You know, sometimes this newspaperin' gig is pretty depressing. Especially when you look at the kind of comments us journalists receive on our online news stories.
Fortunately, here at CL, I think we do pretty good. Our commenters tend to be fairly educated and enlightened folks, despite what their profile icons might tell you.
And, honestly, I don't mind the online readers over at Tampabay.com either. Sure, you have a disproportionate amount of bitter white hairs, but overall, you can glean some interesting opinions from those comments.
But on TBO.com, the average commenter is a whole 'nother animal. Consider the comments on yesterday's story about my namesake, Alexander Pickett, who died after jumping off the Gulfport Pier:
Posted by ( Shadow59 ) on July 9, 2008 at 8:33 a.m.
If he jumped from the pier that doesn't make him a swimmer, just makes him an idiot.
Posted by ( jdickerson ) on July 9, 2008 at 10:19 a.m.
swimmer or sinker?
Posted by ( Shadow59 ) on July 9, 2008 at 2:18 p.m.
rikasflash-
If you feel my comment was senseless, feel free to jump off the pier in the next storm and see what happens. Unless you think that would be too stupid.
Man, that's cold.
And then today, in a story about some homeless dude to died on Tampa Street next to a van:
Posted by ( fugger ) on July 10, 2008 at 10:40 a.m.
why is this a story?
Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on July 10, 2008 at 11:21 a.m.
Another senseless Hobocide. How tragic.
Posted by ( Quagmire ) on July 10, 2008 at 11:11 a.m.
Was the homeless man found near an inoperable van down by the river?
Okay, I admit, that last one was pretty funny.
Is anyone with me on this? Examples?
