Locally owned, locally focused websites? RiotACT and daylight

At its best, this is the town square and speaker’s corner of Canberra – the alternatives all-too-often feel like “beloved Comrades, the Politburo, in its infinite wisdom, has decided…..”.

I have been a lurker here for many many years. I don’t comment as by the time I get to read it the articles that interest me, other commentators have either posted something that I agree with and I don’t feel I’m adding anything by posting.

I will share how I found Riot ACT though, because it’s a rather nice story I think.

I first discovered RA when planning a weekend holiday to Canberra in 2010. I was able to discover what the locals loved, and planned my trip accordingly. My partner and I fell in love with Canberra during our trip. After reading RA further to see what living down here would be like, we decided to quit our stable jobs in Sydney and make the move. Two jobs and a house buy later, we’re just in love as we were that first magical trip over the Easter long weekend two years ago.

Thanks RA!! Let’s see the Canberra Times have that kind of pull.

Pretty sure I did this poll over the phone, in a rare fit of benevolence. Glad it actually got used for something.

LSWCHP said :

In the end though, the smart (Hi Skid) thoughtful (Hi Thumper) artistic (Hi Poetix) grin inspiring (Hi Porker) wildly enthusiastic (Hi CGN) strongly opinionated (Cap’n RAAF where are you?) and all the others keep me coming back for more.

+1

And seriously good work on the ranking guys.

Congratulations JB, staff and posters, keep up the good work.

Madam Cholet said :

From time to time it has descended into a pile of poo, but in more recent times there seems to have been a decent level of decorum.
….

Someone didn’t read the limericks the other day!
They woz bads.

poetix said :

Reading without commenting never occurred to me as an option. Why would you do that?

The first time I read RA was the first time I commented. I didn’t think that was unusual.

Seriously, I would like to hear from one of these readers who doesn’t comment, as to why they don’t comment.

After way too many years involved in all types of online forums, as both regular punter and admin, it’s actually quite surprising how many lurkers are out there. It’s often equally surprising at what non-controversial topics will illicit a first post from a long-time lurker.

I can imagine RA would have heaps of lurkers, if nothing else the stats bear that out.

As for RA allowing comments, so do the newspaper-based websites; not always, but more often than not it seems. I usually don’t comment on newspaper sites because the numpty factor is through the bloody roof and it’s usually too tiresome to wait for comments to appear after being moderated.

A unique strength of RA is allowing its readers to contribute to the news cycle. Can’t ever imagine the majors embracing that approach, haha.

I find it very odd that a lot of people I speak to have no idea about The RiotAct – I think it suggests that the level to which they are immersed in truly ‘living in Canberra’, understanding what makes this place tick, and wanting to have a say about how it ticks is not high. I found RA not long after we came to Canberra because I was looking up things about, well, Canberra and found that as well as getting the news about what’s going on, I could also comment on it. Obviously you can do this on the major online news sites, but no one cares. The upper echelons in Canberra actually monitor this site.

From time to time it has descended into a pile of poo, but in more recent times there seems to have been a decent level of decorum.

I have often wondered whether something like RA would flourish in somewhere like Sydney. Somehow just can’t see people contributing in the manner that they do here.

poetix said :

Reading without commenting never occurred to me as an option. Why would you do that?

The first time I read RA was the first time I commented. I didn’t think that was unusual.

Seriously, I would like to hear from one of these readers who doesn’t comment, as to why they don’t comment.

Public servant – I mostly read and not comment. I wont comment on government or political stories as a matter of course. Regardless of whether I could make a contribution. And if you want that to change you should have a chat to the APSC.
http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications-and-media/current-circulars-and-advices/2012/circular-20121

poetix said :

Reading without commenting never occurred to me as an option. Why would you do that?

The first time I read RA was the first time I commented. I didn’t think that was unusual.

Seriously, I would like to hear from one of these readers who doesn’t comment, as to why they don’t comment.

There are probably a multitude of reasons eg many would agree with some of the more astute comments and therefore have nothing more to add.One of the other reasons would be that some would be uncomfortable with being criticised.Let’s face it there are a few regulars who don’t hold back and there are many sensitive souls out there.