Open Thread Wednesday

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • Bravo Claude

    Mike, that’d be great. I hope you stand ready to pay at least minimum wage to the intern as you can’t legally hire them for free any more. So I look forward to seeing Claude discuss your monetary contributions.

    Otherwise, your memories of yesteryear are nice, but let’s give Claude his due. All things considered, I’m super grateful for everything he does and you should be too. It’s easy to troll with comments, but harder to take action on your own.

    I haven’t seen or heard of you volunteering your services to this fantastic neighborhood service.

    Keep up the good work Claude!

  • SongBirdNYC

    Um, NO. Posts are removed when they don’t follow the blog code of conduct. I didn’t see your posts but based on responses to them, it’s a pretty safe bet you violated them as you have done so in the past.

  • SongBirdNYC

    I don’t know what Disquis does or doesn’t do but contrary to your belief there are people monitoring the comments.

  • SongBirdNYC

    My sentiments exactly! Those of us that contribute to the blog do it out of love and respect for Homer’s legacy and Mrs Fink. I’m sure Claude would love to hear from anyone willing to contribute. And people DO read the blog. Point of fact, when I was reporting regularly on the PS8 waitlist and rezoning parents often thanked me for attending meetings they couldn’t go to and reporting back the details and ways to advocate for their children. We do this on our own time.

  • SongBirdNYC

    Again, no.

  • bindoffbunny

    But a comment that says “Die alone, intubated” from Studio Brooklyn is still there even though the comment above it is gone. That indicates to me that either any code of conduct that exists is selectively applied or it has to do with downvotes.

  • SongBirdNYC

    I’ll flag it. Human beings monitor the blog. Sometimes humans make mistakes.

  • nomcebo manzini

    It’s a new week, but the last couple of comments are so mindless that they require a response.

    1) Didn’t know about interns having to get paid. Taking it as true – I have my doubts! – the blog does have advertising – as trashy as there is, again reflecting the fact that the BHB doesn’t even rise to an “I care” hobby for mgmt at this point. And YES, I’d be THRILLED to pay a portion.

    I made this suggestion previously, and got the expected NO RESPONSE from CS, … and really, that’s the problem. Even a BLOG cannot be a rudderless ship – not without a cost to its readability and basic value.

    AND YES, there is some value – very much along the lines that SongBirdNYC mentioned. If there were no Brooklyn Eagle or 2-3 other outlets, it would be all but indispensable.

    C’mon – this is a great nabe with a so-so – I’m being as generous as I can be without risking a lightning strike – dedicated media outlet.

    Remember – but I think there are many (even here) who are challenged re logic – I don’t wish the BHB *gone* – I wish it could/would improve. Even more, I know that is possible. My saying that new, gives-a-darn leadership is about 5 years overdue is NOT to denigrate Claude – REALLY! Caretaking is valuable work. Just don’t confuse it with BUILDING something – or even keeping it in good repair.

    It’s gotten to look like a garden in winter – whatever the season outside.

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com/ Claude Scales

    I have occasionally deleted comments; only when they are obvious “spam.” Most recently I deleted two comments made about posts that referred to fires. These comments were ads for fire escape ladders. I would also delete comments that violate other terms and conditions, e.g. defamatory statements or personal data. I don’t delete comments because I disagree with them.

  • Alex

    What the hell? The mask requirement was dropped. You have no basis to judge anyone. I don’t bother anyone wearing a mask even after the mandate dropped so don’t bother me, dude.

  • Alex

    Oh God, what are you going to do when the virus becomes fully endemic? Poor you, don’t kill yourself!

  • Alex

    As harsh as it sounds, the world can’t revolve around immunocompromised people. I mean, what did they do before Covid?! Let everyone asses their own risk, it’s been 2 years.

  • KDHicks

    Not sure what’s mindless about my comment, but while we’re here, I’m genuinely confused why literally anything about this blog would provoke so much grief. Whew. If you’re not enjoying it, you definitely don’t have to read it. It’s a creator’s economy, you can go start your own Brooklyn Heights blog! Just google how to start a simple WordPress or Substack. And if that sounds like too much work, another option is to try and be kind or even grateful. There are 80+ comments on this page; clearly people are reading and engaging with BHB. Claude doesn’t have to do this at all, but many readers, myself included, are very glad that he does! :D

  • http://www.yotamzohar.com StudioBrooklyn

    We’re not talking about “the world revolving around…”. We’re talking about one more good reason to wear a mask in a public indoor space. Perhaps if wearing a mask for ten minutes in a store amounts to having ones whole world revolve around others’ safety, either it’s a worthy expenditure, or the person needs to examine why it’s such a big deal for them in the first place.

  • Mike Suko

    Reminds me of the “geniuses” who used to say – during the Vietnam War in particular – “America – love it or leave it.”

    I’d like to think that there was a third choice then that made more sense.

    There are 2 obvious answers to your “If you don’t love it, nobody’s forcing you to read it.”

    a) the BHB DOES have its wonderful aspects; and

    b) there’s no real alternative when it comes to BH-specific coverage.

    I just wish there was more reporting. Mary Kim has written some excellent stories, but for this column to be – week in and week out – the only one read by more than a handful is evidence that the BHB needs a “bypass” operation.

    Here’s the BHB from 10 years ago: http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/date/2012/03

    2 people turned out 12 articles in about 3 days. One name I recognize. As for the other, I don’t know if Chuck Taylor was a paid staffer, but he wrote well AND prolifically. I’m sure the readership WAS more engaged at that time – there was “meat on the bones.”

  • AEB

    No one’s bothering you. You’re being disagreed with. You’re free to wear a mask or not.

  • WillowWoman

    Exactly. Only the Pro-masks comments remain. All of the opposing views have been deleted. The thread almost doesn’t make sense anymore, as it’s all one-sided.

  • Alex

    Yes, I absolutely get defensive when other people’s extreme takes on Covid are absurd. I wore my mask all the time when it was (or is) required. After the mandate dropped, anyone judging me for not wearing one is extreme.

  • bindoffbunny

    Yeah, that’s what I thought too. I’m not surprised, just wish they’d be honest about it. Just drop the pretense already.