Reader hate mail! Get yer reader hate mail!
I'm gonna go out on a limb and call this one of the greatest bits of hate mail I have ever recieved. It's regarding my Under 30 Packers preview, but I think the reader is flirting with me a little. Tell me if I'm wrong.
I am disgusted.
I am a soon to be a graduate at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a degree in English, Secondary Education English 6- 12 and PK-12 Library Science. I am utterly turned off and disgusted by Steven Hyden and his “Under 30” column….by someone I presume is over 35 and who is in no way like me, my friends or my peers! I contribute to the opinion page in the weekly question column and enjoy being involved. I am a writer, a journalist, a teacher, a member of this community and a politician. Hyden is none of these. I find his articles fluff, ineffective and completely pessimistic. I have NEVER heard, read or been in contact with a more pessimist “20 something”. How sad for the generation he is writing to.
Did I miss something? I thought the Gannett press was publishing a special edition Green Bay Packer promotion edition in the next few weeks. Surely Steven Hyden will not be involved, or in support of such a move. Hyden’s article this last September 8th, 2006 went through each week (pathetic and fantasy driven) about how the Packer’s would lose and just how bad they were. He literally listed “Week 1… how they will lose and why they suck” and did so for the whole season. As someone who attends Packer games and this past game, I must say Packer dedication is widespread in the Fox Valley, Bay Area and state of Wisconsin. No matter what age, there was huge hope by the fans that Brett Favre would return. Why not write an article on the anticipation for this season? To highlight how they will be “Lindy Infante bad” or say Robert Ferguson is like “styrofoam… [because] he is weak and impossible to get rid of?” Hyden is terrible and dismal. The Packers are so popular around here, something your paper even promotes, so why let this guy rag on them in the newspaper? Tom Richards writes interesting and fantastic tidbits about the area while Maureen Wallenfang writes great things about the new development and changing of local businesses in the area. So why are you employing Steven Hyden and his poor journalism and letting him drag down your paper, turn off your readers and completely make fun of the local interests that so many of your other writers take pride in? Hmmmm… social security concerns, environmental issues, Doyle versus Green and the race to make Wisconsin even better in this 2006 election, college tuition, the bar scene and smoking ban, plus everything else a 20 something could be and IS into are all better to write about than what Steven Hyden picks. I am thoroughly disgusted you employ this person. Wow.
I would love to take over his job and write about real under 30 issues free of charge. Why would you employ a journalist who is pessimistic, dull and completely devoid of any community involvement or appreciation? Let us celebrate the great generation we are and the things we are interested in and strive to do. Steven Hyden, who at the age of “under 30,” is so pessimistic and miserable that he does not represent me or my friends, thankfully!
A writer AND a journalist AND a teacher AND a member of this community AND a politician? And she's available free of charge? I think I'm gonna start cleaning out my desk.
posted by Steve Hyden @ 10:02 AM
11 Comments:
Steven Hyden, who at the age of “under 30,” is so pessimistic and miserable that he does not represent me or my friends, thankfully!
Wow, the demographics are starting to rise up and speak for themselves.
She needs to start herself an obscure blog to vent all her hyper-positive rage. God forbid people be allowed to write using their own voice and experience, or even feel differently than you do. Soon as she started writing for a paper, I'd write her editor a letter saying "I'm sorry, but Ms. ___ is not nearly as bleak and morose as myself or my friends and how dare you employ someone so uplifting and positive!" Here's an idea... don't like it? Don't read it!
I'd think a writer AND a journalist AND a teacher AND a member of this community AND a politician would have access to a thesaurus. Pessimistic was used far too much in that entry. Perhaps cynical? Cranky? Jaded? Gassy?
Who is going to break the news to her that not EVERYONE loves the Packers?
Next time you have an opinion, be sure to run it by her first... you wouldn't want to be original.
I do LOVE the Packers. But loving a team doesn't automatically make you delusional. The Pack is gonna suck this year. That's a fact. It's also a fact that I will watch every single game.
"I contribute to the opinion page in the weekly question column and enjoy being involved. I am a writer, a journalist, a teacher, a member of this community and a politician."
I had no idea Tracy Flick ended up attending UW-Oshkosh.
Let me get this straight: She went on and on about how popular the Packers are, and then chided Steve for writing about something no one cares about?
I think what she meant was it's something she doesn't agree with. As a writer, I don't think The P-C will be employing her any time soon.
Steve, I agree, clean out your desk.
It's a bit messy.
"Let us celebrate the great generation we are and the things we are interested in and strive to do."
Oh, fer crissakes. Dude, the spaceship leaves at midnight. Don't forget your black sweatsuit and matching Nikes.
Take it with a grain of salt. She has to realize that the marketing department does the promotional stuff and the editorial staff writes what they feel, hence the word "editorial." I loved the column and I'm a big Packers fan. I think their performance Sunday backed up your writing. As for the topics, I enjoy what you write about. If I wanted to read about politics or some other boring stuff, I'll go read Flannery's column.
Steve,
Screw her! Keep doing what you do! You crack me up and I look forward to your column every Friday. You'll be getting my vote for the best P-C writer again this year during the "Best of" awards!
Love ya man,
-r
Now come on guys don't be so harsh with little Miss Perky. She says she would write the column for free. Little does she know that Steven already writes it practically for free already.
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