People respond to the strangest things
It amazes me sometimes what people respond to when I write my columns.
Some columns I write to address what I feel are important social and political issues. I write those columns in an attempt to get readers to think about issues and start a meaningful conversation on the subject.
Those columns usually get no response.
Other columns are written about things I see in the news that strike me as odd. When I write these columns — which, in my opinion, usually have little value beyond entertainment — I do not expect any response.
These are the columns that generate the most comments from readers.
My column about examining both sides of the legalized alcohol sales issue generated some feedback. My columns about health care reform received no feedback. Same thing for my column about a kid in Texas who was suspended from school due to a zero-tolerance drug policy because his eyes were bloodshot — it didn’t matter to school administrators that the kid had been crying because his father had been murdered two days earlier.
But what happens when I write a column about how my wife finds it odd that I am comfortable eating alone in a restaurant? I get peoples’ opinions on the column.
My column last week, about the jilted bride, generated such feedback. As of Monday morning there were three comments about the column on the Franklin County Times Web site.
All three of the comments were to tell me I was wrong in my assessment of the situation. Two of the comments were about what I expected when I wrote the column.
I found the third comment to be hilarious. Let me share a few quotes with you.
The first sentence was: “Your response on why this woman should not get her money reimbursed to her from her ex-fiance is one of the most idiotic things that I have ever read.”
The comment concluded with the sentence: “You are obviously a chaauvanistic [sic] pig. If you are married, I feel for your wife.”
I am disappointed in these comments, but not because of their content.
This isn’t the first, nor will it be the last time, that I have been told my thoughts are idiotic. My wife, by the way, agreed with my feelings on this story.
(I do not feel as though the bride should be stuck with the entire bill, but I do not feel the groom should be stuck with the entire bill either – which is another reason I think the lawsuit should be thrown out.)
My problem with the comments comes from the fact many people tend to toss out their opinions on pointless matters, but when it comes to serious discussions they lack the courage to stand up for what they believe.
People are quick to give their thoughts on the latest celebrity marriage or how they think their favorite football team will perform during its bowl game.
If you ask those same people what they think about the controversial legislation being debated in Congress they will either not have an opinion or they will have an opinion based on a 30 second story they saw on the evening news.
It drives me bonkers when people are unwilling to learn about important issues and allow others make decisions then complain about the results.
With all the problems going on in the country, it drives me nuts that many people will spend more time watching Joan Rivers complain about what celebrities wore on the red carpet than they will spend trying to find out why the economy is in the toilet.
In the grand scheme of things it does not matter what dress Scarlett Johansson wore to the Oscars, but it does matter when Congress passes a $2 trillion spending bill.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I am starting to rant. I can’t help it.
I’m obviously an idiotic columnist. If I still have readers, I feel sorry for them.
