Letters to the Editor
farnsworth
Published Letters: 449 Editor's Choice: 21
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OT comments
[Read the article: The word "rape" banned from courtroom]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The thing that I find most disturbing about the comments to Broadsheet articles is the anonymous posters.
Most of the posts that seem to me to be misogynistic are made anonymously. Why is that? Why do these posters, who obviously feel quite strongly about what they have to say, not want us to know who they are?
Since Salon now requires posters to register, we know these are people who care enough to go through the registry process. They have to create a handle. They have to purposefully check the box that says Publish Anonymously. Why are they making that choice?
The reason that seems most likely to me is that they realize that these comments are outrageous in some way, and don't want that outrageousness to be connected to their other comments on other topics. They realize that they are expressing some form of bigotry or intolerance, and don't want that associated with their handles. Perhaps they see the way other misogynistic ranters have turned themselves into laughingstocks who are largely ignored, and don't want that result for themselves.
There may be other reasons. There may be reasons that don't imply an unwillingness take responsibility for their opinions. I don't know. But that is the reason that first occurs to me.
Really, in a semi-closed system like this, if you want even the opportunity to be taken seriously, you should attribute your posts.
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While he does have a point...
[Read the article: "The wrong metric"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It is true that counting the number of dead gives the enemy the opportunity to skew the measurement. However, that doesn't mean it isn't a valid measurement.
But even if that fact did make the measurement meaningless, what does he say we should replace it with? A measure of the emotional state of Iraqis? How are we supposed to accurately measure that?
This is just another attempt at spin. More content-free pro-war propaganda.
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Athlete commentators
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I was watching the Summer Olympics (2000? 1996? not sure) and the sport of the hour was bicycle racing. There were two former world-class cyclists doing the commentary. They were talking incessantly about how the racers from different teams would talk to each other.
Both men continuously spoke about the riders from different teams "making deals." They must have said it 5 or 6 times each over the course of the race. But they never explained what they were making deals about. It became extremely annoying, and actually detrimental to the broadcast.
I watched figure skating, both Olympic and non-Olympic, for 15-20 years (no longer), and I never had any idea what the difference is between a toe-loop, an axel (sp?), and a salchow (sp?). This was never explained in any broadcast I saw. It was always assumed the viewers knew already.
My point? To be a good sports announcer, not only do you need to understand the sport very well, you need to make sure your audience knows what in the world you are talking about.
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Am I remembering correctly?
[Read the article: Scott Bateman: Iran and Dick Cheney]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Is it just an hallucinatory memory?
Didn't there used to be as many submissions to Video Dog in a single day as there are now in most weeks?
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Anonymity
[Read the article: The word "rape" banned from courtroom]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't know about Salon, but fortunately for us all, our founders and the EFF are much wiser than you, and recognized the importance of anonymous speech whether you like it or not.
Do you know who I am? Do you know who I work for? Do you know how old I am? You might know what state I live in, because I have said in other posts that I live in Oklahoma. But other than that, do you know where I live?
I use a unique (on this site) handle, therefore I have an identity. My words and ideas have some continuity. But as far as any issues you raise are concerned, I am anonymous. So how does using a handle threaten my safety?
There are an unknown number of different posters leaving anonymous postings on this thread. Some are raising valid points. Others are merely ranting. Still others are putting words in my mouth and falsely accusing me. By choosing not to attribute your posts even to a handle, you are lumping yourself in with all of these people. Is that really what you want?
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I would suggest you change your mind
[Read the article: Air head]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Summers are going to last longer and get hotter. The trend is clear, and won't change any time soon.
I spent a summer in Houston in the 80s without using the air conditioner in my apartment. I was lucky enough to have an apartment that allowed me to leave large windows on both ends of the apartment open 24 hours a day, so it was never really much hotter inside than it was outside. Also, I was really skinny then. I have put on about 50 pounds in the last twenty-some years, and I don't shed heat as well as I used to.
But my point is, you are going to want (need?) that air conditioner as you get older and the weather gets hotter. Get one on someone else's nickel while you can, because the need is only going to increase.
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Is Paglia Liberal or Conservative?
[Read the article: If we leave Iraq, do we lose for good?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I read the first letter, and Paglia's answer. I then scanned the rest. Far more interesting to me were the readers' letters in response.
Through the first eight pages of letters, the primary group of writers who are in agreement with Paglia are self-described conservatives.
Need I say more?