posted by Joe Polk at 10:55 PM /
I'd like to welcome fellow Mt. Lebanon residents Elaine Labalme and Kristen Linfante to the Lebo blogosphere with the launch of their web site "Real Lebo" this past Tuesday.
Their site description, "RealLebo.com -- A blog about what's really happening in Mt. Lebanon, PA.", is interesting considering that it is the same description that Mike and I used for this blog for years except for the "really" that has been added. Not "really" sure (pun intended) what that's supposed to mean, but I'll make sure to follow their blog and see what they post!
Their site description, "RealLebo.com -- A blog about what's really happening in Mt. Lebanon, PA.", is interesting considering that it is the same description that Mike and I used for this blog for years except for the "really" that has been added. Not "really" sure (pun intended) what that's supposed to mean, but I'll make sure to follow their blog and see what they post!
Labels: elaine labalme, kristen linfante, real lebo
10 Comments:
Joe: I am with you - welcome aboard.
One of the RealLebo authors previously posted on Blog-lebo: Mike, I really appreciate your community blog and everything you say/believe for both Lebo and Pittsburgh (at Pittsblog) but I want you to present the full picture to commmunity members, not just one side of the story.
Maybe the "full picture" will be on RealLebo...
Yeah. I'm still trying to figure out what we've been lacking here at Blog-Lebo that isn't the "full picture".
Joe, I have always found B-L to express opinions on all sides of the political spectrum. It is a quality of B-L that I appreciate (not that I agree by any stretch of the imagination with people's comments all of the time but I also don't expect to and would find it boring if I did). I wonder if that aspect of B-L is not comfortable for some folks?
~Gina Niewodowski
The goal of the Real-Lebo authors, on evidence of their first few posts, would appear to be not so much to present the full picture, as it is, but rather to emphasize certain parts of that picture. The RealLebo coverage of the school board's vote to approve the architect's design-development plans, for example, describes the approval as a "big step forward," largely dismisses the CAC's findings, and makes no mention of the concerns that residents have repeatedly raised about the project. (The author also fails to disclose her personal interest in the issue and her previous lobbying of the school board on the issue. This omission, however, I chalk up to a simple mistake.) Another Real-Lebo post offers the following: "If there was ever a favorable climate for bidding out the Mt. Lebanon High School renovation project, it's now. Let's work to keep this project on track so that maximum savings can be realized for taxpayers. What can you do? Write to the School Board..." Few people, even supporters of the renovation, would consider these stories an earnest attempt to paint the full picture.
There's nothing inherently wrong with writing on a slant. Most publishers, after all, try to establish their own voice and offer a house perspective. What I wonder about, however, is the claim to offer a truer truth when what is actually being offered is advocacy.
Cheers,
Tom
It's one thing to allow a spectrum of views in the comments, but that isn't the same as presenting the whole spectrum on the front page. Clearly some peoples' needs weren't being met here, and rather than whine or complain they met their own needs. So, Bravo!
Personally, I sense that by following both I will get a fuller perspective than either one alone. So, my thanks go out to both Bloggers.
Well, it appears that the folks at Real Lebo fall squarely into the Posti camp when it comes to the free exchange of ideas and opinions - at least as to the school project. In other words, if you don't agree with them, please keep your mouth shut.
I stopped by Real Lebo this morning and noticed that Tom Moertel left a rather benign comment regarding the high school project, and specifically questioning whether it was all really worth it. First, let me point out that I have never spoken to Tom, nor could I pick him out of a crowd of one. However, I have always found his comments here to be balanced, fair and most of all polite.
That said, the folks at Real Lebo - in their first week in business - have essentially used Tom's comment as a means by which to say, "Please move along . . . there will be no debate here on the high school project."
One of the Real Lebo founders told Tom, "Let's call it a day on this one and agree to disagree."
Really? I'm sorry, where was I when the high school project, its scope, final design, cost and issues effecting each of those topics were removed from the realm of legitimate public debate? Frankly, until someone tells me where the money is coming from, how much it will cost over the long term and the shovel actually hits the dirt, it's all open for debate.
If Real Lebo wants to stick its collectively head in the sand and ignore the fact that with respect to this project we have have more doubters/objectors than we do supporters, I may re-visit the site for book and movie reviews and perhaps the occassional restaurant recommendation, but not much else.
Looks like you boys better get the message. The latest post after a sum total of 3 or 4 disagreeing comments from the usual suspects is about "playing nice" whereupon snarkiness won't be tolerated and ending with the warning "I'm just sayin'..." *heavy sigh followed by a snarky yawn* Gawd, we all have to put up with Dave and Tom snark snark...damn trouble makers.
