Grave concerns about a new twist of ineptitude at the San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco
February 29, 2008


I am getting rather sick and tired of the shenanigans and "glitches" that seem to accompany SFGate's comments section. The comments section is a service SFGate provides its readers to comment at the end of its news stories and articles. It has been an increasingly competitive feature for the Chronicle which is famously losing millions of dollars of revenue.

Here at Indybay.com -- I've described in the past how SFGate once hid removed comments from people posting comments at SFGate. That such happened was confirmed by Elaine Santore writing at the Fog City Journal. I also described other irregularities-- most recently how a comment of mine was blatently and inscrutably removed despite conforming to SFGate's guidelines-- at least all but one: the option SFGate reserves to change their rules at anytime and on any whim.

This is SFGate's legal loophole which absolves it from any culpability that might abuse its readers who wish to comment: "The Chronicle may terminate, change, suspend or discontinue any aspect of the Web Site or the Web Site's services (including, without limitation, content, features or hours of availability), at any time and for any reason." http://www.sfgate.com/pages/termsandconditions/

Seems I would get wise to the fact that my comments are just not wanted at SFGate-- but anyone who knows me knows just how stubborn I can be when it comes to issues of truth and justice.

Today, SFGate has a story about how the independent candidate Ralph Nader picked former city head supervisor Matt Gonazalez to be his running mate in this year's election. The article slings all the well-worn false arguments that Nader is a spoiler-- and is likely to spoil again. Matt is painted as a radical and a political has-been. I don't believe any of it: but I do believe what I see and experience for myself.

And what I found when I tried to post a comment to the article, "Matt Gonzalez joins Ralph Nader's ticket" by Zachary Coile and Cecilia M. Vega, has this new twist:

After I posted my comment, this message popped up in red letters:

"Comment Not Posted

Apologies for the inconvenience but we are unable to submit this comment due to a technical system glitch. We are actively working to correct this issue. Thanks for your patience."

Here was my comment under my SFGate alias "alabamarasta":

Gaging the din of propaganda dished out here at the Chronicle/SFGate and the numerous bigoted comments that parrot its version of reality-- there is no doubt that the Nader/Gonzalez [campaign] will have slim chances of being heard. But they should be heard because both are brilliant men of sterling character and sound patriotism. Hillary Clinton is as self-promoting and dubious as her husband; Obama is a Rorschach despite the mountains of hype he gets; McCain is out of tune with the country because he cannot imagine peace: all are in the hands of a corrupt corporate system that brings woe to millions and untold riches to a few. With the prospect of more war and occupation abroad, an economy crumbling and in a fire-sale, and no guarantees that this November's election will be any more honest than those since 2000... it is high time Americans educate themselves quickly about what is in their best interests.

According to the SFGate website, my comment was not posted because of a "technical glitch".

Technical glitch? Or a new trick of censorship? A conspiracy?

Who can ever really know for certain?

Two things ARE certain:

1) I get more negative feelings than positive everytime I have dealings with the San Francisco Chronicle.

2) SFGate is incapable of publishing all sincere comments in its comments section.

(And... I have always had more positive than negative feelings whenever I've had any interaction with Ralph Nader or Matt Gonzalez. What a world of difference! Both men are sincere and faithful advocates of "many voices and many choices": of democracy. I have grave concerns about the integrity and intentions of the San Francisco Chronicle and its writers.)

The San Francisco Chronicle article about Nader picking Gonzalez to be his vice presidential running mate:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/29/MNFCVATTD.DTL

Links to my past stories:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/25/18463549.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/12/03/18465024.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/02/16/18479632.php

Elaine Santore's investigation:
http://www.fogcityjournal.com/news_in_brief/es_crackberry_chronicles_071207.shtml