thesbaine t1_j4mw18x wrote on January 16, 2023 at 9:04 PM

I'm all for recording town meetings and (scheduled) interactions with town employees. Transparency is good for our democracy.

What isn't good or helpful is busting into someones office unannounced, shoving a camera/phone in their face, and rattle of questions. It's stupid.

That's not a first amendment thing. That's just being a dick.

HubcapMotors t1_j4n3n3v wrote on January 16, 2023 at 9:51 PM

These guys coming in and disrupting public agencies under the guise of exposing corruption aren't honestly attempting to expose corruption in the first place. They're just pestering people on until one snaps to generate rage bait content on YouTube or TikTok or wherever.

You want to expose corruption? You FOIA documents. Look up court records, campaign contributions, police records, contracts. Build credibility with sources to a point where they go on the record with you. You know, stuff that actual journalists do.

As a citizen, I'd be absolutely livid if one of these jackwagons came in while I was, say, trying to get a license down at the DMV, and totally muck up the operation. Where's my right to functioning government services, and how is that less important than generating ragebait for some dishonest actor?

ThePickleHawk t1_j4qhnzd wrote on January 17, 2023 at 3:43 PM

I just remember when one of these channels went to Putnam Town Hall fully prepared to do their antagonistic thing. Then Barney Seney came in and gave them a full tour and they visibly broke character and loved the guy.

Shows me that a lot of it is just clickbait and semi-staged on their ends. They want to be confrontational and for town employees to get uncomfortable and that’s just mean.