Happy New Year edhat readers!
Wow, what a year. It’s hard to put into words the ups and downs of varying degrees we’ve all faced this year. It’s my sincerest hope that you are all healthy and staying safe as we continue to navigate this “unprecedented” territory. (We wouldn’t be a media website if I didn’t use unprecedented as least once).
As we start a fresh new year and leave behind 2020’s hardships, I’m reminded of the value of staying connected. Especially with friends, family, loved ones, and community members. I hope edhat has been able to keep you all informed, entertained, and connected with our community through these difficult times.
It’s hard to believe that edhat has been around for over 17 years since Peter Sklar first hit the publish button in November 2003. This website truly is a labor of love. The dedicated staff, scanner reporters, columnists, and valued commenters continue to provide a local service.
This past year has been extremely difficult, like every other small local business, revenue plummeted and some tough decisions had to be made. But I’m committed to keeping edhat around as long as you’ll all keep reading, commenting, and subscribing.
To help us keep a stiff upper lip in 2021, please renew your edhat subscription, gift a subscription to a friend or loved one, make a financial contribution, and urge your favorite local businesses to advertise with us! [Instructions on these below]
We wouldn’t be able to keep the community engaged and informed without the support of our readers. Continue sending in your questions, photos, news tips, reports, and anything else you think the community would like to know, and we’ll keep doing what we’re doing.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support and readership, we greatly appreciate it. And let’s raise a glass of a beverage of your choice to a happier and healthier 2021.
Sincerely,
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Are you interested in reporting and writing? Or do you love to listen to scanner traffic and are willing to report? We’d love to hear all about it. Email Lauren at lauren@edhat.com.
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Friend of Ed, Restaurant Guy John Dickson, recently shared this vintage logo of edhat from yesteryear, and we think it’s cool.
I’d be willing to pay for EdHat (and I pay for other media including subscriber only podcasts and substacks) IF the censoring stops. Deleting abusive comments is fully the right thing to do, but the censoring of political ideas that you don’t like is a real disappointment. I’d be willing to pay $100 for 2021 if EdHat allows “free speech” once again (with accommodations made for monitoring actually abusive language – slurs, threats, etc.).
People who don’t have evidence-based beliefs see fact checking as censorship.
Edhat isn’t fact checking though. And as much as I love Edhat, the admins have been ridiculous of late. I’ll keep wearing my scanner guy shirt (love orange!) Though!!
Unfortunately you do not follow your own commenting guidelines. For example, “2 a. No criticizing of writing style, punctuation, spelling, or grammar of commenters or contributors.” There are at least two instances of this just today, and those comments remain despite being in violation of the guidelines. There are additional examples of other guidelines that are not applied to when it comes to certain commenters. I think this is what SBTownie and Duke are referring to, and I for one agree with them on this.
We all love Edhat (obviously!)… but You’ve had too quick of a trigger in the last month Ed!
Goodness Townie and Chem, looks like you proved Ed’s point. They really can’t please everyone, so much whining.
Renewing my subscription right now! Thanks for all you do Ed and don’t let the negative nancies get you down, they’ll complain about anything yet continue to comment 100 times a day. It’s a thankless job but you’re doing a great community service!
If you don’t like it, start your own message/news board.
Yin yang – is it ok that I love edhat but also think that the admins haven’t had their best stretch of late? Are we not allowed to question something we like? Edhat rocks… but I think the Edhat nanny has been a bit heavy handed of late.
That’s pretty rich coming from you Duke as you’re consistently deleted for spewing dangerous misinformation. The hand should be heavier when moderating you.
What misinformation? You go anonymous to avoid being confronted every time your wrong. Public health said we’d be safer with school in session… that doesn’t fit your narrative though… so you dismiss it…
And that’s another criticism/disappointment I have with Edhat: the anonymous button! We are (mostly) all anonymous On here… having that option usually just means people have an opportunity to make it seem like people are agreeing with them. It’s a crutch/cheat. I can see where the intent was to help people anonymously bring forth news… but that’s not how it’s actually manifesting.
I would have but one request, & then be very happy to support edhat..& that is, to be able to speak on behalf of the Chumash people as freely as those who disparage us.
Such has never been the case on this forum.
When this small adjustment is made, I’ll dig into my pocket.
Several certainly did! But quite a few others seemed to be more a case of the moderator being a bit heavy handed…either that or really liking/defending a few posters who I’ve had to correct of late.
I agree until censorship stops I won’t support any media
I. too, agree that the Edhat Editors have a polilical BIASED view when it comes to deleting anything that reflects bad on our 99.9% Democratic political “leaders” or the agenda they hold so dear to their hearts.
Said by Coastwatch who is frequently deleted for posting rants about Communist China, comparing the CDC to Hitler, and making a plethora of racist comments. I’m happy edhat deletes you.
Easy comment to make anonymously (and we’re talking anonymously on an anonymous website)!
This is true! My point was simply that Edhat has been a little squirrely the last month. It’s their website and they get to do what they want… it’s just felt like they have been too quick to Delete of late. That is their right though… and it’s my right to be slightly disappointed!
That is also true! But they have let many of my annoying posts through…
But you bring up a good point. As much as I love Edhat I’m starting to think the nannies are one of the people I keep arguing with about schools reopening. Because they let a lot of annoying things through… but seem to be rather protective of a couple of posters… maybe that’s just protecting/supporting their own posts/arguments! Presumably the nannies enjoy a good debate too!!! (Would sure be disappointed if they were science Deniers like the anti school opening crowd… say it ain’t so ED!!!)
They let Roger violate the guidelines regularly and defend him, even as he attacks those making valid points
I agree with the comments about censorship. Sure Edhat can do what they want to a degree without violating protections but, doesn’t matter. I know the staff says they delete in accordance with the community rules but I’ve seen comments stand that clearly violated the rules, but they had a certain political bend that apparently is preferred. I agree with others that, until that stops my $$ stays in my pocket. That is also MY right.
Well said AHCHOOO. The people who are complaining the most are the ones who constantly read and comment on edhat and are frequently deleted for inappropriate statements.