Not a fan of FanSpeak

Thank you, Darla Craft. You have expressed what I hope is a majority opinion. FanSpeak has become the "National Enquirer" of the Southeast Missourian. I find FanSpeak especially troubling because, as Ms. Craft pointed out, the attacks are often personal. Usually negative in nature, these comments are directed at local students and schools.

Is this the kind of "journalism" the Southeast Missourian wants to promote? I am aware that an opinion page is standard in most newspapers. However, is it common to have sections like FanSpeak and SpeakOut? When our forefathers guaranteed us freedom of the press and freedom of speech, I don't think they envisioned a forum where the public could spout opinions and not be responsible for them.

The Missourian could print a disclaimer, "For entertainment purposes only. Represent yourself as anyone you please, make any comment you want, and don't sign your name." The only problem is that negative unsigned comments directed at local schools and their students are not particularly entertaining, are they?

As long as this forum exists, people will continue to utilize it. Therefore, I urge the management team at the Southeast Missourian to make the revisions necessary and require individuals to leave their name and be accountable for their comments. Think the FanSpeak and SpeakOut sections woud be any shorter?

Mary Beth Helderman

Whitewater, Mo.