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The Library has asked whether our group would like to conduct our meetings “virtually” while BHPL is closed to the public.

Personally, I am not a big fan of the virtual format for discussions like ours, and I would not be inclined to participate. Although I am generally a technophile, I think that having meaningful discussions of difficult topics doesn’t really work when we’re not physically together–no “body language” feedback, too many background distractions, etc.

But if someone would like to lead a virtual initiative, I encourage you to contact Hannah Cyrus at the Library to get the information for their “GoToMeeting” account. And I’ll be happy to help publicize the information on the Beyond Labels website (if you don’t know how to do it yourself).

People seem to be less and less involved with the decision making processes of local government. Under 10% of town residents come to the annual town meeting. Even fewer people come to select board meetings until something makes them angry. I hear a victim perception from people I generally run into about town decision making. Is this a problem or the way things are? Are we moving towards a business model only of town management? Are there things we should be doing to increase participation?

Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have taken the position that they are not publishers and should not be held responsible for user content and, maybe, ads.

But they have emerged as a highly influential source of news, views, and “facts.”

Should these platforms be more strictly regulated and, if so, how?
More broadly, what about other news sources such as cable news? With their melange of journalism and opinion, it can be very difficult for all but the experts to distinguish one from the other. Particularly when journalists participants join panels to say “what they think.”

I won’t be there today, but it should be a great discussion.