Councilwoman Sandy Carmany is scaling back her blog. It takes a lot of time to write it well, and she's burning out.

She's overwhelmed by the demands of answering detailed questions on complex issues. She's tired as well of the pissy little reprimands for things like not responding fast enough to comments to suit some of her readers.

I don't blame her a bit.

Carmany is a busy person (the number one reason I get from politicians and elected officials for not blogging is the time it takes to do it right).

She blogs because she understands the medium as a great way to communicate with the public.

She's not a short-order cook, or an official spokesman for the whole council, and although she's tough she feels it when people pick pick pick.

The worst part of her statement is when a fellow councilmember says, in effect, "see what blogging gets you."

This is a council that needs to communicate better with the public, and instead it's finding an easy excuse to retreat from the web.

There is nothing wrong with tough questions from the public on hard issues. There is something wrong with beating on the only council member with the guts and smarts to put herself out there for us while the rest of the gang ducks and covers.

I'm sure Carmany will keep blogging, because she's a pragmatist and she gets the power of this medium. We're lucky to have her in Greensboro, and we need more of what she's doing, not less.

Comments

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

Ed, as someone who also has "scaled back" on commentary (to concentrate on my own blog) . . . in large part because of the treatment YOU dished out here . . . I too understand Ms. Carmany's decision. The weekend before I made my own decision to step back and re-group, I was doing battle and chasing commentary on three different blogs - a fox chased by rabid hounds - and there were simply not enough hours in the day. Plus, the psyche is already deeply wounded by what happened to me in my own hometown. I didn't need the "High Priest" of the GSO blogosphere adding his illustrious shoeprints to the evidence the Randolph County DA has ignored.

"Overwhelmed by the demands of answering detailed questions on complex issues". I get that. It's especially frustrating when it's clear you're arguing with people who are putting on the pretence of listening, but who aren't really.

"See what blogging gets you" and "pick, pick, pick" is EXACTLY how I felt on YOUR blog a few weeks ago. The so-called "power" of this medium is frequently lost in its lack of civility ("whack-job" and "you're so irrelevant" come to mind) - particularly from those who do not have the courage to sign their names when they dish out the nastiness.

And then there is the transparent (often snarky) partisanship that YOU demonstrate to you GOP "guests".

Being a "pragmatist", I still look with great skepticism at blogging as a mechanism for real change - particularly as it becomes more & more a tool of the MSM. Sandy Carmany is in the middle of a great big mess (a mess that, the longer it plays out, makes it harder to buy the city's original premise that it's just about one "bad" police chief). And by blogging about it, she just puts a giant "X" on her back - because, as you say, nobody else on the Greensboro City Council is answering questions about anything - especially as the pool of poop gets deeper around their ankles.

"Come to our blog party, so we can bait and insult you?" Sandy says (and I say), NO THANKS.

[Pastor Felcher]

Dr. J is about as pragmatic as a razor blade.

[jsykes]

I think Sandy Carmany has done a wonderful job engaging the public with her blog. Another example of an elected official using blogs wisely is Rockingham County Commissioner Bert Jones. Both writers offer thoughtful insight for their constituents.

I too hope Carmany comes back. Keeping up with comments and questions is tough for a person in her position. I hope she does not disable comments ala Glen Reynolds and others, because the back and forth is the beauty of the blog, IMHO.

[Sue]

Sandy is a person first, a pol second. Give her time to enjoy #1 and #3, the blogger, will be back. After all, she's the only elected official I think gives us (we, the people) information mostly without bias, and we darned well need and want her to continue blogging.

The "see what it gets you" is an ignorant and unfortunate comment probably uttered by someone who is NOT sharing information with constituents.

Everyone gets tired. Get some sleep, Sandy, take a vacation and don't take your laptop. Come back.

[Joel Gillespie]

Though I have offered an admittedly bleak assessment of the state of things regarding our local leadership, and though I have said I'm not going to "name names" good or bad, I will say, perhaps as an exception to that, that Ms. Carmany of all people has gone the extra mile to be a good and faithful local representative especially as regards communicating to and with the people of Greensboro. I commend her for that, and hope that she will find the time and space to get refreshed, whether she blogs any more or not.

[Roch101]

"see what blogging gets you."

This is bothersome. First of all, the passionate discussion was not wrought by blogging, but by a screwed up situation in city government that has citizens concerned, thirsting for information we think we have a right to know and rushing to the only trickle we can find thanks to the rest of city council declining to publicly engage in an open discussion with Greensboro.

