Superintendent warns grads of perils of anonymity

June 6th, 2008 at 11:03am Anna Voelker

Greg Reibman, editor of a group of community newspapers/Web sites in the Boston area, this morning shared with GateHouse colleagues a graduation speech by a local superintendent. Lincoln-Sudbury Superintendent John Ritchie said, “Don’t be afraid to say what you believe. Say what you think. And make sure your name is attached to what you have to say.”

So far, I am digging what this guy has to say.

Then he starts in on the local media, criticizing blogs and comments on media Web sites and warning 2008 grads not to sink to levels “that some adults in our community have sunk.”

He says blogs are a “gimmick from a dying industry to gain readership by allowing anyone to write anything anonymously.”

Take a look …

Ritchie also has great advice: “If you ever find yourself in a position where you are writing things for public consumption that have no intent other than to cause pain, cast dispersions on people, call people’s character into question, question their ethics or honesty, and you’re afraid to sign your name because if anyone ever knew it that it was you who was writing it you would be ashamed or embarrassed, you are on the wrong track.”

Can’t agree with him more … on that.

Still, I have trouble with Ritchie’s criticism of blogs. Not sure how you can have an opinion on something you admittedly have never read. My guess? He probably won’t blog about the issue.

Well, at least he gave me something to blog about.

Entry Filed under: Blogs, Community conversation