39 replies to this topic

[think local]

Any tips on what types of areas are getting the least vandalism? The Victoria Public Education Coalition trustee candidates are putting signs up this next week and I'm a bit concerned they'll all be destroyed. Someone suggested we seek out private vs public places as people were less apt to cross the public/private line. Has anyone here experienced this to be true?

Thanks

[Audrey]

PS: I was standing on the corner the other day handing out my pamphlets. A few feet down on the other side of the sidewalk was a person sitting on the ground with their hat out looking for spare change. After two and a half hours the amount of money he made was greater than the cost of the pamphlets I handed out. There was something terribly wrong with the whole picture. "Why am I" kept running through my head.

I'm trying to find a way to interpret this that doesn't cast some really unfavourable light on you, and mostly failing. Were you really feeling sorry for yourself because a man who is likely homeless was getting more attention from the public than you were? Is it "terribly wrong" for people to be more interested in someone on hard times than in your political career?

I recognize legitimate frustration at seeing signs torn down. It's petty and juvenile behaviour. However, if you can't get any real play in the established mediums, get creative about making your own. Corey Burger (VV member and Oak Bay council candidate) has been getting pretty steady hits on his website, and trust me--the Oak Bay elections are getting less media play than the Victoria ones.

[Sue Woods]

Any tips on what types of areas are getting the least vandalism? The Victoria Public Education Coalition trustee candidates are putting signs up this next week and I'm a bit concerned they'll all be destroyed. Someone suggested we seek out private vs public places as people were less apt to cross the public/private line. Has anyone here experienced this to be true? Thanks

I wonder if this scenario is new to this election - or a typical thing to expect? Would like to hear from past candidates. (*I just put a few of my signs out today - situated in neighbourhood places where friends are keeping an eye out for me, and on some private lawns.) Cheers, Sue

[Joseph]

It seems quite random from my observations. Ironically, I've only had long-term signage in 'problem' neighbourhoods so far and had no issues whatsoever. We'll see if Rocklands has the same good manners

[Sue Woods]

Wow. I've had my signs out for less then 24 hours and am already dealing with them being visibly crowded out by others (making mine impossible to see) and in one case hidden in nearby bushes (Fairfield).

I have upmost respect for other people and their space - and make sure that I do not place my signs directly in front of, or near, anothers to "mask" their established visibility - and in a million years I would NEVER touch another candidate's signage.

I hope I am in the majority in my fair play outlook. And hope I don't have to spend another evening like I did tonight checking on them. I will keep an eye out though - and note anymore territorial bullying by certain candidates and/or their volunteers. If it continues, as John M'Cain said - "I will tell you their names and make them famous." Just a promise. Signs are expensive and so is everyone's time.

Healthy competition is fine - but adult behavior is finer.
Thanks, Sue

[ted - 3 - dots]

Wow. I've had my signs out for less then 24 hours and am already dealing with them being visibly crowded out by others (making mine impossible to see) and in one case hidden in nearby bushes (Fairfield).

(snip - snip )

Healthy competition is fine - but adult behavior is finer.
Thanks, Sue

----------- Not going to say who's sign it was.

One sign is too close to the side walk. When the wind-blows , the sign encroaches the side-walk and impedes my movement ...!

I've had to push the sign OUT-OF-MY-WAY , just so I can get around it ...!!!!!!!!!!

Next time , I'm going to run in to it ,,, and sue the person who's name is on it ...!

I mean it ... I'm getting tired of standing them back up , OUT OF THE WAY of pedestrian traffic...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-------- No I am NOT blaming anyone inpeticular (certainly NOT Susan-woods)

all I'm say is for all of the candidates , to get a GRIP on your volunteer's ...!

( it's bad enough that your in my face , but what's under my foot , now stays under my foot)

ted...

[Sue Woods]

In the light of day I see that I must have been really mad (as well as extremely tired AND incredibly wet) to have quoted John M'Cain. But at least I didn't quote Sarah Palin .

As for the sign bullies - someone has reminded me that it may have been 'self-appointed helpers', not fellow candidates or their volunteers. So I apologize for making any wrong assumptions.

Humbly yours, Sue

[Mike K.]

