency issues.
We are left with three retired teachers and an executive working for a local not for profit.
The school superintendent runs the district. The board is supposed to give the superintendent direction.
I hope the voters are careful in who they chose in the May election.
We deserve better
Brutus
12 Comments | El Paso Independent School District | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
What will the Times do?
February 27, 2019Max Grossman sent this in:
I am extremely pleased to report that Aaron Montes, one of the most driven and talented local investigative reporters in modern memory, has announced that he has been appointed Government Reporter of the El Paso Times. The new hire could not come at a better time. A few months ago our venerable daily lost veteran reporters Elida Perez and Aileen Flores, and we just learned that the Austin correspondent, Madlin Mekelberg, resigned in order to work for the Austin Statesman.
Aaron distinguished himself at the El Paso Inc as an excellent journalist, investigating issues that many of his colleagues in the media refused to touch. As the only El Paso Times reporter specifically assigned to our City and County, we can be certain that the public will be better informed than ever before. I have no doubt that Aaron’s reports will serve as a strong check against government overreach and corruption.
Congratulations Aaron!
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Now the question is “will the Times allow him to report what he knows or will they censor him?”
We deserve better
Brusut
8 Comments | El Paso Times | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
City wants to know more about you
February 26, 2019The city sent this notice:
The City of El Paso was awarded $100,000 in grant funding to use towards extending resources to our minority business population via programs that are easily accessible to the public. We hope to remove barriers of access to important resources such as capital, contracts, markets, and strategic business consulting services. We look to enhance economic and educational opportunities for the public via local resource partners, multiple City of El Paso Departments, and The El Paso Public Library System, which is another support pillar within the business ecosystem and for minorities.
The results of this survey will be used to gather baseline data for the City Accelerator project. The City Accelerator project is aimed at improving local job growth for minority and disadvantaged small business owners and entrepreneurs in all employment and business sectors.
As an important member of our community, your feedback is imperative to better inform the regional needs of the minority small business and entrepreneurial community. Please take five to ten minutes to complete the survey at:
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Aimee Olivas, Business Retention and Expansion Specialist at OlivasAP@elpasotexas.gov. Your participation, highlighted by this survey, is appreciated and will ensure we address the needs of our minority small business owners and entrepreneurs in the El Paso Region.
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Take a moment and look at the survey.
Would you give them this level of information?
We deserve better
Brutus
5 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
elpasospeak 
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