Feedback ok, but not the garbage

Opinions are like belly buttons - everybody has one and some of them really stick out.

Last week, in this space, I expressed my opinion.

I was fed up with all the negativity, venom and plain mean-spiritedness emanating from the Daily Herald Web site message boards. Not to mention poor spelling.

Last Sunday's headline said readers should not criticize the city. I'd like to add: don't rip it for no reason, either.

Now, I have no problem with people criticizing the city. Many times, it is warranted. Ultimately, I prefer an exchange of ideas.

I have a problem with people who post garbage like this:

"Yeah I really think Elgin is a fine community. That's where I go when I need 20 inch rims and chromed chain license plate frames for my (sic) Cheby peek up troke."

Thank you for your ignorance. Next please.

One might think this comment was feedback on a story about gangs, prostitution or illegal immigration.

But this was from a story about how local and international companies were coming to Elgin with new jobs, many of which pay more than $40,000 a year.

After my column appeared, readers - via e-mails, phone calls and plenty of anonymous "comments" - expressed their opinions.

One poster accused me of "shilling" for a job at the city.

Sorry - I'm playing the lottery instead. Probably better odds anyway.

This poster also accounted for six of the 26 comments. Many of them were typed on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon.

Perhaps the poster has a great Wi-Fi connection and was poolside (like I was).

My guess is the poster was obsessively hitting the "refresh" button in hopes of finding another post and someone to fight. On-line, of course.

Another person sent me an e-mail, saying residents were fed up over the city dropping big money on a Hemmens study, the Judson University stadium renovation for the Chicago Bandits and other projects.

These are very valid points. In the spring, there's a chance to elect a new crop of council members that may be more representative of your views.

The question is, will you be part of the less than 30 percent voter turnout?

Some readers actually defended me. And I didn't even have to call any friends or family members.

For example, the words of this reader: "It wasn't the comments themselves the author is protesting, but the tone and their context. Why make negative comments about Elgin doing the right things? Seems like it satisfies some bleak world view."

Perhaps another poster summed it up best: "There's a lot of good being done in Elgin - what's great is that the more contact I have with the people actually in the trenches, working hard to put pieces in place that will give Elgin the best shot to enjoy continued improvement, the more I realize they rightfully don't give much weight to the comments (potshots) on these boards."

So, depending on who you talk to, Elgin is a city where the arrow is pointing up.

Too bad some people obsess about putting it down.