When some idiot in the public eye spews forth an outrageous racist remark or two, they’re always called to task! And rightly so. Well… are they really? What happens when people are afraid to call a racist a racist, because they’ll be called racist? This story was in True’s 29 February 2004 issue:
Reader Feedback
I Believe in Santa
No, it’s not “Virginia” but rather “J” in Canada. It started with her letter, which ran in the 7 December 2004 issue’s free edition:
Letters that Make me Smile
Now and then I get a letter from a reader that really makes me smile. Last week it was from Michele in California:
Liberal Bias AGAIN?!
In last week’s issue I ran two stories that were wonderfully balanced, politics-wise. Yet the response was very, very telling. First, here are both stories:
The Missionary’s Position
Or, Much Ado About Nothing!
I got exactly one complaint about a story in last week’s issue, and the basis of the complaint, by a Baptist Youth Pastor, is so eye-rolling in its cluelessness, you’ll begin to understand why some kids are so screwed up.
Driving Home a Point
In the Premium edition (only), I sometimes run a Tagline Challenge, where I include an extra story without my usual “tagline” and let readers suggest how they think the story should end. This month the Challenge was indeed a challenge.
Groan: Not Again!
Last week there was Yet Another Political (this time, anti-war) ad, and as expected I got a bunch of complaints and petulant “unsubscribe” demands.
Distant Cousins
See 2006 Update, Below
Many readers enjoyed these two stories that appeared in the 16 February 2003 issue, as they showed how different — and how similar — Australians and Americans are:
It’s an Ad, Stupid (continued)
Some months back an advertiser slammed George W. Bush, leading to a bunch of complaints by readers who wondered if I was some sort of “right-wing pukebag” (as one reader put it).
A ‘True’ Honorary Unsubscribe
There are some readers I correspond with a fair amount over time, especially Premium subscribers. Ian in the U.K. was one of them. I had a recent letter from him in my “use in an issue when space is available” folder, in which he had written:
The Other Kind of Military Brat
A nice letter from Christopher, with the 21st Air Force in New Jersey:
Evangelical = Hatemonger?
A letter as a denouement on the popularity of the Get Out of Hell Free products (after my essay on the topic, which is still up on the GOOHF site).
Date Rape is Funny?
Last week’s story about one of Time magazine’s “best inventions of the year” brought a mixed reaction. Let’s start with the story, from True‘s 1 December 2002 issue:
The Voices in My Head
As I (ahem) expected, I got a few letters from readers about last week’s story about the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill’s successful campaign to get Sears to stop selling a T-shirt. It reads:
Politics is a Dirty Business
In the 25 August 2002 newsletter, there was a paid ad for an anti-Bush bumper sticker. The ad’s headline: There’s Dirt Under Every Bu$h. That led to (ahem) several reader letters:
True — You Doubters!
Let’s start with the story. It was in True’s 2 June 2002 issue:
Spawn of Satan
I’m “anti-Christian” again (darn it!) — according to a few Catholic readers, anyway. I refer to the story about the fastest-growing religion in Australia:
HUs: Unclear on the Concept
“Chaos” (i.e., he didn’t stand by his own comment enough to sign a real name) in Massachusetts writes:
ZT: Too Much Coverage?
A couple of letters regarding Zero Tolerance, starting with Wayne in NWT, Canada:
ZT: Reactions from Readers
I’ve gotten plenty of feedback on a recent rash of Zero Tolerance stories. Julie in Iowa (Iowa?! Sheesh. ZT has infiltrated!):