From the Sidelines, My Name is Dan Grant and I Approved This Message

I am sure that I am not the only one who has noticed that, almost, without exception, every article ends with anonymous posts attacking each other in the most vile way. These 5th graders shoot their verbal spitballs and then put their heads down on their desks and pretend they are sleeping. Who me? Not me? Then they go about their lives pretending that they are pillars of the Community. They aren't. They post the most insulting and vile things without regard to truth, facts or feelings and then link to websites you wouldn't let your child read for fear that they will grow up without the facts they need to live their lives or the social skills they will need to prosper.

There was a research project in which an unseen subject was wired to buttons held by 5 people who were told to shock the subject at will. When the button holders were open to be seen the subject was not shocked although the button holders were commanded to push the buttons at will. The butten holders were screened so no one could see who was pushing the buttons. The subjects screams were unending. That is what these posts have become. Never ending electrical shocks meant to cause pain to equally unidentified subjects and it is time for reputable forums to eliminate this by not allowing unidentified people to cast their hate, venom and even racism. It is time to tone down the level of discourse.

Articles about healthy food in schools degenerated into a free for all slug-fest that was not only vile but occasionaly racist because the First Lady of the United States has taken on the issue of children's health and all of the worst posts were from people who have taken screen names and list no profile. A weekly column by a respected reporter takes a public position on a public issues and is vilified as a socialist and possibly worse by the same unknowable people. It doesn't seem to matter what the subject is (except any story about the RHNJ which draw no comments ever) it winds up being an opportunity to attack or defend the President. Patch needs to end this and can do it simply by requiring people to post under a real name. No one here is writing the Federalist Papers and no one here is going to be arrested for their point of view. Profiles would be nice and if you have some credentials for your point of view that would be nice as well. My name is Dan Grant and I have approved this message.