Pearlman tracks down one of his agitators, calls him up

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/01/21/pearlman.online.civility/index.html

Interesting.

 

Re: So you want to work in SJ?

Very good column, and very true. It's amazing how people act so differently in person than behind a screen with a handle and a keyboard.

 

well-done piece

 

Chapter and verse why anonymous comments should not be posted with stories.

 

Pearls has a red ass about those critical of his work. Early on in SJ history I received a number of IM's from him calling me out about some of my posts that were critical of his work. It was when he was using one of his sock puppet handles.

 

When I was 23 and just starting out as a TV sportscaster, I got the most vile note I had ever read - hand-written from a viewer 80 miles from the station.

Some of what I remember:
...Worst Sportscaster EVER.

...They must be paying you minimum wage for the work you do.

...Can't believe you got a college degree with your smart a@@ on the screen

...and your stupid jokes..

blah blah blah.

Best of all, "I DEMAND a response!"

I got it in June of this one particular year.

Move ahead to October -- I happen to be near his town of 400 people, shooting a high school football playoff game.

I left earlier than usual.

And knocked on his door.

The look on his wife's face when she opened the door was one I'll never forget.

I brought the letter with me, walked into the house, showed him the letter.

"I'm here to respond. Let's work this out."

His wife made cookies and hot chocolate for us and we "worked it out".

(I'm now 36 with two kids and would never dream of answering hate mail like this...but, ah, to be young and stupid)

 

Is "cookies and hot chocolate" a euphemism for something? I'm kind of naive.

 

A few posts in and no d_b.

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/81713/

 

Re: So you want to work in SJ?

Huh?

 

The potential for d_b is virtually unlimited when oh-so-clever posters can't get to the point in a subject line.

 

Re: So you want to work in SJ?

Some managers might not like you calling up an anonymous commenter and asking what they're problem is.

You can always do what this guy did.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/business/28borker.html