Irricana Ratepayers' blog home to cyber bullying

Dear Editor, It saddens me that our little community, Irricana, is being degraded by a select few who chose to be negative on a continual basis.

These individuals really should ought to examine their own lives before they condemn others. The individuals I’m referring to are those who have been making harmful negative remarks on a public blog: The Irricana Ratepayers.

This site is not new. These individuals have been wreaking havoc since about 2007. This blog is not a valuable tool, it is home to ignorant and immature posts, filled with malicious gossip and rumours. In fact, as it is being used today, it is a dangerous weapon.

Do people think that because they make negative comments about other individuals online using a pseudo-names, that what they say is acceptable? That they can anonymously and publicly criticize other individuals without consequence? In schools, this is called cyber-bullying and we attempt to teach children that this is just as unacceptable as face-to-face bullying; equally wrong and equally damaging, if not more so. What these individuals are teaching our children by participating on and maintaining this blog is that slander is acceptable. I, for one, do not want my children to think this is OK.

The following quote is part of the Irricana Ratepayers Terms of Agreement:

“You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, sexually-orientated or any other material that may violate any laws be it of your country, the country where “Irricana Ratepayers” is hosted or International Law. Doing so may lead to you being immediately and permanently banned, with notification of your Internet Service Provider if deemed required by us.”

Maybe some of the blog members are ashamed of what they say on-line, which could be why they don’t use their real names or use multiple personas simultaneously.

It is because some of these individuals hold positions where they shouldn’t be making unconstructive criticism comments online or elsewhere about the Town or its employees?

Is it because their comments could be construed considered slanderous?

Maybe they need to seriously consider their own choices and lives before attacking other individuals.

I’m ashamed that the Town of Irricana is somehow repeatedly being misrepresented by a select group of mostly anonymous individuals who continue to make things more difficult for the few individuals who attempt to make things better with very few resources.

People can be extremely ignorant on so many levels, yet they are so very quick to judge.

Jacqueline Corry, Irricana resident and former Town office employee