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Jeff’s Facebook curfuffle

November 7th, 2008 posted by Jeff Kingsbury · 16 Comments · Uncategorized

Written by Jeff Kingsbury
NOTE* This posting is intended for readers and posters on rhenda.com ONLY. Those who wish to comment may do so by obtaining an account on rhenda.com. Copying and pasting this post, in whole or in part, is expressly forbidden. 
http://olyblog.net/not-sure-what-think-about-facebook-council http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/650566.html

I’ve been really thinking about this. For obvious reasons. Issues that I care about include…

  • Who was I talking about?
  • How long was I actually using Facebook?
  • Should I have used my city computer to be on Facebook?
  • How could I have used such a “demeaning” term?
  • Am I paying attention in meetings?
  • Why don’t I go to olyblog and post my reasons?

 

Who was I talking about?

I was talking about Moses. There’s been a significant hulabaloo from a few regarding time stamps and how it doesn’t add up. Particularly since I reference “these folks” “someone who doesn’t agree with our policy” etc. And the additional comments on the thread that seem to indicate that I was referencing other speakers.
How long was I actually using Facebook? and Should I have used my city computer to be on Facebook?

Moses has frequently if not always disagreed with our policy that he must speak on city business only, which he routinely flouts. He also disagrees that he can’t use derogatory and demeaning terms to describe former elected officials, general members of the community, minority groups (every ethnicity, gender, women, interracial relationships…you name it) He believes he has a “free speech” right to say whatever he wants.

My “status” posting was made while he was beginning his rant on white people being ruled by mulattos! It took approximately 3 seconds to post it. Additional time stamps are in reference to that posting (those who replied…one of whom asked about facebook during council, by the way, which is when I posted that I could type and still look at them) Additional posts were encouraging me to blog, twitter, and post MORE OFTEN during meetings! It has been asserted that I was commenting on testimony regarding our building codes, which is absurd as I wholeheartedly agreed with that particular citizen and SAID SO in the meeting! Or that I was commenting on those who were testifying regarding the feasability study, which is also wrong since I consider almost every single person (to a fault) to be on friendly terms with me (even though we may disagree) Moses gets under my skin, along with the skin of countless other citizens. This was about him, and only about him.

I am a competent and fast typist. I frequently keep a “cheat sheet” of public comments on my laptop until the close of the meeting, as I can type faster than I can write, and my handwriting is attrocious. I also type questions that I may have, and motions that I am intending to make WHILE WE ARE DISCUSSING AND DELIBERATING. This is owing to the fact that sometimes the direction I was intending to go changes! I spend precious little time ON Facebook. I was not IMing anyone, merely posting my “status” and responding to the comments as they came. Those postings “refresh” periodically.

The guidelines of Facebook are clear. It is intended to be a private network, with “friends” sharing information. (In fact, their guidelines expressly prohibit “screenshotting” private comments and posting them onto public sites wtihout the permission of the parties involved. Here’s an article

http://www.gelfmagazine.com/archives/reporters_meet_facebook.php)

I, along with countless electeds, frequently post updates while meetings are in progress. This is a common practice, and appropriate. Many of my friends either watch the meeting on television, or those that don’t have access to TCTV stream it live while they are also monitoring their Facebook pages. The postings often give them (my “friends”) a perspective they cannot glean from the video. (I also keep The Olympian site open, Olyblog, the agenda, the staff reports as they unfold, and occasionally other blog sites as they become relevant, like recently a couple of anarchist sites) If the council wishes to consider a policy banning such practices, I would willingly participate in the discussion and abide by whatever the majority decides.

How could I have used such a “demeaning” term?
As to the term used to describe a citizen…I had every right to believe that I was on a private network. And the right to have an opinion. As I stated in the newspaper, I could have been kinder, but I did not intend for the entire community to have access to my opinion, only those who, for the most part, share…or at least appreciate…my take on things. The terminology could have been kinder, even in THAT context, but I certainly DID feel that way. This is in contrast, by the way, to a former colleague who pasted his opinion on the back of his computer for the entire viewing public to see. Most of the naysayers in THIS case, supported his right to do so, despite the fact that legions of citizens complained repeatedly!
My job is to make policy choices based on data, and knowledge, and NOT on whether or not I like or dislike the presenter(s). I try very hard to do just that. I certainly have opinions about many folks, some I agree with, others, I don’t.

