Reporter's final column

[Tom Petty]

maybe you should see a therapist.

Hell, no. I agree with him.

A guy who simply wants everybody to feel sorry for his poor, meager existence.

you do know i thought you should be laying on a couch since the first day i showed up here, don't you? ;D

 

[shotglass]

Mm-hmm. :)

 

[Some Guy]

maybe you should see a therapist.

Hell, no. I agree with him.

A guy who simply wants everybody to feel sorry for his poor, meager existence.

You can finish that thought now, Simon. We're all waiting breathlessly to hear your first one.

Honestly ... I really think he was playing up the "whiny" aspect for humor value. That's what people do with humor columns. They exaggerate.

I can't believe some of you seem offended by this guy. It was funny. And it was on an Internet blog, not the front page of the New York Times. And he's not in the business anymore.

Gallows humor is funny, people. If we can't learn to laugh a little bit, we're all going to die of ulcers.

 

[shotglass]

Sounds great in theory. But laughter was not what I was hearing. What I was hearing was the guy at work who's angry with his life and wants to bring everyone else down with him. I've seen it too often.

Gallows humor is OK in small doses. But our business takes a perverse pride in it.

 

[Sawker]

maybe you should see a therapist.

Hell, no. I agree with him.

A guy who simply wants everybody to feel sorry for his poor, meager existence.

You can finish that thought now, Simon. We're all waiting breathlessly to hear your first one.

Honestly ... I really think he was playing up the "whiny" aspect for humor value. That's what people do with humor columns. They exaggerate.

I can't believe some of you seem offended by this guy. It was funny. And it was on an Internet blog, not the front page of the New York Times. And he's not in the business anymore.

Gallows humor is funny, people. If we can't learn to laugh a little bit, we're all going to die of ulcers.

I'm not offended in the least. Hell, I won't even remember this blog come tomorrow. My commentary was only added after I realized that pretty much everyone else had a different reaction than I.

At the end of the day, we are the sum of our individual experiences. Having served in the military, I know for certain that this guy knows nothing of the long hours, low pay and zero respect that others face.

I can say with confidence that being called biased is easier to handle than being called a baby killer. Though I'm always on the lookout, I've yet to see the journalist version of the yard sign that reads: "No Dogs or Sailors on Lawn!"

I bet this guy has never seen the glazed look of a nurse coming home at the end of a 12-hour shift at the hospital or a factory worker at the end of a graveyard shift. I bet this guy hasn't seen lots of things that would have given him enough worldly perspective to second guess the subject matter of his final column.

Then again, maybe he has, but he's been too full of himself to notice.

 

[Pulitzer Wannabe]

Christ All-****ing-mighty, do we have to pull out the military/hospital/steel worker card every ****ing time someone hints that this profession not be all puppies and lollipops?

It gets so ****ing tiring.

Congratulations for serving, dude. Did you do it so everyone would pat you on the back for the rest of your ****ing life?

You do realize it's not the world's only honorable endeavor, correct?

 

[shotglass]

It's the best damn argument, PW. Journalists DON'T have it so bad. It IS all lollipops and puppies compared to some of the alternatives.

I mean, unless you expect to have your ass kissed by all your sources. Which seems to be the case.

You know what? You want to go spend your four years of law school, be my guest. And I hope you're happier. But I don't need to hear it in the meantime.

 

[Lester Bangs]

maybe you should see a therapist.

Hell, no. I agree with him.

A guy who simply wants everybody to feel sorry for his poor, meager existence.

You can finish that thought now, Simon. We're all waiting breathlessly to hear your first one.

Honestly ... I really think he was playing up the "whiny" aspect for humor value. That's what people do with humor columns. They exaggerate.

I can't believe some of you seem offended by this guy. It was funny. And it was on an Internet blog, not the front page of the New York Times. And he's not in the business anymore.

Gallows humor is funny, people. If we can't learn to laugh a little bit, we're all going to die of ulcers.

I'm not offended in the least. Hell, I won't even remember this blog come tomorrow. My commentary was only added after I realized that pretty much everyone else had a different reaction than I.

At the end of the day, we are the sum of our individual experiences. Having served in the military, I know for certain that this guy knows nothing of the long hours, low pay and zero respect that others face.

I can say with confidence that being called biased is easier to handle than being called a baby killer. Though I'm always on the lookout, I've yet to see the journalist version of the yard sign that reads: "No Dogs or Sailors on Lawn!"

I bet this guy has never seen the glazed look of a nurse coming home at the end of a 12-hour shift at the hospital or a factory worker at the end of a graveyard shift. I bet this guy hasn't seen lots of things that would have given him enough worldly perspective to second guess the subject matter of his final column.

Then again, maybe he has, but he's been too full of himself to notice.

Every job has its ****ty elements. The constant badgering we get from a public who knows **** of what we do is one of ours and it's OK to ***** about it once in a while. If it becomes all-consuming, you have an issue and you can choose to live with it or get out. He choose to get out and make a statement as he walked out the door.

True, nobody gives a **** about our problems and, most of the time, those issues pale as compared to what many others deal with. But the general public is as full of **** as we are and should be told that their perceptions of what reporters do and don't do are wrong ... that, just as this guy said, we're just trying to earn a paycheck. The **** people will say about reporters is constantly amazing to me. They speak of us as though we are seriously evil, as if we sit at home and bang out stories they don't like in what spare time we have between raping toddlers and single-handedly oppressing the family coffee farmers of Bolivia.

 

[Pulitzer Wannabe]

It's the best damn argument, PW. Journalists DON'T have it so bad. It IS all lollipops and puppies compared to some of the alternatives.

