Publisher's Notes: How to Help AFP

No, I've not been around a lot lately. There's a reason for this, however, and it's a good one. I'm not out partying, I'm working - working to have more resources for Anderson Free Press. I guess this may have been a poor decision on my part because it's come to my attention that many people feel I have abandoned this site or don't care for its welfare. Let me put that to rest here and now. I'm out working so hard to help AFP in the long run.

For the most part, you guys seem to do great without me around. However, lately things are a little different as we get more and more people participating on the website. While I haven't made the decision to pre-approve all threads like the HB or to be super heavy handed like on some other local forums, something needs to be done to save AFP. And this is where you come in. AFP is really all about you. Without you guys I may have given up by now.

I see hope, though, and a future for this site and sites like it around the country. Admitedly I don't have ALL THE NEWS yet, but hiring reporters and photographers and editors will come in due time. For now, it's all about building the foundation. And you guys (all of you) are part of that. For a long time we were able to get by with very minor problems - usually from outsiders who don't like the site for personal reasons. Lately, however, it seems there are more and more people either looking for trouble or trying to fan the flames.

Now, I'm not going to make the mistake of naming any names here. I do ask you to do this, though. If you come across a thread or post on AFP that you don't think is right for whatever reason, please email me or use the 'report this' button. There's no guarantee I'm going to take action - or the action you like - but as publisher I will look at it and make a decision for the benfit of AFP as a whole.

It seems to me lately that we have a few types of members and visitors - those that use AFP as release (fun and games), those that use it as a soap box to express their views, those that just enjoy reading, and many other types actually. Here's the thing. I can't wave a magic wand and make you all get along. I also don't want to "lock down" the forums making them a difficult place to post information and opinions.

So... here's the deal. I need YOUR help. That's right - you. If you believe in AFP and what we can be (and should be), next time you get upset about a post or poster, stop and think a minute or two before responding. If you've come up with a zinger to get back at someone on the site, step back and think about the long term effects before you type it up. It's like dominos - one negative post or "zinger" can set-off a chain reaction that does some real damage. 

I'm not going to please all the people on this site. I know that. I do think it's my job to make this place into somewhere that people from all walks of life can come and interact with others in the community. With that in mind, I ask you to reflect on yourself and how you're representing yourself on AFP. I understand this will be difficult for some people who don't do this in real life often (again, I'm naming NO names and have no one particular in mind), but it's something that's really helpful.

Instead of thinking of AFP as a collection of cliques and groups, think of AFP as a big family. If you know families, you know they don't always get along - especially during the holidays. At the core, though, is a love that's hard to describe. Your fellow posters here at AFP certainly aren't real family, but they're a form of online family, in my opinion. And that means it's important to treat them as such.

Now, before I'm bashed, I'm not saying you have to agree with everyone on here or walk on egg shells not being yourself, but I beg you to think about how your actions in this public forum affect others. If all the posting members do is bicker back and forth - what reason is there for new people to sign up? If you've noticed, we've gotten a lot of new users lately (and even had some old favorites decide to return.) This is a great thing. If AFP becomes known as a place that is dangerous or not fun, this could stop. And I don't want that.

I have to wonder if some people out there might not want that, though. I mean, AFP closing would make a lot of people happy, I imagine. But I'm not done yet. Lord willing, I'm going to take this all the way. There is a master plan in place. It took Benjamin Franklin 10+ years to build his publishing empire in Philadelphia. I'm no Ben Franklin, so I'm happy to be where I am after 4+ years. I still have hope - even as I look through threads at AFP and see problems.

Beyond the current problems with people not getting along, I see the future of AFP. I can see a future where AFP lives up to its potential. And that's a very bright thing. We just need to weather the storm until we reach the promised land. And perhaps that's the thing - there's never going to be a time when everyone at AFP (or, indeed, any online forum) magically gets along wonderfully with no problems. There is no forum utopia.

Together, though, we can work toward making a place online that is accepting, tolerant, kind, funny, and a long list of other words. Each of you bring something to this forum. As it gets colder and people spend more time online, it's easy to get sucked into using AFP only as a place to release steam and pent-up aggression. While that's okay occasionally (it happens even in polite society), if everyone uses AFP for that and only that, we'll soon have serious problems.

I don't think we're too far gone at this point. I just ask that before you post, stop and think about how your message will affect others. What is your motivation for posting? That's another good question to ask. I don't like censorship, but I have been deleting posts. Maybe I've missed some that should be deleted and maybe I deleted some that should have stayed. I felt the need to step in, though, before the rumors of AFP's demise (which are exaggerated) spread even further.

If you want, I can become more pro-active in deleting posts. This might not be the best thing, though. I would rather we, as a community, come together to figure out a better way to get along. It's possible. I know that. It takes all of you working toward a common goal, however. And that goal is to make AFP a leader in modern media, a shining example for the rest of the country of what can be done when people stop complaining about local media and go about changing it, taking back the power for themselves.

Journalism is supposed to protect you (us, the people) from big government and big business. Somewhere along the way media became a big business, which makes things a little difficult as you can imagine. That's where AFP (imho) comes in. I don't have the capital to do the serious journalism side right at this time, but I believe I do help provide some sort of service to Anderson and Madison County Indiana. 

I'm here for you guys - the people. I work for you. With that in mind, let's try to hash this out here and now before it gets any worse. Whatever it takes, I want to try to sort this out. If you think I need to be doing something different, let me know. Either here or a PM or email. 

I realize that I'm opening up a can of worms possibly, but sometimes you need to open them up to get things done. None of us here at AFP are perfect. That said, I think all of us (myself included) can benefit from stopping to think about motivation and intent before posting. I don't want to stifle the fun, but on the other hand I don't want the horseplay to get out of hand. (Trust me, I was sent to the principal's office more than once for horseplay, so I know the allure.) AFP to some is release and fun and games, but to others it's a place for serious debate. 

The great thing about AFP is that it can be both. The site is set-up to handle a lot of people, a lot of different views. I know we have a loose set of rules and some will say that I just need to start enforcing them, but if I start spending all day everyday moderating AFP to what I think it should be, I not only lose time (and money) I bet I would also lose users. I don't want that. 

Okay, I need to close this up, I think. Perhaps I should have taken more time to write this out, but these are thoughts that have been with me for a while now. And this is the type of publisher I am - one you can call, email, PM or talk to on the streets. I care about this website - more than some of you might be able to imagine. I've given up a lot to take on the challenge of changing media for the better. I'm not bitter - it was my choice - but that does mean this website (and the ideas behind it) are very close to my heart, my soul. 

With that in mind, I ask that we use this blog post to work things out. (And I just realized that maybe I should've done this as a forum so it would have a quote button on the comments, but oh well...) Smile.

We could drag up the rules thread one more time and see if it needs any adjustments or if anything is not being enforced correctly. If the blame for AFP being in a funk is mine, I'll take it. I would really like to hear from you about the future of AFP, though. Either here or in a message.

Your friendly neighborhood publisher,
K. Paul Mallasch