OROL: Policies

Purpose

Oyster River On-Line is like a newspaper in that it provides current information. But, OROL is not a newspaper in the traditional sense. We do not seek breaking news, nor compete with newspapers, radio, or TV to get news to you quickly on a wide range of subjects. Also, unlike a newspaper, OROL is not written by a staff of professionals, but is written by its readers. Within the general subject areas, you determine what is written and what positions are taken. This gives you more control and makes the information more personal, and hopefully more relevant.

OROL serves 2 main interests: voters and parents; those who pay for the schools and those who use the schools. OROL's goal is to encourage active discussion on current issues facing these people. To help encourage those discussion we will provide background information and records of discussions. This information is for those who may not actively participate, but still want to understand the discussion when it is convenient to them. We provide 3 ways to get informed: active participation in discussions through a mailing list, periodic updates on discussions through a newsletter, and a repository of discussions through these web pages.

We believe strongly in democracy. The best form of government at any level is one where the people make their own reasoned, informed decisions about the issues that affect their lives. Everyone has a different perspective on those issues. It is only through detailed, thoughtful discussions among all citizens that these perspectives can be shared and an effective compromise found.

Perspective

Oyster River On-Line is non-partisan. We seek a wide variety of opinions and views. As voters, we have our own opinions, which as individuals we will continue to express, including through this forum. However, as the editors of this forum, we will seek to provide balanced, equal coverage of all sides of the issues. We seek opinions from individuals, officials, candidates, and organizations.

We rely on you to police this policy. If you don't feel we are fair, please let us know so we can correct it. If you don't feel we are fair, you won't participate, and OROL will not survive.

Money

OROL is non-profit. It is financed and run strictly as a personal hobby of the editor, David K. Taylor. OROL has no financial affiliation with any other individuals or organizations, nor do we seek, nor will we accept such an affiliation.

Technology

OROL uses Internet technology because we know it, we like it, we can afford it, and we hope it will be effective. We realize using this technology limits who is able and willing to use OROL. We hope there are enough now who are able and willing to provide for a useful discussion. We also hope that soon more people will be using this technology. We do not limit ourselves to this technology, but use it because we can. We remain open to other technologies or media that can be reasonably effective.

The key to this technology is it is relatively cheap and widely accessible. First, it is cheap enough for an individual to provide this service. Secondly, and more importantly, it is cheap enough for most people to use this service. Despite what a salesman may tell you, you can easily get by with an "obsolete" second-hand computer with a modem and a low end on-line account. We will avoid some of the flashy multimedia both to give more space to information and to save you download time on slower equipment. The computer and modem can be bought for a few hundred dollars, and the on-line account for a little over a hundred dollars a year. Of course, this will give you access to not only OROL, but to the Internet as a whole.

But, for most, money is not the real limit to access. This is new and rapidly changing technology; the world wide web was not available just a few years ago. For some of us, that makes it exciting. For others, it makes us uncomfortable. We will try to help people gain access, though any help you (who have gained access yourselves) can provide is welcome. If you have information you want to share, but don't know how to, we'll be happy to do it for you. To keep this service affordable and to maintain equal access, we are limited to how much information we can provide, though we are far from reaching those limits now. Don't hesitate to ask.

Rules

Once you've gained access to this technology, you will find it gives us powers previously limited to others. Each of us can speak from our own soapboxes to an audience that spans the globe. Previously you needed great wealth to accomplish that. But, since we all have this access, we must now compete based on what we have to say, not just on who gets to say it. This is good. But, with power comes responsibility.

This forum is for discussion about the Oyster River Cooperative School District in New Hampshire. Because it would diminish the effectiveness of this forum, please limit your discussion to issues related to ORSD. While this forum is intended for voters and parents in ORSD, we welcome anyone in ORSD or otherwise who can contribute. However, regardless of your role or interest, please keep your discussion focused on voters and parents in ORSD.

Like most Americans, we're tired of the venom in today's politics. We aren't creating OROL to provide a better way of spreading venom. OROL is a forum where all should feel welcome and comfortable expressing their views and learning the views of others. Sure, some of the issues will evoke emotions and strong opinions. Sure, you should express those opinions accurately and effectively. But, just as surely, you must avoid personal or disrespectful attacks. We don't have the time, nor do we want to censor people who abuse this forum. But we reserve that right, within reason, for those who are unreasonable. We are not responsible for the opinions of others who participate in this forum. If you are offended, please let us know and we will seek a reasonable remedy.

The information provided is generally in the public domain. If you don't want others to copy what you write, don't write it here. We will strictly adhere to copyright and other laws. Do not post anything that is illegal, copyrighted, pornographic, obscene, profane, or offensive. Nothing of this sort belongs in this forum.

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Last update on 29-Mar-99 at 9:28 PM.

http://www.orol.org/orol/policies.html

This page is edited by David K. Taylor. Please send questions or comments to editor@orol.org.