|
|
Forums:
Rockclimbing.com:
Suggestions & Feedback:
Re: [ddt] In memoriam: TO READ, PLEASE REGISTER!!!:
Edit Log
|
|
climbsomething
Dec 7, 2006, 4:28 AM
Views: 5323
Registered: May 30, 2002
Posts: 8588
|
ddt wrote: It was not done on a whim. The rationale for this requirement was to prevent (or at least make it harder) for the general media to converge on the forum like vultures every time there is an accident or fatality. As soon as the contents of this forum shows up in Google's search results, they'll come. They will directly quote users, even out of context, all in the name of a sensational story. And unfortunately, in our sport there all too frequently is something to manufacture a sensational story about.
I can say, as a member of the media (and one who specializes in public safety issues), that I wouldn't use something written on an online message board in a serious story.* For one thing, so many posts are anonymous anyway, and we limit use of anonymous sources. A gory rubbernecking post about a climber's serious or fatal injury is not one of those uses.
I might log in and personally contact somebody for a quote or interview, disclosing my position, if I found a particularly interesting post that I wanted to follow up on, and maintain an "offline" private discussion from there. Online communities are certainly a viable tool for researchers and reporters if used properly.
*Actually, in the interests of disclosure and never saying "never," I have used a well-written post from a known, named expert posting to the access forum in a climbing magazine news story, and it was used fully in context and with his knowledge (in fact, it was his idea). But way more often than not, what is thrown out in forums like these is simply not solid enough to grab off the net and use in a story, and I cannot fathom a real journalist carelessly using that tack. Though... stranger things happen every day I guess.
Your reasoning for keeping profiles private to guests is good though. Before, profiles were somewhat limited to guests but this extra security step only cinches that up. I don't have a problem with that.
(This post was edited by climbsomething on Dec 7, 2006, 4:30 AM)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