Okay now my thoughts on all of this as someone who started a blog in Lebo (Suburbia Calling) over a year ago. While my blog never was intended to be be a competing community blog as the result of being a "native" I did/do on occasion touch on township/school issues. Mike and I never met in person but maintained a nice blogosphere relationship. Although this was (originally) Mike's blog, and as his blog could have been extemely slanted, he and Joe have done a good job of making it a place for differing viewpoints to be expressed. I know I sit on the opposite end of the spectrum to many regular posters here yet I've always found B-L to be a place to read the opinions, disagree and in some cases have my mind changed.
As for B-L not providing something, my blog has always allowed anonymous comments and yet no one has ever bit on the bait so to speak...so I'm inclined to think when it comes to community topics folks in the community(other than the ones who post regularly) like to play it close to the vest and keep their opinions to themselves.
When I first read Real Lebo learning of it here on B-L I was turned off by the immediate "us versus them" attitude. They are the "real" lebo with the news of what is "really" happening in the community. I mean that is their mission statement and I guess agenda if I'm to read correctly. Really? Because as a native we are a decently diverse community with differing opinions on issues, on gossip, on who has the best coffee uptown. If they've hit the mark on one thing they've beautifully captured the old and tired Lebo attitude of "us versus them", the in crowd versus the out...and managed to develop a whole new way to include/exclude: the reals versus the not reallys. Like I said *sigh and yawn* Do we really need this? Sounds like mommy club cliquey bitchiness to me. Either that or the embarassing crap that went down at the school board on swearing in night. (for the record I would love to see the new high school move ahead but have lots of concerns over the financial end of it).
If anything while I would love to see more local bloggers (because I do love knowing what is happening) my first look-see is disappointing because the feel is anything but welcoming. When 2 to 3 folks have commented on the hottest topic in town and you are already posting the old warning we can kick you off post (within the first ten posts of your blog!) any illusions of a friendly blog where open discussion is welcome flies out the window.
Listen fellas, as a mommy blogger, can I give you a hint? When you read affirmative statements in blogs and Internet forums followed by BUT (all comments are welcome BUT....; I don't mean to offend BUT... and the like) step back before the BUT (because its the biggest BUTT you've seen) and always count that the person writing the affirmative statement before the BUT means the exact opposite.
I'm just sayin' . . .
From "Real-Lebo":
"Elaine Labalme said...
Tom, some of the comments I've already moderated out of Real Lebo would make a sailor blush. Blogging in Mt. Lebanon needn't be a contact sport, and it won't be on this blog. 'nuff said."
And some of the comments they have "moderated out" because those comments don't mimic the Real Lebo "company line". I sent in a response to Ms. Labalme's rant about the windows and doors at the high school, questioning the need for an entire new school to solve these problems. My (attempted) post was nothing more than this, certainly nothing that would make a sailor blush, yet it was "moderated out". Ms. Labalme and Ms. Linfante, write all you want about any subject you choose, but don't think that the community isn't well aware of your extreme biases. Unlike Blog-Lebo, you will end up preaching to the choir, with a majority of the community dismissing "Real Lebo" as a site where Real Discussion is not wanted or allowed.
Joe Wertheim
Like Joe Wertheim, I discovered that my comments to Real Lebo seem to have been censored, two of them. The first was a response to questions raised by Real Lebo–owners Elaine Labalme and Kristen Linfante in a discussion of the high school renovation. The second was a comment on Elaine's "Play Nice" discussion about Real Lebo's moderation policy, in which I asked whether she or Kristen had censored my first comment and, if so, why.
Both of my comments were civil and on-topic. But neither saw the light of day.
Yes, Blog owners need a way to filter out spam and to discourage foul language and name-calling. That's what moderation is for. But moderation can be abused. If blog owners use it to silence the voices of those who raise inconvenient questions, well, most people would think that's crossing an important line.
I can't be sure whether Real Lebo crossed that line, but the early evidence isn't looking good. Still, I remain hopeful that Real Lebo will become a place for honest conversations about Mt. Lebanon. But honest conversations begin with a willingness to listen, even to those who disagree with you.
Cheers,
Tom
I just added a comment to this thread over at Real Lebo, with links to James Fraasch's recent post on the Act 34 meeting and the potential impact of the tax increase.
I sincerely hope that in the interest of keeping the community informed about such a monumental decision, they'll approve the comment, and maybe even post something to the front page.
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