Welcome, Ventura County Star Readers
I think someone at the Ventura County Star is drinking a lot of Maalox right now in response to my discovery that they were using (and still are using) the Block User software to expunge comments disagreeing with the editorial line. I base this on two pieces of evidence.
First is from JYB commenter Frank Davis, who blogs here, and who went straight to the top with the story (emphasis mine):
I just spoke with publisher George Cogswell, who summarized that it was a “low level employee” who initiated the block user toggle thinking it was his job to protect the editor. Cogswell said they had dealt with the employee and the problem “aggressively” and that the blocking would not continue except for profanity issues. I suggested they make an acknowledgment and a mea culpa. We’ll see.I'll be watching for that.
The other thing that makes me think they're paying attention is below the jump:

Peekaboo!











