That last line is a beaut and I can relate to it on so many levels, because who do I write about? My family, customers, acquaintances. I have a very firm rule. My material can rarely if ever be considering 'ranting'. I have seen examples of columns written where the author arbitrarily goes on a tangent and drags along particular members of society as victims in order to make a point or to produce a 'good' article or column, and I think it's unforgivable. In the first place, people who take the time to read what I write are entitled to a good experience. If they don't get that satisfaction, they don't come back. If I haven't learned anything else, I have learned that people like to laugh and to cry and to be uplifted, maybe even educated on some level, and reassured. Otherwise what's the point?
So you have some very good rules to live by, there. My motto is, 'first, make no enemies', and it has stood me in good stead. There are certain advantages to writing for a newspaper in a small community. The person you write about could easily recognize themselves and like you said, I may have to deal with that and I am not prepared to get smacked around in public (grin)
You had every right to stand up for quality, and you're right. It is a thing of the past. Sad but true. Chances are you struck a nerve with that guy and he didn't like the sensation. Oh well. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Rich, let me know when you get everything hooked up. I'll be glad to help you in any way I can, and you'll be surprised how fast you pick everything up. Getting the terminology down is ninety percent of the battle. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
