Reader Feedback – Page 2 of 9

Pomp and Circumstances

Posted November 30, 2021May 27, 2019 in Editorial, Education, Reader Feedback10 Comments

A follow-up for a story from last week’s (19 May 2019, Premium only) issue. First, let’s start with the story: Don’t Worry, Be Happy Starting next year, Mason (Ohio) High School will stop recognizing valedictorians and salutatorians at graduation time as part of a new initiative to “improve students’ mental wellness.” No really: “It’s about … Continue Reading

Masterfully Baited

Posted January 27, 2021May 13, 2019 in Language, Reader Feedback53 Comments

Two Stories from Last Week brought complaints that True is politically partisan. The hilarious aspect to the two stories: neither had anything to do with politics, but the readers are so sensitive they thought they were political slams. There were a number of protest unsubscribes, including a Premium reader, which is very unusual.

The Won’t of the People

Posted January 20, 2021March 25, 2019 in Editorial, Guest Post, Politics, Reader Feedback29 Comments

I Think the Concept of a recalled mayor immediately winning election to the same seat he had just lost was awfully interesting, and Alexander’s tag about it pretty thought-provoking. He decided to expound on it a bit. But first, let’s start with the story, from True’s 17 March 2019 issue:

Which Humans Have No Worth?

Posted November 30, 2021March 18, 2019 in Editorial, Education, Politically Correct, Reader Feedback27 Comments

…or, More Stupid Unsubscribes.

Last Week’s Issue Brought several protest unsubscribes. “The sense of moral superiority woven through the issues has become tiresome. Unsubscribe.” wrote “Hobar” in Texas, a nine-year subscriber. Huh? Then “Darl” in Oklahoma, who also subscribed in early 2010, was a bit more forthcoming in explaining his objection:

Allergic to Obliviocy

Posted July 27, 2025March 1, 2019 in Explainer, Government, Kids/Teens, Medical, Obliviots/Idiots, Reader Feedback18 Comments

Today’s Randy’s Random Meme is My Take on recent headlines, like “Disregarding Health Warnings, Arizona Lawmakers Move Forward On Vaccine Exemptions For Kids” and “Texas Lawmaker Hays He’s Not Worried About Measles Outbreak Because of ‘Antibiotics’” and “Measles Returned To Costa Rica After Five Years By French Family Who Had Not Had Vaccinations” — which are all recent.

“…But You Can’t Make Them Think.”

Posted June 30, 2022June 16, 2018 in Obliviots/Idiots, Reader Feedback45 Comments

Yesterday, I created a fun True News, or Fake? quiz (“5 questions, not easy. 🙂 ”), and introduced it in the free edition of the newsletter this way:

Can’t Help But Laugh

Posted February 1, 2025April 7, 2018 in Reader Feedback, True Business1 Comment

When readers unsubscribe from the free newsletter, the service I use allows them to send feedback — and while not everyone provides that, I always read it when they do.

Happily, the most-common feedback is along the lines of “I’ve upgraded to Premium” so they don’t want the subset of stories in the free edition that they’ve already read.

A Quarter Century of Increasing Optimism

Posted April 5, 2025March 12, 2018 in Editorial, Giving Back, Reader Feedback5 Comments

“Why Aren’t You Cynical by Now?” It’s a common question: I’ve been writing True for nearly 25 years now, chronicling the sometimes staggering obliviocy of our species, but I still have an optimistic view of humanity. In fact, my optimism has increased over time — probably because I’m such an avid people-watcher.

Sorry, Ma’am

Posted November 30, 2021November 7, 2017 in Language, Reader Feedback25 Comments

Two readers (so far) don’t “get” a tagline from this week’s issue, so I thought I would explain the joke — even though I do understand “Explaining the joke makes it not funny.” Well, they don’t think it’s funny anyway, so let’s get to it. First, the story, from the 5 November 2017 issue:

Women’s March (to the Back of the Bus)

Posted November 10, 2018January 30, 2017 in Politics, Reader Feedback21 Comments

I Expect to Be Called Names for my tag on the last story this week. Let’s start with the story, in the 29 January 2017 issue:

A Little Bit Behind

Posted January 6, 2022November 27, 2016 in Reader Feedback2 Comments

I Loved This Note this week from David in California:

Alternative to Patreon, Please?

Posted November 10, 2018October 23, 2016 in Reader Feedback, True Business1 Comment

Premium Subscriber Erik in Nevada wanted to really help True, but he didn’t want to do it via the new effort on Patreon, the “crowd-funding” platform for creative endeavors.

That Tagline is Insensitive

Posted March 4, 2024September 19, 2016 in Editorial, Kids/Teens, Reader Feedback27 Comments

There was a little pushback from a story in the 11 September 2016 issue — or, really, about its tag. Here’s the story:

Jay Jay is Cray Cray

Posted April 7, 2024April 23, 2016 in Obliviots/Idiots, Rant, Reader Feedback31 Comments

Sometimes it’s fun to poke at obliviots — especially when they’re truly oblivious to their idiocy.

Hillary vs. Trump: The Votes are In!

Posted July 18, 2024February 22, 2016 in Major Headlines, Online Life, Politics, Reader Feedback20 Comments

I Really Hate to Keep sending traffic to Facebook, since they’re eating the Internet already, but man have I been having fun there lately. Baiting the political partisans is like shooting fish in a barrel: easy and hella fun.

“Ridiculous Reactions”

Posted January 10, 2024January 18, 2016 in Obliviots/Idiots, Rant, Reader Feedback8 Comments

Nick in Arizona recently re-subscribed after an absence. He wrote:

Alert the Media.

Posted September 1, 2025November 16, 2015 in Rant, Reader Feedback, Religion29 Comments

There Was a Protest Unsubscribe after I ran the plug (below) for Get Out of Hell Free cards in Friday’s edition.

Speaking for Others

Posted August 10, 2025August 24, 2015 in Death, Media, Reader Feedback4 Comments

There is some great additional detail on a story from True’s 16 August 2015 issue. To start with, you need the story:

Dangerous in the Wrong Hands

Posted September 7, 2025August 10, 2015 in Obliviots/Idiots, Other Projects, Rant, Reader Feedback1 Comment

Some Readers Seem to Want to top recent examples of “Stupid Reasons for Protest Unsubscribes”. [Examples]

Can’t Cure Obliviocy

Posted January 28, 2021June 19, 2015 in Obliviots/Idiots, Reader Feedback7 Comments

Every Month, There’s a Tagline Challenge in the Premium edition — an extra story without a tag at the end, and readers can submit their best ending for the story. This month, the story was about a robbery that went bad at a drug store: the obliviot managed to defeat himself by pepper-spraying …himself.