Comments on: The letter I didn't send

By: Duncan Moon

Duncan Moon — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:50:12 +0000

Of course, you couldn’t send it, but wouldn’t it feel soooo good for a minute or two if you had. But you know what: a jerk is a jerk is a jerk and what jerks have to say is of now value and needs to roll off like water off a duck’s back. Nice to be able to blog it, though. A little catharsis is a healthy thing.

By: John Proffitt

John Proffitt — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:35:47 +0000

@agenticecream You should have seen the first draft!

By: John Proffitt

John Proffitt — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:29:30 +0000

@Jorge – Our reporters get some doozies from time to time, too. It’s amazing to me how people can click send on their own screeching messages and wonder why we don’t reply. And we get it ALL, too. The “you guys are just a bunch of commies” and the “you’re in the pocket of corporate interests” themes are popular (and opposite). The insults to intelligence are regular.

I can’t imagine the kinds of messages that flow into really big stations like KQED or WNYC or WGBH. Yikes!

By: John Proffitt

John Proffitt — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:26:17 +0000

Thanks Nancy! It sure is a challenge to keep all these balls in the air. Definitely doesn’t help to have people throw off your rhythm along the way. Not that this guy really did. But it sure feels like insult being added to injury sometimes.

By: John Proffitt

John Proffitt — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:24:58 +0000

@Andrew – I’ll have to post some of the phone calls we get. Yowza!

Sadly, the most negative calls and e-mails we get are from non-members. I’d take it more seriously if it were from a regular contributor.

By: Jorge

Jorge — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:24:52 +0000

I work at a public radio station and a lot of us in the membership areas have always wanted to send a similar note. The anchors, reporters and producers always get the “I love NPR” note and comments and we always seem to get the I hate you and your station letters.

By: agenticecream

agenticecream — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:27:20 +0000

No. Your response is far too civil.

By: Nancy Heather

Nancy Heather — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:28:37 +0000

I think it’s better if this letter writer thinks you just trashed his note. He’s in it for the fight, not the ‘right’.

But, it’s good to get your own frustrations aired – someone I work with thinks your note is amusing. I think we’re all feeling the heat (pardon me, Frontline, “HEAT”) as we ‘do more with less.’

Our viewers are of all stripes, have helped us through political and financial messes before, and as you said at first, are some of the most thoughtful and loyal in the world.

Best wishes, and have fun with the ‘delete’ button every time this scalawag scuttles out from under his rock!

By: Andrew Kuklewicz

Andrew Kuklewicz — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:50:16 +0000

I find it a bit sad that this blog post is the only one in the ‘RANTS’ category. It seems lonely; you should make it some friends.

We get our fair share of ‘interesting’ emails, but this one is wonderful for the typos, lunacy, and tenacity. Tell me how I can get on this person’s Christmas card list, it would make my season.