Shunned Shields takes a sharp shot to the shin

By Jim Keyworth
Gazette Editor

Here’s a fun little story that will brighten your day. As most of you know, the Payson Roundup has an online forum that allows registered users to post comments on local issues.

From time to time over the years, people are kicked off that forum (and usually let back on after doing penance) for reasons that seem kind of stupid to us. In fact, some of them seem to negate the whole purpose of such a forum – to encourage an honest and open dialog on the issues.

Anyway, the latest booting took place this week when longtime Rim Country resident Dean Shields got jackbooted in the shin.

Because her Internet was down, she went to the Roundup’s office to “thank” Publisher John Naughton. Here’s how Shields reported in an e-mail that it went when Naughton came out to the lobby:

“OMG I wish you could have seen his face!! Talk about ugly and mean:)”

She further explained why she was kicked off the forum:

“I was banned because I said (Payson Mayor) KennyWho (Evans) is a liar and pointed out several of his lies. It (ticked) Rex Hinshaw off and he said I should be banned; maybe that had something to do with it?”

Here, for the record, is the infamous post that got Shields the boot:

“Yes, I read it Dan. His first story about losing his hand was different, like Pat said. He was hit by lightning. His two stories about losing his son are totally different also. But the biggest lie was the one he told when he was campaigning to be mayor. He said it was all his idea; no one asked him to do it; no one was behind it. But he screwed up big time when his web page had a calendar showing all the people that had scheduled fund raisers for him. Plus the e-mail I received from one of his fans telling me how someone in the Police Department and Evans were going to decide which one would take on Bob Edwards.
“The link you posted? Another attempt at gaining votes when he campaigns for a higher office when his term expires here.”

And here is the responding post from Hinshaw:

“Dean,
In addition to continuosly calling our Mayor a liar you are now insinuating that he is lying about his hand injury and his sons (sic) death. That is low and uncalled for. Those statements have no place on this or any other public discussion forum. I would recommend an apology or your removal from this site.”

To which Shields responded:

“Rex, a liar is a liar, regardless of who it is. The two different stories about those subjects were in this newspaper. You defend him all you want, I still say he is a liar. ( But not that different than most politicians.)
"I have no idea which story is true, but if he tells a story, or a lie, I have the right to point out the discrepancies and dispute it on this, or any other public discussion forum. He is a public figure, an elected official.
“No apology from me, got it??”


And finally, the post wherein Naughton booted Shields, in which he responds to comments in her original post:

“Ms. Shields:
“‘A liar is a liar, regardless of who it is. The two different stories about those subjects were in this newspaper.’
“That statement is incorrect. As reported, He lost his son in a pedestrian/automobile accident, half his hand in an electrical accident.
“Nothing else has ever been reported in the Roundup except those facts.
“‘I have no idea which story is true, but if he tells a story, or a lie, I have the right to point out the discrepancies and dispute it on this, or any other public discussion forum.’
“That statement is also incorrect. You do not have the right to defame anyone regardless the person or the forum. In fact, as it pertains to this website, you explicitly agreed not to.
“Ms. Shields, you have crossed the line. You have left us no choice but to ban your comments from this site.”

So there you have the whole goofy chain of events. But don’t worry about Shields. She’s doing just fine:

“I was giggling all day every time I remembered the look on Naughton's face. :) Still am.

“There is a quote from a movie ("A Few Good Men") that keeps going through my head...‘Truth? You can't handle the truth!!’”

(Remember, you can click on BY THE PEOPLE in the right column to leave a comment about this or any other subject.  We only censor the ones that are trying to sell something.)