How do you feel about this?

Last night, I covered an ARCA race, and I noticed that a writer next to me in the media center kept coming back with hats from the garage areas. I asked him about it, and he said, "I interviewed the drivers and asked for a hat."
Is this wrong?

 

Yes

 

Unbelievably so. What the hell is wrong with people these days?

 

Yes, it's wrong. However, if you're an entertainment writer and talk a hot actress into a roll in the sack after an interview that's completely different. Wrong, yes, but well worth it!

 

It's not so much that it's wrong -- it is -- as why that person doesn't feel like a complete and utter dweeb for asking.

 

Too bad outing is frowned upon ...

I'd sent my writer home for a few days if somebody did that on my watch.

 

ARCA racing is not the assignment that the top talent in the newsroom is begging to be sent to.
Writers who wind up covering this stuff (not you Henry) might fit the mold of propositioning their subjects for memorabilia.

 

You know what, I didn't really factor in the level, but that's a good point.

 

It's always wrong to take stuff. It's always egregiously wrong to ask for it.

That said, auto racing is a swag-rich environment generally, compared to other sports. There's an awful lot of promotional crap floating around in every series - thanks, of course, to all those corporate sponsors. And for the less morally rigorous among our colleagues, it's apparently quite difficult to resist.

 

Regurgitating this thread ...

Just saw a hockey championship photo online ... and noticed that one of the reporters who covers the team was square in the background, wearing a team hat and grinning.

I sure know how to feel about that. *rolls eyes* As one of my friends put it - "just put that picture in the dictionary next to the phrase 'conflict of interest.' "

 

Is this a generational problem? Just cause, I notice it happens a lot with the younger generation.

 

It's certainly a stupid problem ... I notice it happens a lot with stupid people.