Greetings! It has come to our attention that a few of our fans didn’t take a liking to the graffiti portable toilet story. We shared the featured image of a porta-John in Seaside Heights spray painted as seen below. The vandalized toilet was published across OCSN platforms in the afternoon, and it soon became apparent not everyone has a sense of humor. This exact photo was featured with the caption of “Seaside Heights: Breaking News- OCSN Uncovers Election Fraud! Perhaps some NJ ballots weren’t counted as voters confused this portable toilet with a polling place?” A simple caption meant to shed light on the entire election in a humorous manner while incorporating the context of the photo. Something comical to try to lighten the mood on a tense and divisive political climate.
Apparently, some of you took insult to this caption and felt as if we were attacking Trump voters or wouldn’t have shared if the toilet referenced Biden votes. None of this is true- this is all a result of people assuming incorrect narratives. OCSN made it and still makes it a habit to avoid endorsing either candidate for the 2020 Presidential Election. Our focus is Ocean County, and we try to cover politics as It would affect our region. Trump parades or Biden stand-outs- we covered them both equally and as fairly with as much information as we were provided. Whether Downtown Toms River saw a Trump or Biden merchandise store open, we would have posted the story the same. Again, OCSN is not a news organization which mindlessly tells its’ readers how to vote- we try to educate.
We have been active since 2013 and have been quite successful over the last 7 years. In recent months Ocean County Scanner News has exploded in growth, which has resulted in a massive influx of new likes and follows. Attracting new users to our public Facebook page and website is all good stuff- but many might not understand how we operate. Partially shame on us for not taking the chance to introduce ourselves to the newcomers, but shame on them for not understanding what we encompass. There are a dozen local news websites and Facebook pages competing for the hyperlocal Ocean County, NJ news market- we try to stand out. Our news agency is staffed by a dozen volunteers- all of varying political affiliations and liberal or conservative outlooks. It is not one person attempting to spread his or her way of viewing politics and society- we try to achieve a balance.
OCSN is not a high-brow news outlet, and it is easy to see how perception is objective because everyone sees things differently. For anyone who read this picture and caption yesterday, and truly perceived it as being us knocking Trump voters, that was not our intentions. While we cannot control how each person views each article, and what their preconceived biases are, we surely can explain our actions. It was never our plan to make anyone feel their votes don’t matter, or even portray a negative perception of Trump supporters. We don’t need to bring ourselves to that level- neither presidential candidate is the best option for America in 2020 if anyone cares to debate. One of the most contested presidential elections in the United States over the last 50 years easily has held everyone’s attention here in 2020. All the talk about voter fraud, and ballot fraud, and polling place access- this photo just is hilarious. If you don’t see the humor in it, nor care to see humor- it is just as easy to keep scrolling.
So after people got to understand our intentions, most people took this joke well. A news website attempting to operate as a business would surely not purposely insult or isolate half of their audience for no reason. Other local news pages clearly align themselves with a political party or agenda- we try to avoid that and aim for neutrality. As this article is being published, the original story had 126 reactions. 99 of you laughed, 17 liked, 6 were angry face, 3 wowed it, and one fan loved it. Understanding that not all the people can be made happy all the time, we always try to impact the least people as possible. Since we don’t do this full-time, and the staff behind the scenes don’t contribute to OCSN to make a living- we do it for fun. Some of you really take life too seriously, or at least take our website more serious than we do.
People with that “cancel culture” and pitchfork mentality just make zero sense when they get triggered. To talk trash and explain how you are writing our news outlet out of your life based off your incorrect perceived biases is humorous. While Ocean County Scanner News very well might not be the news website and Facebook page for everyone, we have our niche. It is sad that we had to take the time to publish a full response to such a seemingly minor and innocent photo opportunity to make people laugh. Learn to laugh- and devote your attention to the things that truly deserve it in your lives. Try not to waste too much time arguing with strangers on the internet. Try to learn to think for yourself- and identify what others are trying to get you to think. We truly hope people can work through a photo of portable toilet with political graffiti adorning the front- inside a jughandle in Seaside Heights.
