Readers need to stop criticizing city of Elgin

One of the buzzwords for newspapers these days is "interactivity."

You can see it on the Daily Herald Web site, with graphics, maps, Olympic medal charts and even videos that accompany stories.

And you can experience it and voice your opinions by commenting on stories.

Most newspaper Web sites have this now, and it's a lot faster than waiting to see when your letter to the editor appears.

Some comments, especially responses to families with sick kids or a nice human interest story, are really moving and refreshing. It shows people care and have empathy for others.

But other comments are often so mean spirited they make me want to puke.

Like last Sunday for the "Walkabout" live theater event in downtown Elgin.

People, who presumably had nothing better to do on their weekend, still found a way to rip the city.

There was another story about how two companies were moving to Elgin, creating at least 88 jobs in the next three years that will pay more than $40,000 annually.

Seems like that's good news since we are in a recession, right?

But the 50-plus comments were overwhelmingly negative, saying the city was a dump, the only companies that come to Elgin are the ones that make Kevlar, etc.

And it's really ironic that no matter what the issue, all the city's problems somehow come down to illegal immigrants.

Give me a break!

For the record, I do not live in Elgin. I did not grow up here.

I am not a bleeding-heart liberal, nor am I a Bible-hugging conservative.

I am not on the city payroll and this is not a favor to anyone.

I wrote this because I believe in truth and decency.

The truth is Elgin has problems. Every city does. Another truth is that there are good people in Elgin - elected and volunteers - who are doing good things because they truly care about their community.

As for decency, I'm sure your hometown is perfect. Everyone gets straight As, a date to prom and Ivy League education. And the biggest issue for police is busting kids out past curfew. God forbid if they smoke.

So, if you don't live or work or plan to visit Elgin, why do you care? Why put a town and its people down while clutching to your security blanket of online anonymity?

No one's going to stop you from commenting. If you have an opinion, computer and e-mail address, it's your privilege.

And when the city messes up, by all means, type like the wind.

But if you live in Elgin and want to think of positive solutions or ideas, feel free to post them. Or send them to me. Or your mayor or city council members. Last time I checked, they're all on www.cityofelgin.org.

So I guess this column is going to get a lot of people e-mailing me some nastygrams.

But if you do that instead and lay off Elgin, that's fine with me.