Guess who?s back?
A number of people have written me on Facebook or by e-mail, or have told me in person, that they miss my insights since I left the Herald-Standard. So, by semi-popular demand, I?ve decided to fire up the old blog, have a little fun and perhaps stimulate some discussion. But not just yet, in any big way. I?d prefer to sort of get reacquainted with the audience and reacclimated a bit to that style of writing. So I?m going to ease into things.
I was telling a friend the other day that it?s only been a little more than two months since I left the paper, but it seems like ages. Maybe that?s the way it is normally, but I?ve made exactly one major career change in my life, so the adjustment is novel to me.
One thing I will say is this: I doubt that some people who write for (or to) the blogs and chat boards are aware that they can be sued for libel. They churn out so many rumors, innuendoes and outright lies that it gets funny after a while. There also seems to be a lot of bitterness and political posturing involved.
I got victimized by some of that, and so did my friend and former colleague Mark O?Keefe, and all I can say is that if those folks would put their real name to what they have to say, you?d to able to connect the dots on their motivations real quick. Always consider the source when you read something. If someone doesn?t have the courage to put his or her real name to his or her opinions, they are naturally suspect.
When I was editorial page editor, we?d sometimes get these scathing letters that would attack someone or some institution, making all sorts of allegations and basically trashing reputations. Then they would be signed ?Anonymous,? or the writer would want us to keep their name out of it. We required that the name be published ? and we didn?t permit libelous comments to be made.
Sometimes the writer would protest, saying we were afraid to run the letter or were covering something up. Then I would say, ?What if someone wrote a letter like this about you? And how long would it take you to sue if we printed it?? The response usually was silence, or, ?Oh, I see what you mean.?
When it comes to the ultimate strength of one?s convictions, I prefer the German Township way, which is the most noble: ?Say what you have to say to someone?s face, or don?t say it at all.?
In fact, I think it was Stush Halupkie who coined that phrase ? ain?t you glad I?m back?