Seeking an answer from a few of you

Earlier this year, I was released from my former employer and have found out that since then, they have talked shit about me to former collegues and those I covered. Since then, I have found a much better job with less headaches and hassles. However, I remain friendly with the publisher but had and continue to have issues with the editor of my former shop. I am thinking of writing a letter to this person. Would you do it?

 

Nope.

You're in a better situation now. Continuing to focus on your old shop and the status of your relationship with the editor there will only take time and focus away from your efforts at your new shop.

The only reason you should bring it up - and if you do so, do it face-to-face or over the phone - is if they're talking shit to subjects that you're still going to be covering. If you're now with a competitor in the same market area, or if you're at the national level and simply shifted to another shop while covering the same beat, you might want to address it.

People can talk all they want. It's up to the listener to decide whether or not to buy into it.

 

What's the relationship like between the ex-Publisher and former editor?

 

Short answer: No.

Folo question: When you say, "they have talked shit about me to former collegues and those I covered," who are they, exactly?

 

Let it go.

I was in a similar situation, though I quit. It ate at me for months, even when I knew others that had half my talent were talking shit about me.

I realized I can't do anything to change what they think or say, and if I fight back I'm just taking myself down to their level.

It's almost always people who are self-conscience and can only make themselves feel better by putting you down. It's more a sign of flattery if they're that little and petty.

There are two types of people in this world/business: those who know you and respect you, and those who don't know you and talk trash about you, pretending to know you. They're just not worth it.

At some point you just have to let it go.

 

the hell with them.

 

At least half the folks to whom you are being bad-mouthed think your former editor is the one who is the jerk. The fact he would do that is like wearing a sign that announces he is a scumbag.

You win this one.

 

Yep. No need to get sucked into that swamp. Leave it be. And the hell with them.

 

Agreed. Someone gets to be the bigger person. Let it be you.

 

Agreed. The best revenge is living well. By doing your current job well, you lay to rest any negative talk. The people who know you and your work will recognize an agenda when they see/hear it.

 

What you will find is that the badmouthing will reflected more on the former sports editor than it will on you. The people who know you, who you worked with and who you covered have their own opinions and to hear someone else knock you will only strenghten their feelings about you and lessen their feelings about the person doing the bad-mouthing. I wouldn't spend any time around the former sports editor but I wouldn't waste time getting into a pissing match with a skunk.

 

I pretty much agree with everybody about leaving it alone, with this counterthought. If "talking shit" means talking to other people who are in the business in a manner where it could get to prospective future employers and be damaging, then it's a little more complicated than that.