Is this a bad reply?

[williemcgee51]

Had a father e-mail me today that I am "not fair or impartial" in regards to a golf story. Basically, he was pissed because his daughter finished in second place in this tournament and my lede and about 75 percent of the story was about the boys, not girls. I wish I could go to his job and complain about the way he does things, but I can't.
Anyways, I replied to his e-mail by saying "Thanks for the read." Is this bad? I always reply to e-mails, both good and bad, by saying thanks for reading my story. I do appreciate people taking the time and reading my work.

 

[Pantalón del Fuego]

Shoulda told him that you would cover girls golf better if they wore the spandex tights like they do in volleyball.

 

[SixToe]

I always tell people thank you for reading, whether they're being kind or an ass.

At least they're reading.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

No explanation you give, no matter how logical, is going to satisfy him. "Thanks for reading" sounds really, really patronizing. Your logical solution is this:

 

[Dickens Cider]

Is that all you said? I don't know that being that glib was such a good idea, especially since, as you said on another thread, you're a part-timer.

 

[Walter Burns]

I say something similar everytime someone writes to me as well. It's really interesting, because I have to resist the urge to tell some of the people to **** off.

 

[williemcgee51]

I really do not care what the guy thinks. He can think what he wants ...

Is that all you said? I don't know that being that glib was such a good idea, especially since, as you said on another thread, you're a part-timer.

 

[Some Guy]

As long as they aren't being irate/obscene, I always try to offer a reply to someone with a complaint, no matter how silly that complaint might sound to me.

I think we owe that much to our readers.

I would have sent the guy a reply, politely explaining why you wrote it the way you did, and that would be that.

If all you said was "thanks for reading" -- period -- yeah, that was kind of dickish. We shouldn't act like we're above questions or criticisms. You don't have a write a novel, but a couple of sentences explaining why you did what you did would have been, you know, just basic customer service.

 

[williemcgee51]

I replied again and explained myself. I told him I did appreciate the read, again.

Thanks for the help, all.

 

[Pantalón del Fuego]

On second thought, I've covered some pretty hefty female golfers.

Maybe that wasn't such a good idea after all.

 

[dargan]

As long as they aren't being irate/obscene, I always try to offer a reply to someone with a complaint, no matter how silly that complaint might sound to me.

I think we owe that much to our readers.

I would have sent the guy a reply, politely explaining why you wrote it the way you did, and that would be that.

If all you said was "thanks for reading" -- period -- yeah, that was kind of dickish. We shouldn't act like we're above questions or criticisms. You don't have a write a novel, but a couple of sentences explaining why you did what you did would have been, you know, just basic customer service.

Good answer.

 

[slappy4428]

No explanation you give, no matter how logical, is going to satisfy him. "Thanks for reading" sounds really, really patronizing. Your logical solution is this:

I disagree. It's not patronizing, it's condescending.

 

[Italian_Stallion]

My suggestion is to order this: http://tinyurl.com/6y3maw

Then mail him one.

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

I generally used some version of "Thank you so much for reading and for your input."
We all know readers can be heavily biased, but in one form or another, they're still reading our product. Showing them we're not robots is never a bad thing, and if we can make them feel some sort of connect to us, it goes a long way.

 

[hanging_curveball]

I always do the "thanks for writing" thang because I mean it. I appreciate they were moved enough by something I wrote to drop me a line, even if they're complaining. I'll explain my position and close. All bets are off, though, when then open their e-mail "Dear Dumb ****stick." Then I'm a tad less amenable.

 

[TwoGloves]

I usually explain why I took the angle I took and then thank them for reading.

 

[copperpot]

I wrote to Bob Ryan once to complain about a column, and he wrote back something like, "Thanks for the note. It's good to know people are reading, even if they don't agree." I'm sure it was just a form letter, but I thought it was a fine reply. Acknowledged me without getting in a pissing match.

 

[corey375]

What not to say:

"Dear sir,

Thank you for your interest in my story. Please tell me which shift you work at McDonald's so I can come by and critique your work."

 

[Bullwinkle]

What not to say:

"Dear sir,

Thank you for your interest in my story. Please tell me which shift you work at McDonald's so I can come by and critique your work."

Wish I had read this an hour earlier.

 

[TheMethod]

Just offer a concise, emotionless explanation for the way you wrote your story, thank him for reading, type your name at the bottom and hit send.

"Dean Jackoff,

Thanks for taking the time to write me. I chose to focus on the boys because (any reason except, "people only care about boys anyway" will do here).

Thanks for reading,

Me"