I was both relieved and saddened by The Herald’s decision to close public comments on its website — relieved to see the end of all the mean-spirited and egocentric attacks; saddened at the demise of what could be a vibrant forum for thoughtful dialogue in our community. While I hope this closure is temporary, it reminds me of the real limitations of doing democracy online. Democracy requires a sincere effort to understand and learn from each other in a climate of mutual respect. While the darker aspects of our human nature are often tempered during face-to-face encounters, these ignoble tendencies may be exacerbated by the distance and anonymity of online discussions. The Internet may be a convenient way to do our holiday shopping or pay our bills, but it is not a great way to do democracy. We are our best selves when we are looking each other in the eye.
Jim Strickland
Marysville
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