Letters to the Editor
dawdler
Published Letters: 98 Editor's Choice: 10
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Taking the "Idiot" out of the Box
[Read the article: "The Sopranos" goes dark]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't understand why so many people feel so entitled to having the "loose ends" wrapped up or are so obsessed with being "respected" by the auteur.
- Have we become such creatures of convention that we can't stray out of our comfort zones at all?
- Are we so lacking in imagination that we get upset when we are not force-fed "closure"?
- Do we need to be led by the hand and told what to think?
- Are we really offended when not explicitly told how to feel about what we watch?
- Are we really such a bunch of sheep that we actually accuse Chase of giving the viewers an "eff you" or a "cop out"?
Pretty soon the FCC will add a "tying up loose ends properly" rule and we won't have to worry about this again. :)
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Rebuttal to namepeace
[Read the article: "The Sopranos" goes dark]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am one of those (I guess "haughty" and "above-it-all" types) who think most of the "we got cheated" type criticism is misplaced.
I certainly never argued the "importance" of the show either way. I just think getting angry because The Sopranos, which has really never been conventional in the sense of TV or mob dramas, didn't end with a neat little bow just shows an amazing lack of imagination on the part of the viewing public.
This is not to say that The Sopranos is somehow better or more important for it. But simply different. And people just can't take different, I guess.
I guess your argument stands on the assertion (unstated) that this is a "genre" show and thus should follow some formula. But I disagree. I don't think it's ever been a genre show or formulaic. True, it's based on a genre.
I think expecting a "genre" ending (or a conventional TV ending) is just surprisingly naive.
And also, I truly don't understand how so many people actually perceived this as an "insult" from David Chase. I guess if challenging people to appreciate new and different approaches to something is insulting, then consider me happily insulted.
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Rating the Product vs Rating the Experience
[Read the article: Why a five-star restaurant serves one-star food]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]One foible of product ratings, especially with technology products, is that you'll find many ratings that actually refer more to the experience of buying and -- with technology -- configuring the product.
For example, if you read reviews of software on CNET's download.com, you'll notice that many negative reviews are more concerned with configuration and compatibility issues, which are often out of the control of the manufacturer/publisher.
Also, for example, on Zappos.com, many reviewers give top ratings that say simply, "Great service, super-fast delivery, Zappos upgraded me to overnight.... awesome, love Zappos". Stuff like that.
Again, not really reviewing the product, rather the complete buying experience.
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RON (Return on Nanny)
[Read the article: The other mothers]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'd like to avoid the minefield of other issues like personal fulfillment, attachment, etc. and just talk $$ for a moment.
Getting a nanny can often be partially motivated by financial necessity.
Live is expensive. If a mother* can earn money for the family (after nanny expenses), should she do it?
Return on Nanny = Mom's Income after Taxes - Nanny Expense
If Mommy X can earn $40K a year AFTER TAXES and her full-time Nanny costs $25K a year, then her RON is $15K a year!
Does the household need the $15K?
Will it be used on Plasma TV's and iPod's or a better education for Junior?
Each family has their own equation. And in reality, it's more complicated because it includes other variables like how much is mom's guilt worth, how much is mom's sanity worth, etc.
But these are the realities of life.
And I find it hard to believe that other people, without knowing every last detail about a family, can simply pass judgement.
(*Yes I know, sometimes it's the Dad that's making the decision to stay at home or not, but i'm just trying to keep it simple).
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namepeace: ooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuww
[Read the article: "The Sopranos" goes dark]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"People are simply complaining about being misled."
Implying that people expect to be "led".
OK - this is getting really "Meta" here.. :)
Really interesting conversations. The subject of the relationship of art to the person who perceives the art is endlessly fascinating.
One final analagous example of my argument, like or lump it.
Say you're watching a concert pianist playing his own composition.
All of a sudden the pianist hits a note that you simply did not like.
You could have a number of responses:
1 - I did not like that note.
2 - He should not have played that note.
3 - He should not have played that note, therefore he does not respect me.
Doesn't 3 seem a little silly. But wait. Things are never this simple. I'm sure some people felt completely cheated by John Cages 4'33". And, frankly, I probably would have too.
Umm... So I guess I'm a hippocrit.
I guess we can't really nail down exactly what art means to us, and that's probably a good thing.
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Great Call, RealName
[Read the article: I Like to Watch]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I LOVED Being There. Yep. Great flick.
Heather, keep up the good work. You're definitely the wittiest and funniest voice on Salon (in my book). You take snark to a whole nuva level. In a good way.
And I mean funny "ha ha". Not the other funny. I mean, you might be the other funny. But how would I know that? You gotta know a person to know that.
(Unlike Garrison Keiler. He tries to be funny and ends up being abstruse at best and insulting to entire groups of people at worst. And oh god his voice... )
"I understand?"
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jmrichard2
[Read the article: The other mothers]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]yeah - hiring a nanny in 2007 is like owning a slave. yup. that's right. exactly the same.
(backing away slowy)
shhhhhhh....
it's ooookay....
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relax folks, it's a joke
[Read the article: Her sexy T-shirt says "Kitty Not Happy" -- is that OK at work?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]the letter is a joke. kitty is totally happy.
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Slate has a poll - see how you stack up
[Read the article: I Like to Watch]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Sorry, Salon, for redirecting people to Slate.com, but...
http://cgi.doonesbury.com/cgi-bin/view_poll.cgi
Interesting results currently. "Sometimes viewers" liked ending the least. "Loyal viewers" and "Moving to Jersey" viewers liked the ending.