DD, this forum represents nothing more than what people have been doing for 1000 years. People have always had thoughts, ideas, and opinions about everything from sports to politics, and current events, to hobbies, food, etc.
What is discussed here is exactly the same as what has been discussed in corner bars, locker rooms, coffee klatches, and water coolers forever. Anyone who takes opinions from this forum as anything more than just that is naive, or they have an agenda like some media people have to quash the opinions of us common people.
For the record, people here have the right to say what they want, but the host of the site, just like the owner of the corner bar, or the owner of the house that the coffee klatch is at, has the right to ask you to leave.
There are now millions of different message boards on the internet, and countless other websites with blogs or opinions. If anyone doesn't agree with or like what they see here or on any website, all they have to do is click their mouse button and move on.
Sites like this aren't going away, so if anyone has a problem with them (and so far, the only people I have ever seen who do are the media elitists) they better get used to it.
*-(for the record, I do not believe that this applies to KW)
My jaw dropped yesterday at the start of the 6:00 p.m. news on WEEK. McIntyre's "BUT FIRST" headline: "Bradley University's" Athletic Department can't seem to catch a break ... !" What an ********************ic, tabloid-like lead in. How do you suppose the Dahlquist family and families of the four young men just sentenced felt about using the tragedies that have befallen them to sensationalize an incident that is trivial by comparison. I think a public apology is in order. BUT FIRST, I doubt they will have the courage.
A good story would've told me what the heck H.E.A.T. stands for and what it does before abbreviating it....what the heck is it?
As far as my "comfort" level with the newsies using our comments on the board, if you're not comfortable with them knowing what you say, don't say it. I don't have a problem with them mentioning that a topic has "buzz" on message boards, but I can see how it can be viewed as "lazy" journalism....
H.E.A.T. (Help Empower and Teach) is a BU student orgazination that focuses on helping create awareness toward the dangers/effects of alcohol use and sexual responsibility. They do a lot of good programs, especially for the freshmen at BU, and are recognized as one of the best college organizations of their kind.
http://www.bradley.edu/campusorg/peered/