 

Am I paying attention in meetings?
There is little question that I pay close attention in meetings. I do my research, comment when appropriate, remain mum when I have nothing salient to add, listen to testimony, read staff reports, check my notes, etc. I will continue to do so. I am proud of my work. I believe that I serve my constituency well, despite differing opinions.
 

 

Why don’t I go to olyblog and post my reasons?
I don’t post on Olyblog because it allows anonymous postings. People can use nicknames or pseudonyms and hide behind the mask of anonymity. This gives them a sense of power in terms of posting vitriolic, mean spirited rants. The Olympian blog allows the same. The average “casual” user or viewer of such sites has no idea WHO the poster is. Whether or not they agree with their political views. (Is it a republican or a democrat who thinks all of the Olympia City Council are flakes, for example?) This is unfair to someone who is being maligned (whether it’s me or anyone else), and not in keeping with the spirit of “public disclosure”. Certainly there are people who post there who use their actual names, and they have my respect. I won’t step into that hornet’s nest, however.
I am candid, forthright, and honest. Certainly it would be difficult to suggest that citizens would not know where I stand on an issue. I take every phone call, answer every email that is directed expressly to me, and sometimes comment on emails sent to the entire council, if I feel that I can add a policy perspective that has not been shared. I am not a shrinking violet. I try to be fair in all my dealings.

I did not know who zeet was when the post went up on another blog site. I have since discovered who it was, and for personal reasons, I have deleted our connection. This is a person who I have known for some time, and as far as I know, have never had even an uncomfortable conversation with…of any kind. As far as I knew, I had every reason to believe that if that person had a disagreement with me they would approach me, either in person, by phone, or electronically.

I will be slower to press the “send” button in the future…if at all.

 

Tags:

16 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Rhenda // Nov 7, 2008 at 6:27 pm

    I know who zeet is…zeet is Olympia’s very own Linda Tripp.

    OK, you may have been indescreet, but he betrayed a friend’s trust and I think you should just go ahead and name him.

  • 2 Jeff // Nov 8, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    I think curfuffle is spelled kerfuffle. Er. Is it even a word?

  • 3 Rhenda // Nov 8, 2008 at 6:32 pm

    It is, and curfuffle is the preferred spelling, I looked it up.

  • 4 Jeff // Nov 8, 2008 at 11:34 pm

    Oh…well then!

  • 5 Patrick // Nov 9, 2008 at 12:06 am

    Hey Jeff,

    I don’t want bust your balls over any of this Facebook stuff, mostly because i just got back from vacation, don’t like Facebook, and am quitting tobacco addiction at the moment.

    Regarding your statement above: “I, answer every email that is directed expressly to me..”

    That is statement is just not true. And I am going to give you the opportunity right now of retracting that statement.

  • 6 Jeff // Nov 9, 2008 at 9:29 am

    I’m not going to retract it, Patrick. But thank you for the “opportunity.”

    If someone addresses emails TO ME, and only to me, then I answer them. On the rarest of occasions in the past 3 years, I may have missed some. We receive hundreds of emails…and sometimes we get that much in ONE week alone! So there is certainly a possibility that that might have happened.

    If an email was sent, for example, to ALL of the council, but was sent one at a time with a different greeting…Dear Jeff, Dear Rhenda, etc, then I don’t necessarily answer it. Especially if I see that another council member has already responded. (we usually cc our colleagues on emails) That is out of courtesy to my colleagues.

    If I have neglected to respond to something (I’m assuming you must have sent me something) then I apologize. It was absolutely unintentional. However, my phone number is on the website as well. Should someone REALLY want to get hold of me, there’s always that route.

    I will tell you that I HAVE received phone calls with “unavailable” numbers leaving the most hideous rants. Obviously I can’t respond to those, as I have no number. They’re likely not looking for me to have the opportunity to respond, anyway.

