ext_382918 ([identity profile] redcolumbine.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] davis_square2008-07-10 09:51 pm

Message from Tom Champion (verbatim)

From the beginning, my informal communication via LiveJournal has been problematic for a variety of reasons:

* When am I speaking for myself, and when for the city?

* Am I setting myself up as some alternate channel that competes with legitimate lines of inquiry and process, such as 311? Am I just ego-tripping?

* My "tone" has been questioned on several occasions and I certainly don't want anybody to judge the city by one snarky employee -- especially since I have the responsibility to speak officially for the city as well.

* Twice in as many weeks I have, in a rush to be timely, mis-communicated on important issues, and had to apologize for it.

* My first responsibility at all times is to my friends and colleagues in city government. They're my team and I must never create even the appearance of second-guessing them -- because I'm not. It's simply inappropriate for me to pretend that I can "unofficially" take part in any online community -- even as decent and thoughtful a community as DSLJ.

This was, therefore, a mistake. The InterWebs are tricky places, and we learn as we go.

In future, I think the best way for people to communicate with City Hall is to call or email 311 -- and the best way for City Hall to communicate with DSLJ members is by official announcement only, so I will explore setting up an account for that purpose.
ext_7025: (why not?)

[identity profile] buymeaclue.livejournal.com 2008-07-11 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Maybe we should all change ours to show solidarity?

[identity profile] two-stabs.livejournal.com 2008-07-11 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Why do people like this butthurt douchebag again?

As far as I can tell he enjoyed basking in attention until the first minor incident in which he flounced tremendously.

[identity profile] tomchampion.livejournal.com 2008-07-11 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
That is, in fact, a very perceptive observation.

The "basking in attention" thing was always questionable and has a lot to do with why I shouldn't do this anymore.

And nobody should gang up on on_reserve for being right or being snarky: what I learned was that I shouldn't interfere to the degree that I had begun to. As I told on_reserve offline, this wasn't Jim Kotzuba's mistake. It was mine.

Re-flouncing.

[identity profile] two-stabs.livejournal.com 2008-07-11 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, I take back the 'butthurt' remark.
ext_7025: (Default)

[identity profile] buymeaclue.livejournal.com 2008-07-11 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I missed the incident entirely, so I can't speak to the flouncing.

But you could change your name to [[livejournal.com profile] two_stabs] Villain, if you preferred!

[identity profile] two-stabs.livejournal.com 2008-07-11 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd prefer to just continue developing my reputation.

[identity profile] diatomacearth.livejournal.com 2008-07-12 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
Lord knows, he's nicer than you.

[identity profile] two-stabs.livejournal.com 2008-07-12 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
Lots of people are nicer than me. You're nicer than me. But where are your adoring fans?

[identity profile] diatomacearth.livejournal.com 2008-07-12 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
They've got too much good taste to hang out here.