In March of 2006, a newspaper weblog called Street Talk blew up in an explosion that was heard around the world. It had been overwhelmingly the most popular feature on the Lewiston Sun Journal website but there it was, a blackened, smoking hole on the world wide web.
Street Talk was a blog run by Sun Journal crime reporter and columnist Mark LaFlamme. It was a feisty blog that sometimes resembled a television talk show on which chairs are frequently hurled at guests.
In March, a tired and frustrated Sun Journal webmaster responded to frequent brawls by banning one of the bloggers. The result was complete chaos, with protesting bloggers running amok on the newspaper website, breaking stuff and hollering into the wee hours. Exhausted and horrified, the webmaster finally pushed the button and Street Talk went kaboom.
LaFlamme and his band of bruised and battered bloggers wandered from the fallout and found a new shelter. It was called The Screaming Room and it was brighter and better than the old place. Today, The Screaming Room is a thriving, buzzing place filled with activity. The old crowd is still there and they are joined by newcomers every day.
You should wander by the Screaming Room and say hello to these survivors. It’s a place where screaming is allowed. And even encouraged and it’s found at http://marklaflamme.wordpress.com.