Where is the disclaimer on this BLOG article?

Blog posts help keep the french version of the web site more up to date, as the GPC HQ does not have the ressources to translate everything.

What I would like to see is:
- Along with the "star", a vote to say wheather the post should be "visible to members only" or "visible to visitors". Whichever option has the more votes determines the visibility of the article.
- Comments only visible to members.

We all know that there is a significant difference between blog content and policy. However, I agree with Chris that we should not feed the disinformation machine that runs now, and will hit high gear when the next election comes. That machine will not make a distinction between fact and nuance, policy and opinion.

One of my concerns is that this site carries some weight because it is only members who are allowed to post and comment. This in turn suggests that the opinions expressed, at the very least, come from inside the party, and possibly have more significance than that. However, if we look at it another way, a political opponent can, for a $10 membership, post anything they like on our national website, with the added weight of appearing to be an insider.

IMHO, blogs should be hosted outside, and then they should be open to allow anyone to comment on the posted blogs. That way, we can have a discussion with the world, instead of having the world watch our "internal" discussion (or "mine" it for ammunition). I am not suggesting that we restrict the expression of diverse opinion. I am suggesting that the party deserves and needs better control of its official message and image.

In my brief career in politics, I have run across many different kinds of people in this party and in others: single issue zealots, profoundly negative objectors, whiners, poor communicators and more than a couple of people who have mental health concerns. The world needs all of these people, but I am not sure that it is prudent for the party to give them all a quasi-official voice just for the asking.

Jim Johnston,
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex

One things that keeps me coming back to this site *are* the blogs. What are different GPC member thinking? What are they doing? The HQ news don't hold as much value to me.

The current collaborative process is a very good one to engage one. GPC would loose member input, discussion and free English & French material by banning blogs completely. Something it can't get with its limited staff.

Keep the blogs public. Add a disclaimer.

I just posted this elsewhere when I saw someone asking about it and I thought I would toss it here and add a bit more.

I don't think anything serious has come from members being open on the official web site and I don't think they should be removed but people opposed to the Greens do come here and try to pass off statements as policy. I have seen it as well as finding one or two of my blog posts on sites which try to spin the post as something bad within the party.

I thought about it and as a nominated candidate I should be more careful with my posts in the sense of distinguishing personal opinion from presenting policy. So I have recently gone through several posts and put a disclaimer on them. You will notice that a disclaimer is now incorporated in my signature as well. I think it is a prudent thing to do and a quick, simple task of writing two sentences.

I think when the media really want something they will find it anyway and won't necessarily decline from presenting an individual blog statement posted off site as the view of the party. If the point of the media story is to present the party in a bad light, they'll dig it up. I agree that we should be careful about what we post. Is it really important that you say what you are saying on the official site? Keep track of what you have posted. Re-read what you have posted already and if there is something that sets off a feeling of unease then take note of it for the future.

This blog reflects my personal opinion.
It is not official Green Party Policy.

Nominated Candidate/Trinity-Spadina, Toronto
www.trinityspadinagreens.ca
http://stephenlafrenie.blogspot.com
www.twawareness.org

Gareth Davies
Nanaimo-Alberni EDA
Parksville, BC

Quote, unquote:

As dutiful bloggers our self-censoring notice could read "Warning: this blog may contain my opinion".

Pierre, what a fantastic caveat! Thanks for getting your point across with such a great sense of humour.

Cheers.

: )