What is an issue?

Shirley, you continue to puzzle me by using the term Baylorite. The suffix –ite used in this context denotes a "follower or adherent of," and while I have no designs toward leading a movement except the one for better beer, I suppose the word may be accurate and useful if serving as an antonym of Luddite in the local socio-economic context. I'm flattered, I suppose.

Earlier today, you wrote:

“You people seem to be spoiling for a fight. That means that you cannot focus on the issues because you know you don't have a leg to stand on. I'm sure someone will come back and call me crazy, go ahead, take your best shot. You still can't stick to the issues.”

Shirley, it’s not about craziness, taking shots or being mad as hell. It’s about saying what you mean, and meaning what you say, and playing this discourse game “by the rules.”

Accordingly, I’m curious what you really mean by the statement, “You still can’t stick to the issues.” This is a constant refrain at SOLNA, and I just don't get it.

Since October 15, here is a brief sampling of the topics broached by NA Confidential (in no particular order).

Human rights commission needed in New Albany
Privatization vs. government services (sanitation department)
Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price
Reform vs. business as usual in local party politics, i.e., October gatherings)
Downtown redevelopment (historical building tour)
Police take-home car and gasoline
The Ohio River Greenway and K & I bridge
Zoning issues (case of Dr. Nassim)
Storm water drainage debate
City council meetings
Cultural issues – history, beer, restaurants, music, books, trends.
Growth of the Charlestown Road exurb
Christian extremism (IUS campus dispute)
Regulation of smoking in public places
Tribune editorial overhaul

Exactly what are these topics if not “issues”?

The preceding issues were included in 62 original posts over a period of a little more than three weeks. Page views for the same period are in the thousands. NAC's weekday readership is approaching 300 visitors each day (fewer on weekends), and as a rough guesstimate, 25 to 30 registered readers, and maybe more, have been involved in discussions during the past month.

Do you really think that a mere dozen people could account for all this, and still retain jobs and families?

Furthermore, taking into consideration Volunteer Hoosier, NA Health, Diggin’ in the Dirt and New Albany Today, just to name four local, topical blogs, you might add another 15 timely subjects and issues to the ones already mentioned above.

Read the discussions and comments on these blogs. There are disagreements aplenty, but the discussions are invariably pleasant and well mannered, like ones you'd expect to find in good neighborhoods where adults know each other and play … behave ... by the rules of civilized discourse.

Shirley, what are we supposed to conclude from all this? How does any of this this show an unwillingness to discuss issues? Or is it that NA Confidential is somehow breaking faith by its refusal to acknowledge the veracity of the sole issue discussed on SOLNA on a daily basis?

As I've pointed out dozens of times before, NAC is open to all who wish to discuss the diverse multiplicity of issues that pertain to life in New Albany. I ask only that the participants be known, because anonymity consistently provides for animosity. You will not be censored here if you play by this most fundamental of rules. Thanks.