Malicious Bloggers Endanger City? Really?

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Nothing like a crack against posters on blogs and forums to get people angry. Today a popular Associated Press story coming out of Salisbury, which reports that outgoing Mayor Barrie Parsons Tilghman said in her final state of the city address that malicious bloggers are one of the greatest threats to the city on the shore.
From the story:
“Tilghman said in her address Thursday that over the last five years, the presence of a small group of suspicious, mean-spirited people focused on the negative has grown, endangering the city’s vitality.

Tilghman says some people are avoiding serving their city because it’s not worth chancing the scorn of bloggers. But Tilghman says they need to stand up for the city.”

Further, the original story, from The (Salisbury) Daily Times, contains this money quote:
“Citizens fear standing up and serving because it quite simply is not worth the vilification they chance at the hands of blogs and with threatening phone calls,” she said. “Combined with the lies and innuendo of several bloggers, this city is under siege.”

Really? Under siege? These people seem like they’re just having a good time. Look, blogs don’t do everything that traditional outlets do, but they do some things better. That’s important since few newspapers have the reach they once did. Blogs and forums provide a great outlet for public discussion. Shall the city repress free speech? I say no. Besides, cities have much bigger problems than bloggers. Perhaps a little reputation management is in order. 