Topix website sparks local phone calls

Thursday, November 18, 2010
A screen shot of the Topix website geared to Fort Scott.(Michael Pommier/Tribune)

As a result of content posted on the online forum Topix.com, several residents have contacted The Tribune looking for help.

The Fort Scott Tribune has no affiliation with Topix.com and has no control over the content posted by its users.

Topix.com is a privately held company based in Palo Alto, Calif., which says it is, "A Top 10 newspaper destination" and "the leading news community on the web," according to its website. The site states that it links news from 50,000 sources to 360,000 lively user-generated forums through media companies to grow and engage their online audiences through forums, classifieds, publishing platforms and RSS feeds.

According to the site, more than 1 million people have posted 5.5 million comments on stories from 360,000 news pages for all 32,500 U.S. zip codes, 5,500 public company and industry verticals, 48,000 celebrities and musicians, 1,500 sports teams and personalities, and more.

Content on the forum can be posted by any person who creates an account and agrees to the terms of use.

A section of the terms of use reads, "You are solely responsible for what you post on Topix. You agree that we are not liable for any content that is provided or posted by you or others. We have no duty to pre-screen your content or the content of others, but we have the right to refuse to post or to edit submitted content. You understand and acknowledge that by using Topix, you may be exposed to content that may be offensive, indecent or objectionable."

The "about us section of the website gives a description of Topix.com and states that if content is found to be offensive, the website should be avoided.

"Topix is a forum to discover and discuss what you want about the people, places and things that matter to you. We provide news and discussion forums for every city and town in the United States as well as hundreds of thousands of other topics. We encourage the free exchange of views and opinions. Try to be interesting. It would be easier on all of us if you were polite. If it upsets you that the free expression of ideas is often heated and offensive, please do not use Topix," the website states.

In May 2010, the Kansas Attorney General Steve Six joined 23 other attorneys general in taking on the online forum and working to protect consumers. The group of attorneys general submitted a letter to Topix.com urging them to improve consumer protections and eliminate its $19.99 fee for "priority review" of abusive or inappropriate posts. The letter also requested the Internet message board to improve disclosures regarding the feedback system, reduce time for reviewing abuse reports, and improve screening of abusive posts.

Currently, Topix.com states all forum content issues are handled only through its feedback system. According to the feedback system, Topix.com is unable to respond individually to all feedback, due to the high volume.

The Tribune was unable to reach any representatives of Topix.com Thursday.