    If someone sends a nasty email, they may or may not want a response. I usually send a “thank you” email and leave it at that.

    I know you have complained that you don’t get responses from all of the council on emails that you’ve sent. Sometimes we expect staff to respond, sometimes a specific council member might have the best response, sometimes there’s simply nothing to be said.

  • 7 Jeff // Nov 9, 2008 at 9:30 am

    By the way…good luck with quitting tobacco! That’s a tough one to kick, and I’m rooting for you!

  • 8 Patrick // Nov 9, 2008 at 10:35 am

    Its awful quitting that stuff..

    I also think this a great forum to air this kind stuff out on because its moderated by a Council Member. Rhenda aint gonna take no junk on her site.

    I was looking at your statement more from a general fact checking standpoint than from a personal gotcha standpoint. Although I do know that you and other members of the Olympia City Council are occasionally selective in what you are willing to respond to on the public record, there is also the reality of an occasional email being missed on accident by any human person. Thats why your statement above is not true.

    Also, on the Facebook thing. As a non-biased observer in this case, I will say that the “these people” reference did stick out. I agree with Emmett on this though: You guys should blog more.

  • 9 Patrick // Nov 9, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    Correction: i should have written “these folks” up there.

  • 10 Jeff // Nov 9, 2008 at 2:11 pm

    Patrick,

    If you are saying that it’s not possible to “always” answer every email, then I will allow that you are correct.

    For clarification:

    It is my intention to always answer all emails that are directed expressly to me.

    I am not particularly shy about sharing my perspective, no matter the subject.

  • 11 Patrick // Nov 9, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    OK

  • 12 security_six // Nov 17, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    Yah missed a couple of other links discussing the recent facebook episode…
    http://olyforums.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=845

    http://olyforums.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=840

  • 13 security_six // Nov 17, 2008 at 9:19 pm

    And here is a discussion about your post.
    http://olyforums.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1015

    Honestly I was one of those who simply didn’t give a rip about the whole incident, but now seeing how uptight you are over this, I have to wonder what’s got you so wound up that you don’t even want to allow folks the chance to discuss what you posted here elsewhere.

  • 14 Robert Johnson // Nov 18, 2008 at 12:44 pm

    I am not seeing a lesson learned here. OTHER people are vitriolic, mean-spirited, derogatory? Who called a citizen an idiot? Something has been lost in the curfuffle.

  • 15 Jeff Kingsbury // Nov 18, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    Hi all,

    Security…

    I am actually not the least bit uptight about this. I was encouraged to post by someone I regard quite highly, and I have explained above my reasons for doing so here, versus in an anonymous blogging environment. If there is a sense of me being uptight, I will chalk that up to answering the questions that, at the time of my posting, had been posed on Olyblog. Again, I was encouraged to do so.

    Robert,

    I certainly feel badly about my posting being seen beyond my circle of friends. As you don’t really know me personally (unless somehow I am unaware of a Robert Johnson that I am familiar with), it is decidedly difficult to know my emotional state or whether or not a “lesson was learned” from what you have read here.

    Just to be clear, I learned a valuable lesson. It may not be the one you, or other persons would like for me to learn, but a lesson has been learned.

    It is my assertion, based on observations over the past several years, that anonymous blogging invites people to be cruel. My posting on facebook was NOT anonymous. Far from it, obviously. I have been a member of Olyblog for over 3 years, by the way. I read it daily.

    The posting ABSOLUTELY had the potential to be considered mean spirited and derogatory. I try very hard not to be unkind. I try very hard to be diplomatic. This was neither. For that I am sorry. While I have a right to my opinion about a person, it was not necessary to share it with a broad group of “viewers”.

    I am human, and I goofed. I freely acknowledged this when asked by a reporter, and I have said so to anyone who has asked me about it personally.

    Despite my personal belief about this particular person, my posting was not nice. I have to live with that.

  • 16 Patrick // Nov 21, 2008 at 10:47 am

    Jeff,

    I just read about that letter thing your dealing with.

    That is some wack BS.

    People need to pull their heads out of their other places and start treating folks with some respect in this town. Everyone may not all agree on everything, but we all love Olympia. Folks need to remember that.

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