And your opinion is
Boy, sometimes the response from you folks is just overwhelming. Then again your response is often so under-whelming it barely registers. And, of course, I never know what to expect.
I thought I had a sure winner a couple of weeks ago when I asked for your thoughts about putting an anonymous comment column in the paper. The one in the Marion County Record called "Your Turn" has been a bit dicey of late, but it continues to show some promise. I didn't know if readers of the Peabody Gazette-Bulletin would go for such a thing or not, but I anticipated some sort of response! I thought that some of you might ask me if I was serious about allowing anonymous comments. I thought I might even get some anonymous comments about making anonymous comments. Or perhaps a thundering "no way," from those of you in public life who would rather not know how the public feels about your ability, your ancestry, or your ideas.
Instead, I got two responses.
One guy asked if I'd had a profusion of positive comments. I said I hadn't, but asked if the idea interested him and he said, "Nah, I would always sign my name." Okay, that's one vote against
The second comment was from a woman who thought the column would be "fun." She had attended a grade school program that week and had not been able to hear some of the children performing because people around her were talking and laughing, interrupting the entertainment. She said she wanted to write a letter to the editor because she knew the kids and teachers had worked hard to prepare and it was obvious to them as well as the rest of the audience that their performance was not important to those chattering in the bleachers. But she was reluctant to sign her name. So she was ready for the column of anonymous comments to run — and soon!
Well, all right, that's two votes. And we're tied! See what I mean? The topic is a dud. I thought for sure it would generate some thoughtful discussion about freedom of speech or the presence of one's convictions or other exalted ideas. I guess we'll have to leave those lofty topics to the Geezer Group at Mary's Food Mart. They seem to be the only ones with a propensity for thoughtful dialog. And you know the world is in trouble if they think they are the ones really solving the problems.
But, hey, you had your chance. All you needed to do was let me know whether or not you would be willing to offer up an anonymous opinion. How tough could that be?
Well, since I am signing my name anyway, I will insert here a bit of advice, rather than waste a whole column reporting a tie vote between two people.
I think those of you who talked and giggled through the grade school program are pretty rude. And you set an extremely poor example for your children and/or grandchildren. I know I have said this before, but guess what? You really are NOT the center of the universe. Nothing presented that evening was about you. You were superfluous to the event (psssst
There are a couple of events coming up this week to celebrate the accomplishments of our young people. If you can't refrain from sitting in the audience ridiculing, criticizing, or talking about yourself, please stay at home. And that is my opinion and the opinion of a woman who would like to remain anonymous, but thinks you should be ashamed of yourself anyway and has no way to tell you.
— SUSAN MARSHALL
