RIP TimesDaily/TVT Forum

 

It was in 2004/5 that the TimesDaily introduced its forum. At its inception, it was merely a long page of topics with little formatting. As it grew in popularity, software was introduced and it expanded its audience even more.

As usually happens when a large group of people comment on issues, many of them political, factions sprang up, and petty or even malicious bickering became the norm. One often saw more bans than new members.

With new Decatur owners, a third format and a new name was introduced. The TimesDaily Forum became Tennessee Valley Talks. Commenters shrank to around four who regularly spewed their alt-right opinions. Then there were only two.

One wondered how long the powers that controlled the forum would think it was still worthwhile. Then in June, the TVT screen told readers that it was "temporarily" off line.

Will the twenty year-old Internet dinosaur return? We doubt it. In this day of more social media than IBM ever imagined, what's the point?

Want your opinion heard? Write your councilperson. Go to council meetings. Keep going. 2025 is just around the corner.

It's What George Washington Would Do

"Tennessee Valley Talks"

Farewell to the TimesDaily Forum as we knew it. It departed Shoals cyberspace yesterday after a relatively short run of four years and five months. When it was born in November 2006, the New York Times syndicate announced it as a glowing replacement for the crude forum that had then been in existence for approximately 18 months. Now, according to the Decatur powers that be, this second incarnation was no longer state of the art and badly in need of an update.

Judging by the name of this latest forum, we may now be sharing the new site with Decatur and Moulton readers. Is this a bad thing? Not in itself, but no longer would it be a forum dedicated to local Shoals news. One might even call it a distraction from local news. The jury is out...

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A friend recently called us hyper-local; is this a bad thing? If you've been reading our blog long enough, you know that our premise is to fix what's wrong in the Shoals first--then work on state and Federal problems. Yet, are we not part of the Tennessee Valley?

Yes, we are...but just because the Tennessee Valley is prospering, it does not mean the Shoals is prospering. Just because the Shoals is doing well or improving in various areas, it does not mean Sheffield is doing well or improving. Just because Sheffield is improving doesn't mean Baptist Bottom is looking fantastic. Feel free to insert other names into this paragraph.

We all know that 100% of any population is not going to function at what one could term normal levels. Similarly we know even fewer of the population is going to excel. That doesn't mean a majority can't function at or above normal levels, or that many in this college town area can't excel. Let's stop waiting for the state and Federal governments to intervene. If they give us aid in whatever form, we can take it, but let's not wait for it...



Shoalanda

Gangstas fo' Profit; Gunstas fo' Fun

Gangsters, aka ganstas, use weapons to secure ill-gotten gains; gunsters, aka gunstas, use guns to have fun. That's right--they just wanna have fun...along with protecting their own and killing the odd stray animal. Who could find fault with this?

Yesterday's TimesDaily published an in depth article on the size of ammunition clips available in the United States. Here's what three well-respected law enforcement officers had to say:

“Extended magazines should not be allowed on handguns.” Bobby Timmons, President of the Alabama Sheriffs Association

“As an officer, I would not want to come across someone with one of those things with evil intent.” Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May

“There’s no need for a law-abiding citizen to need that many rounds.” Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton

Are there those out there who disagree? Apparently so, judging from some of the comments on the TimesDaily forum. Here's a few remarks of rebuttal in green; our comments in red:

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Notice the term "well regulated militia."

I say that if citizens can't have it, COPS or the military shouldn't have it either. Wow, we can't wait to get our first nuclear ground to air missiles.

I can’t reload fast with only one hand which is arthritic. Sir, if it takes you 30 shots to disable the home intruder(s), sorry, but you'll be gone first any way.

Now, for those who still may be in doubt, or those who just like to make jokes about men and their guns, here's a most interesting article (PG-13):

Scientists Discover That No Matter How Many Guns You Own...

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The results for the Red Mountain Theatre search for Tracy poll should be published sometime today. Here's a link to their Facebook page: Link

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Another Sheffield Centennial flag: Link





Shoalanda

The TimesDaily Forum

The TimesDaily forum placed second in our favorites poll. For several years, the TD had offered a readers forum online, but in November 2006 the Florence-based newspaper initiated an easier to use model powered by eve, a state-of-the-art program for managing online media. Since that time, the TD forum has grown to over seven thousand registered users. Of course, not all who register contribute regularly to the forum, but on any given day the TD forum will outdo other local venues in its visitor count.

Earlier this year, Elizabeth Hoekenga took over the position of media editor and, with it, the directorship of the forum. Miss Hoekenga has made broad changes in the forum design, not all of them eagerly accepted by forum users. Perhaps it's this reason that the the TD forum placed only second in our poll, but despite user issues, this forum remains the ultimate stop for those interested in pithy political issues, both local and national.

With the large number of users has come censorship issues that some readers have referred to as "draconian." Those who use the TD forum should remember that the newspaper and its parent company, the New York Times, take liability issues seriously. Those who post should also remember to place topics in the appropriate section or return to find them moved at best or deleted at worst.

For all the bureaucracy and user complaints, the TD forum remains the go-to source for much of what's happening in the Shoals. It might not be a fun place, but it is informative.


What's up with this: Let's hope the two new Lauderdale County Commissioners are aware that all floors of the new courthouse annex are illuminated 24 hours a day. If readers see this as a waste, please feel free to contact them and tell them that Shoalanda sent you.