Happy Thanksgiving to All!
Well duh…Ocean Country is Trump country..
April Middleton DeGroat exactly my thoughts when I saw it.i knew this article would be written to follow up???????? so predictive
Kellee-shea Graham
That’s fine too- the joke still should be funny in the reddest parts of Texas, or liberal Portland, Oregon. Funny is funny.
I don’t think it was the Photo ..But more of what you Wrote above it That pissed off a lot of people..Left me scratching my head as well ..( Perhaps some NJ ballots weren’t counted as voters confused this portable toilet with a polling place?)
Monica L Celli
That’s fine too- it’s all meant as a joke. Trying to get people to lighten up and laugh- not insult half the population.
Monica L Celli
And again- perception aside, this is the “Fuck Your Feelings 2020” crowd. I’d expect thicker skin.
Ocean County Scanner News Change it to BIDEN and we’ll all laugh! Sick of these political and COVID posts. Interested in OC News not this BS I was temped to bail off here to!
Monica L Celli what they wrote is what made it great guess since trump lost people don’t have absence of humor anymore ????????
Betty Spahghetty , First of all Go fuck your self second refer back to the first !
Monica L Celli awwww is the trumpette mad and in her feelings ….. do you need our former president to grab u by the pussy one last time ????????
Betty Spahghetty at least I have a pussy unlike your little dick
Betty Spahghetty your nasty
Monica L Celli I guess they all like pedophiles as their president. Wait until the cost of living goes up and they start complaining and they have all their rights taken away. It all looks good right now but get the popcorn. Their shit show will start soon. ????????????????????????
Betty Spahghetty perhaps you and your nasty taste in presidents likes to sniff and good lord who knows what else young children…
Monica L Celli
Betty Spahghetty not even funny
Betty Spahghetty would you if Trump tried to steal the election from sleepy Joe.?? Still isn’t over!!
Examples of true division by people , not OCN , well said statement , an act of humor is is acknowledged buy some pending on what opposing team you’re on I personally found nothing wrong with the article
Bye bye
Susan
Susan Cowan Miller
When folks come to your site looking for and expecting news, some might not see the humor. Might be best to stick to the news.
Are people really this uptight?
Cheyenne Maldonado
Yes- Apparently “Fuck your Feelings, 2020” isn’t a two-way street?
Seriously, it’s kind of pathetc if you ask me..
Those protesting might have a leg to stand on if we didn’t have a President who ridiculed and insulted others. Who would have ever thought we would have such a leader.
Leslie O’Connell Spencer one of the best snowflake
I like the humor and sarcasm… it provides me with a sometimes much needed laugh ????????♀️
I got the photo and laughed thanks for all your work. Oh I’m a Republican
Maybe everyone should start showing a little more respect for the office of The President of the United States, no matter who occupies it.
Fitting place for a TRAITOR OF DEMOCRACY
Wasn’t aware OCSN became a political page. Just unliked
Patty Berenty Gunther
Lighten the F upfolks!
I am pro Trump all the way, as anyone who looks at mypage can tell and I find this funny as hell!
It’s “fuck your feelings” and “Obama and democrats are evil” but, when some 1 goes after Trump or in this case jokes about it. Then it’s “be nice and respect the office”
See here’s the thing. Americans have forgotten how to take a joke. How to laugh at ourselves and move along. Instead we now takes jokes as insults – and lately as PERSONAL insults. We are AMERICANS first and foremost. We aren’t hardwired for politics and frankly most citizens have never taken a poli-sci class anyway. The enemy right now is two-fold. It’s cultural divisiveness and it’s the pandemic. Neither will get solved until the pettiness is put to rest. Things aren’t as bad as they appear on Facebook but they sure aren’t great in reality either.