This site will be valueless if it is not critical. It will also be valueless if it is inaccurate or if it fills up with unmoderated (and possibly immoderate) comment. This section describes what is in here and covers the rules of engagement.
Exceptions and Fairness
Oxford Inciter sets out to explain why Oxford is an attractive city to live in and visit whilst simultaneously condemning the councillors and officers who run it. This may seem a paradox as well as appearing somewhat unfair. The paradox, which will be addressed specifically in a future Post, is this: if Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council are so hell-bent on destroying the place, how does it remain so attractive? The apparent unfairness lies in the fact that there are, of course, factors beyond their control. It is also important to be clear that there are good councillors and officers and bad ones. My criticism is generally of the collective failure.
Form
Oxford Inciter consists of Posts and Documents. Posts have a chronological structure and record events as views in a time-frame and by reference to Categories. Documents fit outside the time-frame and the categorisation and include, for example, commentary about the site (like this one).
Many of the Posts are written well after the events to which they relate; they telescope and summarise past events. Others cover events as they happen.Much of what is intended to be covered here fits both under broad headings (like Planning or Transport) and under narrower topics which are either geographical (such as Aristotle Lane, Port Meadow) or issues (such as waste collection). The election to do this as a Blog rather than as a web site may mean that structure is sacrificed to timeliness, spontaneity or the wish to attract and record comments.
Comments
Every page has a box which invites your views. They will NOT appear directly in the Post or Document to which they relate but will be reviewed and shown (probably edited) as a separate post, perhaps agglomerated with others to appear as a collective reaction, or ignored.
If I ignore them, it will not necessarily be because I disagree with them but either because they seem to me to add nothing to the facts or the argument, or because I do not have time to deal with them. I am not setting myself up as an unpaid lobbyist for every passing minority interest. You will easily see what I am interested in, and if you want to support or oppose what I say on those topics, I will be pleased to hear from you. See Help for a fuller explanation of what I see as important.
Corrections
I will remove, correct or modify facts which are shown to be wrong. Your mere assertion that I am mistaken may need backing with proof of what you say.
I will happily debate conclusions or differences of opinion down to the point where it becomes clear that we will never agree.
Opinion-Forming
This Blog is in part an experiment. Blogging may be a passing fad. It is predicted, however, to be the way that democratic and business interests are best brought to public attention in a way which is more immediate, more client-facing and much cheaper than other forms of marketing. I have a commercial interest in finding out, because if it works in relation to a subject which interests me then it can be made to work for others for a fee.
The work of collation began in January 2007 and will take time to assemble.