I mean, unless you expect to have your ass kissed by all your sources. Which seems to be the case.

You know what? You want to go spend your four years of law school, be my guest. And I hope you're happier. But I don't need to hear it in the meantime.

People complain about their jobs. Everyone from the gas station attendant to Warren Buffet.

For some reason, some military people take it as a direct insult to them every time someone does so. It smacks of insecurity.

 

[shotglass]

Now, THAT'S sensible, Lester. I agree completely with you that the public is totally clueless when it comes to our jobs. ****, they think the reporters put their own headlines on stories.

It's the best damn argument, PW. Journalists DON'T have it so bad. It IS all lollipops and puppies compared to some of the alternatives.

I mean, unless you expect to have your ass kissed by all your sources. Which seems to be the case.

You know what? You want to go spend your four years of law school, be my guest. And I hope you're happier. But I don't need to hear it in the meantime.

People complain about their jobs. Everyone from the gas station attendant to Warren Buffet.

For some reason, some military people take it as a direct insult to them every time someone does so. It smacks of insecurity.

Considering the reception received by some of those who put their lives on the line for our freedom, maybe insecurity is a valid feeling.

I'm sure you lived through the reception received by Vietnam veterans when they returned ... right?

 

[Pulitzer Wannabe]

It's the best damn argument, PW. Journalists DON'T have it so bad. It IS all lollipops and puppies compared to some of the alternatives.

I mean, unless you expect to have your ass kissed by all your sources. Which seems to be the case.

You know what? You want to go spend your four years of law school, be my guest. And I hope you're happier. But I don't need to hear it in the meantime.

And me getting out doesn't make me a lesser person than you or a whiner or unable to tough out the job.

 

[shotglass]

Well, now it sounds like you're flashing a little bit of the big I.

 

[Tom Petty]

wow. i didn't realize so many people would become so freakin' tense due to such a minor "issue."

chilax.

 

[floridasun]

What would you guess would be the percentage of your newsroom that you could confidently say is unhappy at their job?

For the papers I've worked at (and I no longer work at one):

Last gig in Florida: 75-80 (It was/is a truly miserable place to work, for one reason or another)

 

[shotglass]

20-25.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

I too, am bad at math and can't work with my hands.

How are you at kickboxing?

My recent knee problems have prevented me from following that career path. If I tried a roundhouse kick now, my lower leg could probably fall off.

 

[Sawker]

Christ All-****ing-mighty, do we have to pull out the military/hospital/steel worker card every ****ing time someone hints that this profession not be all puppies and lollipops?

It gets so ****ing tiring.

Congratulations for serving, dude. Did you do it so everyone would pat you on the back for the rest of your ****ing life?

You do realize it's not the world's only honorable endeavor, correct?

First, a couple comments about your post -

1) What gets tiring to me is all the negativity surrounding this profession. If you don't like it, move on. There are other options. Lots of them, in fact.

2) When did I ask for a pat on the back? I didn't. I simply stated that I've experienced much worse than the occasional accusation of bias. I fully believe nearly everyone else in the world has, in their own way.

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The guy in the column was clearly bitching about something far more trivial than what I mentioned...why are you not bitching about that?

I agree that there are other honorable professions. In fact, I believe most professions are honorable -- including journalism. I suppose that's where we differ.

You know, I didn't sit around bitching about how bad my time in the military was on my last day wearing the uniform. The military wasn't for me, but when my time was up, I graciously walked out the door, telling anyone within earshot that it was a pleasure serving with them and that we should keep in touch.

I believe the day may soon come when I walk away from journalism. When that day comes, I hope to move on with class.

There is a time and place for expressing the views this blogger/ex-reporter laid out in his column. Your last day in the profession ain't it. Seriously, why the hell should his readers or the journalism industry give a damn what he thinks, when he has no vested interest in the matter.

If the guy had true convictions, and real balls, he would have submitted this column long before his last night on the payroll. As it stands, it was a cowardly move that would cause hiring managers in all professions to think long and hard before giving this guy his next meal ticket. If anything, the guy should be thanking his editor for spiking it.

 

[shotglass]

There's the difference. He walks out the door shaking everyone's hand. This brat steals the waste cans.

And don't tell me that was all for comedic effect. If it was, it did not work.

 

[spnited]

That was not funny, it was pathetic.
The clown is nothing but a sad, whiny little *****.

 

[Sawker]

There's the difference. He walks out the door shaking everyone's hand. This brat steals the waste cans.

And don't tell me that was all for comedic effect. If it was, it did not work.

During my first year in the military I faced NJP (nonjudicial punishment) three times. The third time I finally snapped, telling the Commanding Officer that I was sick and tired of all the bull**** associated with wearing the uniform, and that I wanted out.

He said he understood why I was frustrated, because he felt much the same way about things. The problem with me, he said, was that I didn't know how to choose my battles and that I had no sense of tact.

He offered to let me out with an adsep. (would have been like I was never there), but that he wanted me to take some time to think about what he said and determine if getting out this way was what I really wanted.

Four years later, I was honorably discharged and had $50,000 tax free to spend on college. What I discovered during that time was that life was so much more enjoyable when I figured out how to get what I wanted out of less-than-perfect situations.

The military was still the military, but I didn't let the BS get to me, because I was using them as much as they were using me. That's my advice for anyone miserable with being in the journalism business.

There are so many benefits to being in this business it isn't even funny. From making connections to becoming a quasi-celebrity. If you can't parlay your journalism experience into another job and profession, it's probably because nobody likes you. In which case, you should definitely stick with journalism -- it's your calling. ;)