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• Tuesday, July 1, 2008 10:40 PM

  @Farhad, re: journalism & shaving

  Alright, my opinion is that the fact that you don't even bother to shave and groom yourself for your video blog is akin to turning in a college essay filled with major spelling and grammar errors. It is sloppy, reflects poorly upon the author, and demonstrates a general lack of effort and respect.

  What kind of qualification do I expect of someone writing a 'tech' review of the Smart car? As other posters have mentioned, an expertise and history in the field that goes beyond 'leisure driving.' You own response to earlier complaints regarding your ignorance was simply to shrug off the criticisms with a comment of, "I drive a car. That's enough." I doubt very much that some is qualified to write a tech review of the latest Microsoft operating system if their only knowledge of computers is that they have one in the spare room which they use to send emails.

  What is so frustrating is that Salon's tech review should be held to high standards, but instead they get a guy who doesn't know his stuff, and worse, doesn't care. You not only don't bother to shave for a video blog, but when someone complains about this you do little more than scoff. You answer criticisms with a shrug and a yawn, and never seem to care that many people have similar problems with your reviews. It would be one thing if you were a political correspondent (no doubt you'd consider yourself qualified for such a job based on the fact you voted...once), but for a tech writer to get such frustration in response to reviews of Apple products, Wii games, and the Smart car is just a joke.

  And that is what your reviews are: a joke.

  —BLewisMaltz Read BLewisMaltz's other letters
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