Mr. Purvey?s letter to the editor regarding Patch [March 29, 2012] makes one think that he and others are being ousted from Patch for no reason?or that perhaps this is not within America?s freedom of speech ?rule.? Unfortunately, there always seems to be abusers, and those that abuse the right of this freedom run rampant.
I have also written comments on Patch, but don?t have the time, like Mr. Purvey, to write as often.
Purvey, unfortunately, is rude, and I have commented to him when I felt that he was really just ?doing his propaganda.? One of the ways he does this is by ?name-calling.? Propagandists use this technique to create fear and arouse prejudice by using negative words to create an unfavorable opinion or hatred against a group, beliefs, ideas or institutions they would have us denounce. Name calling is used as a substitute for arguing the merits of an idea, belief or proposal. It is often employed using sarcasm and ridicule. I noticed that when new people tried to comment about things that Purvey didn?t support, he immediately started to throw sarcastic comments at them. I always feel that respect is needed in this world and would try sometimes to come in with a comment that would hopefully make one realize that we are all entitled to our opinions and that there was no need to be rude. And, he?s not the only one that does this!
I wonder if some of the comments on Patch would be printed in a newspaper. Patch seems to give one more of a feeling of freedom to write more blatantly. Perhaps some people should have been thrown off Patch a long time ago.
Alessandra DeClario, Ph.D.