Reggae: Past, Present and Future

If you want “history” or any other interest in your blog I would suggest that you be a little bit more open and spontaneous with your “readers comments” section. Blogs are based on spontaneity. It is hardly spontaneous when most of the replies are edited or deleted. Others have popular Blogs because they allow open comment. Try it! You can’t control everything!
 

Who's in the red shirt playing guitar? Is that Ruben Diaz? Or PB? Or...??
 

I agree, why bother with typing anything into a blog that censors comment AND requires that you give up your name for the BLACKLIST???

Not me, sorry.
 

That is Jody... can't remember his last name.
Kim
 

to Ernie and Anon 4:14,

I'm just a little but surprised by your reaction. I've explained from the beginning when I started this blog that I don't really want to play host to a bunch of stupidity: the backstabbing nastiness from one side or the other that seems to pass for discussion in SoHum lately. It has nothing to do with being spontaneous, unless your idea of spontaneity is repeating half-truths, spreading rumors and insulting your neighbors. For what it's worth, I've never "edited" anyone's comment. I have rejected a scant few, if that's what you mean.

I'll tell you why: I spend a bit of time reading other local blogs, and many of those with unmoderated comment section tend to be haunted by a small circle of trolls, anonymous grownups acting like children, sniping at each other from the secrecy of their computer hideouts. Threads quickly turn into meaningless meanness. I'm not interested in providing a platform for that sort of thing.

Of course the battle in what was formerly known as the Mateel Nation is kind of different. In this case there seems to be a fear, unfounded or not, of some sort of "blacklist" for those who dare to speak their minds and attach their names to their thoughts. Can someone explain how that works?

It's sad watching what you had down there unravel. My request for memories of Reggae as it was in the beginning was innocent enough. The fact that all it elicited was sneers accusing me of censorship is just as sad as the general state of affairs right now.
 

There are plenty of blogs that will allow anyone to post just anything. This blog is at the discretion of a journalist who understands the difference between journalism and marketing spin/hype. This creates a uniqueness to this particular blog which is very useful. I don't see information being screened out. What I see being screened out is personal party attacks, third-party "I heard it on the grapevine so it's true" attacks, and unsubstantiated emotional based rumor mongering.

This is a specialized market on Bob's blog that takes more complex thinking. For some admittedly this appears to be a chore. For others it is a pleasure which leads to the pursuit of truth.
 

...be a fear, unfounded or not, of some sort of "blacklist" for those who dare to speak their minds and attach their names to their thoughts. Can someone explain how that works?

Ask Kim Phelps. She sat at the Membership meeting and dutifully wrote down the name of every person who spoke "against" Carol...whatever that means.
 

I have recently had an idea that many won't like, but could work..
How about both entities hold their events on the same weekend? MCC has ROTR at French's and PP has RR at Dimmick Ranch. The use permit is for 12k people, so split the tickets like this or so: 6000 tickets to be sold for admissions to BOTH events, then 3000 tickets for each to sell to the people who only want to attend one event. Put a huge razor wire fence on the bridge that was there last year that people can only walk through if they have the special high grade ticket that cost them 300bucks. Parking and camping for either event would be on each side. Coordinators that are needed for both events could work for both parties, since they are friends to both, fans could enjoy both shows that have great lineups, everybody wins! But you naysayers will find lots wrong with this, but a person can dream can't they?....
Butterflies, Blue Skies, and Fireflies....
 

blacklist...please give me a break....
 

Bob

I appreciate your move toward spontaneity! I understand your desire to keep the radicals and idiots off your excellent blog site, and, that you must have standards to which you adhere. I might mention that you seem to avoid those kinds of people walking down the street without deleting them. Just try the same on your blog site!

Although my business does not benefit from the event itself, it certainly benefits from the people that do benefit from it, and my community benefits from the non-profits that fund their endeavors through working at “Reggae On The River.”

I also, fully, understand the desire to stay off a “Blacklist”. I wouldn’t think that I would have to explain to a journalist the damage that being on a Blacklist can do. There is a whole era in American history about McCarthyism. If you are not familiar with the damage done to people that were on the “Movie Industry Blacklist.” It would make great reading for you! It is hard to remember one’s high principles and moral standards when one’s babies are starving. Very little else matters at that point. And, yes boycotts work extremely well in Garberville.

I echo most of Southern Humboldt’s opinion when I say, “I hope they work it out!”
 

If the first reggae on the river was on july 8th 1984 that makes the event just 22 years old going on 23...but wasn't last year celebrated as the 23rd and all the old timey coordinators claim 23 years experience? just wondering...
 

Great work.