The corollary to the above comment is "see how easier it is for me when I avoid the tough discussions -- when I don't have to explain things."

For her blogging effort, and yes, it is an effort, Sandy is earning a reputation as a superb communicator, approachable, accountable and respected city-wide (hint, hint). See what blogging gets you?

[Joel Gillespie]

Simply a superb point, Roch. Joel

[Bubba]

"The corollary to the above comment is 'see how easier it is for me when I avoid the tough discussions -- when I don't have to explain things.'"

I see we now need to add the word "roched" to the word "coned" to our local blogging vocabulary.

[Ed Cone]

Meaning what, Bubba -- to have made an excellent point or a useful reminder to elected officials?

[Bubba]

No, it speaks to the irony of how certain people do/don't discuss things on this and other blogs.

"The corollary to the above comment is 'see how easier it is for me when I avoid the tough discussions -- when I don't have to explain things.'"

Doesn't that philosophy sound familiar, Ed? It's a debate tactic I encounter here quite often. It's also used here as a deflection tactic on people to whom you are not sympathetic.

That's what it means, Ed.

[Ed Cone]

Ah, I should have realized: Roch's comment about elected officials should be understood in the context of...Bubba.

That would be the Bubba who frequently does not read the posts or comments to which he replies, who spams the site with mulitple off-thread topics, and who demands that everyone pay attention to the conversation he wants to have, but won't take the trouble to get a blog of his own?

[Jim Caserta]

I might be dense, but Roch's comment was directed at the other city council members that don't blog, and don't "publicly engage in an open discussion with Greensboro." It's easier for them.

Bringing up unrelated topics, or saying, "check this out" are things you should do on your blog. Because someone doesn't follow your path down a discussion doean't mean they're avoiding tough discussions.

Hah - let's see how well UNC does if it gets a chance to face the defending B-Ball champion Gators!

[Joel Gillespie]

As one who is more conservative than average in the local blogging scene, and who disagrees with Ed a lot :), and Roch a fair bit :), I nevertheless must say that Roch's point is, as far as I can see, unassailable. I have spoken elsewhere of the sickness and dysfunction that pervades our local government. I don't fully understand its cause and don't see it as a conservative or a liberal problem (but both). But Ms. Carmany of all people has tried to allow us common folk a peek into the room, some insight into the inner sanctum, probably at some risk to her own relationships in the Council. It is easier to avoid the public and carry on behind the smoke and mirrors. I don't think all Council members have the time to blog. I don't fault them for not doing so if it's a matter of time pressure - work, family, and Council duties are likely enough for most people. But, that wisecrack revealed another motive, and Roch was right to call a spade a spade. Yes, it's harder and more work to do what Ms. Carmany has been doing. I am sorry some folks have made it harder than it needed to be. She has been a good and faithful steward of her office and has gone above and beyond the call of duty. and as far as politicians hiding behind the smoke and mirrors, maybe a midification of Bubba's addition of the word "roched" to our local vocabulary is in order -- "we will we will roch you!"

[Bubba]

"Ah, I should have realized: Roch's comment about elected officials should be understood in the context of...Bubba."

Thanks for providing an example of "coned", Ed. You never fail to live up to my expectations of your limitations.

Although Roch is not as obnoxious as you are, a statement like
"The corollary to the above comment is 'see how easier it is for me when I avoid the tough discussions -- when I don't have to explain things.'" explains the general attitude of arrogance that prevails here.

When someone comes on this forum and expresses an opinion contrary to the conventional wisdom, and asks you to back up your opinion, the tone soon turns to sarcasm and ridicule. You are famous for that, and it marks you as one who is not confident enough to engage in the competitive arena of ideas.

You set the tone Ed, and the others follow your lead.

[Pastor Felcher]

This has been coming for some time. Bubba, you are a whackjob.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

Waitaminute. "pragmatic as a razor blade" here. "Wackjob" is MY title in this part of the blog world - gifted by a self-proclaimed "idiot" on JR's blog.

As an observation, it is not nice for a "Pastor" to pass such judgements. You could not have made Sandy's decision more understandable, or my point (not to mention Bubba's) any better.

[Pastor Felcher]

Blogfather laments Carmany scaling back blog.
Roch knocks one out of the park.
All else is irrelevant.

[Bubba]

"All else is irrelevant."

Including you.

[Pastor Felcher]

And yo mama.

[Anna in Calif]

> "Sandy is earning a reputation as a superb communicator, approachable, accountable and respected city-wide (hint, hint)."

not just city-wide.