Current candidate and former city councillor Pieta VanDyke doesn’t put much faith in the online component, however. “I’m occasionally on Vibrant Victoria, but I don’t think there’s all that many people there, to tell you the truth.”

10,000 monthly readers isn't "all that many?"

[Baro]

is that 10,000 hits or 10,000 uniques?

[Mike K.]

10,000 unique monthly readers.

[Bernard]

The online world matters, even little blog dealing with the local elections got 4400 unique visitors in the last month, 6800 visits in total with a 2 minute average per visit.

This is not a trivial number of people that have been to my blog or to Vibrant Victoria. The online world is important and anyone that dismisses it is out of touch.

[Mike K.]

In VV's early days the site was referred to as a development front, a skyscraper fanclub, and affront to Victorians' real values, etc.

[Baro]

I think if the majority of voices on VV supported her agenda we'd suddenly become an important emerging voice that the city needs to pay attention to

[Audrey]

I think if the majority of voices on VV supported her agenda we'd suddenly become an important emerging voice that the city needs to pay attention to

Laughed at this, because it's probably true.

[Caramia]

First all of VV would have to agree with each other on something to speak as a united force. Somehow I don't know if that can happen on an open forum.

[mat]

Talking to an Esquimalt candidate last week, who had brochures and signs - and was serious about the election, but had no website and even his facebook listing had no mention. Seriously, how can anybody running for political office plan a campaign without a decent web presence in 2008?

The back side of this are the results from recent Canadian elections - the last Federal campaign had the highest spend by all parties on web campaigns, email newsletters, and social networking; along with 3rd party groups like voteforenvironment.ca. Yet we witnessed the lowest turnout in history.

VV, and other websites/blogs which are active on local elections may be restricted to a few 'media savvy elite' - but the media certainly pays attention, and the users can be influenced by candidate postings, and pass that information onto family, friends and colleagues.

[Barra]

10,000 unique monthly readers.

I take back what I said about there not being a lot of people on here. I was refering to the members involved in discussion threads that I was using. I kept seeing the same names come up - maybe 20 in all. I've since realized that there are a lot of "hidden" readers who read but do not contribute. The number of these readers has gone up a lot during this election, and given the paucity of other sources of information about the issues and candidates, voters are coming here, which I think is great.

[ted - 3 - dots]

Talking to an Esquimalt candidate last week, who had brochures and signs - and was serious about the election, but had no website and even his facebook listing had no mention. Seriously, how can anybody running for political office plan a campaign without a decent web presence in 2008?

The back side of this are the results from recent Canadian elections - the last Federal campaign had the highest spend by all parties on web campaigns, email newsletters, and social networking; along with 3rd party groups like voteforenvironment.ca. Yet we witnessed the lowest turnout in history.

VV, and other websites/blogs which are active on local elections may be restricted to a few 'media savvy elite' - but the media certainly pays attention, and the users can be influenced by candidate postings, and pass that information onto family, friends and colleagues.

------ I like it ...! ------------

Barock-Oh-Blog-a-Mania ,,, ?

Blog here , or be Square ...!


;{-


( as a blog-oh-bama-niac myself )

I can't wait for the day that the "bla-bla-blog" isfear is lifted ,,,
and the politition's can go back to their main job of "walking the streets"
and looking for my vote ...!

Ps, if you see my vote don't approch , it bites ...!

it look's like a circle with an (X) , and can be found next to my favorite candiate's name.

[Mike K.]

I take back what I said about there not being a lot of people on here. I was refering to the members involved in discussion threads that I was using. I kept seeing the same names come up - maybe 20 in all. I've since realized that there are a lot of "hidden" readers who read but do not contribute. The number of these readers has gone up a lot during this election, and given the paucity of other sources of information about the issues and candidates, voters are coming here, which I think is great.

That's cool, thank you.

You're absolutely right that the registered users and those who post may not necessarily be a staggering amount, although the "lurkers," i.e. those who only observe, keeps growing month by month. We're already up over 11,000 unique visitors over the last 30 days.

[Caramia]

I forget about that when I am posting, and when I remember I get this weird little sick feeling somewhere between vertigo and stage fright. But then I forget about it and start spouting off again.