Letters to the Editor

Letters posted here are associated with the following Salon Premium Member:

gbarton

Published Letters: 101     Editor's Choice: 8

  • Feeling inadequate

    [Read the article: How can I compete with my girlfriend's last boyfriend?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Repeat after me: "Feeling inadequate is a complete waste of time."

    Now, say that every time you even think about feeling inadequate. Say it again. Say it until you're sick of saying it, then actually follow through.

    I spent the better part of my adult life feeling inadequate in various relationships. I eventually decided that it was useless to even entertain such feelings. After that my relationships have been much better.

  • You let him get away, so now he'll swindle someone else

    [Read the article: The carpet guy]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Is it the best thing that you left this business intact, able to swindle again? Even Jesus threw the money changers out of the Temple...

    It's nice that you could release your anger at being cheated. That's good for you. But you should prosecute him in small claims court and report him to the Better Business Bureau and your local chamber of commerce. Otherwise he will continue to swindle others. Unfortunately you gave up the bounced check, your best piece of evidence. But I'm sure you can find others who have been wronged. And those who will be cheated are exactly those your church should be helping: poor folks who are looking for bargains.

    Think about it. But don't do it for anger's sake or for revenge. Do it because you'd be helping future potential victims.

  • Been there

    [Read the article: My wife-to-be attacks me with her fists]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I've been in exactly that situation. I'm 6'4" and average about 250lb. The girlfriend who went into rages and hit me was about 100lb. There was no way she could physically hurt me, but she sure tried. I broke up with her after a few months of this treatment. I never felt physically threatened, but it eventually became clear to me that I couldn't just absorb all of that anger. My thought was "She can't hurt me. Maybe she can work through her anger on me. There was no end to it, though, so I eventually stopped seeing any point in going on.

    Also, I'd advise the letter writer that, even though he can handle any physical abuse his fiance can dish out, their future children could not. She's a victim of abuse, and the cycle could easily continue. Will she hit the kids when they misbehave? It's entirely possible.

  • I have some news for the LW

    [Read the article: Can I kill a cat if it poops in my yard?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I have some news for the LW.

    Right now, in thier yard, there is shit.

    Cat shit.

    Rat shit.

    Bird shit.

    Worm shit.

    Ant shit.

    Bacteria shit.

    Shit everywhere. Hell, there's probably some of her kid's shit too.

    I don't write this to be crass. It's just true. And it really is somewhat crazy to think that killing one feline will solve this shit problem. Sorry. Where there's living organisms there will be shit. You'd have to kill every living thing out there to prevent the kids from being "fouled." You'd think that being from a rural area LW would find that obvious...

  • I know why there is so much vitriol in the letters

    [Read the article: I hate your column and all the letter writers too!]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I know why there is so much vitriol in the letters responding to Mr Tennis' advice. You can see the reason in the letters selected for "Editor's Choice" status. Out of 90 total letters, the 15 chosen were either neutral towards Mr Tennis' column (1) or unabashedly positive. (14) No critical letters were chosen.

    Ignore a point of view and the volume of it's expression will tend to increase.

  • The video is a fake

    [Read the article: Killer splash]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    That video was a powerade commercial. See the comments below it on YouTube.

  • Reduce the nose contents...

    [Read the article: I can't stop picking my nose!]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    First off, there's nothing wrong with picking your nose. I do it myself. So does my fiancee. Big deal.

    However, in my experience in nasal spelunking, I have found that you can reduce nasal detritus quite effectively with nose strips. (Try Breathe Rights first, then cheaper generics if they work for you.) You might even sleep better which could help with the depression and mild anxiety. No kidding.

  • Democrats need to get a clue

    [Read the article: The votes don't add up]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    "He's up 10-15 points because no one knows who he is," said one Democratic critic.

    Worked for Bush in 2000, right?

    When will Democratic political strategists get a clue and learn how to run an effective political campaign?

  • Christmas has always puzzled me

    [Read the article: My 13-year-old still believes in Santa Claus]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    When I was a kid and was told that Santa didn't exist, my first question was, "Does Jesus exist?"

    Of course, the answer was, "Well, of course Jesus exists!"

    It was about that time I became agnostic. :)

    If the LW's daughter still believes in Santa, more power to her. As soon as she's ridiculed for that belief it'll be a great lesson in how truly irrational people can be.

  • It's not that he isn't black

    [Read the article: Colorblind]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    It's that he's not black enough, right?

    Please tell me I'm wrong.

    This is really sad.

  • Courageous and admirably free-thinking position?

    [Read the article: Black vs. "black"]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Is David Duke's view of the holocaust also a courageous and admirably free-thinking position?

  • Seven years...

    [Read the article: Should I give my boyfriend the key to my apartment?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    The problem isn't the apartment key. It's the "seven years."

    Really.

    If you can't give the key after seven years, it's time to pack it up.

    I once lived with a woman for a year and a half. (I had my own place, but she preferred we live at hers.) Why didn't we only have one place? Because whenever her dad came into town all evidence of our cohabitation had to be erased.

    That situation was messed up. Seven years is more messed up.

  • Why all or nothing?

    [Read the article: I clean green but the dishes don't gleam!]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Use the eco friendly stuff 6 days out of 7. That way you can maintain clean dishes, and still only use 1/7th of the bad stuff.

    Being eco friendly doesn't have to be an all or nothing affair. That's what I don't like about an ideological approach to being green: it's unsustainable. :) If you fail to compromise you will wear yourself out. Don't be a martyr. Be practical. It's much more sustainable.