Posted on 01/02/2007 9:49:22 AM PST by abb
Don't bother sending anything to that e-mail address below -- because I don't care.
That address on the bottom of this column? That is the pathetic, confused death knell of the once-proud newspaper industry, and I want nothing to do with it. Sending an e-mail to that address is about as useful as sending your study group report about Iraq to the president.
Here's what my Internet-fearing editors have failed to understand: I don't want to talk to you; I want to talk at you. A column is not my attempt to engage in a conversation with you. I have more than enough people to converse with. And I don't listen to them either. That sound on the phone, Mom, is me typing.
Some newspapers even list the phone numbers of their reporters at the end of their articles. That's a smart use of their employees' time. Why not just save a step and have them set up a folding table at a senior citizen center with a sign asking for complaints?
Where does this end? Does Philip Roth have to put his e-mail at the end of his book? Does Tom Hanks have to hold up a sign with his e-mail at the end of his movie? Should your hotel housekeeper leave her e-mail on your sheets? Are you starting to see how creepy this is?
Not everything should be interactive. A piece of work that stands on its own, without explanation or defense, takes on its own power.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I was always shocked that people who write columns *do* seem
to care so much about flame mail. They must have grown up post-usenet.
" A piece of work that stands on its own, without explanation or defense, takes on its own power.'
Grafitti comes to mind.
They'll get their legs and arms chopped off and burned in hot lava?!?
Just kidding!
Thanks for your refreshing honesty, Joel.
In that same spirit, please let me assure you that you needn't be worried about receiving email from me anyway, since I basically never read the s--- you write, and don't give a f--- about your opinion anyway.
I can hear it now: "The MSM provides such a vital service to the country, we simply cannot permit it to fall to vicious market forces."
Same here! Mrs. Reb always gets upset with me when some poor schlub asks if we want a free paper or to subscribe and my response is, "No, thanks, we don't have a bird."
You mean in addition to NPR and PBS?
"I don't want to talk to you; I want to talk at you. A column is not my attempt to engage in a conversation with you. I have more than enough people to converse with. And I don't listen to them either."
And that is why you are going to be looking for a REAL job, you arrogant a$$wipe.
Publicity stunt because he really is irrelevant.
"No, thanks, I don't fish."
Oh, umm... Yes. :-)
Sounds like Santa didn't think he was a very good boy, and now he's taking a tantrum.
Don't forget CSPAN.
Actually, I found it to be quite humourous, if suicidal. It's what anyone who is in a customer-service profession of any type feels like from time to time.
Actually, I found it to be quite humourous, if suicidal. It's what anyone who is in a customer-service profession of any type feels like from time to time.
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