Why Must Jack Zaleski Listen To The Insipid Rantings Of You Stupid Plebes?

Ken McCracken • November 28, 2007

That’s about the gist of the Fargo Forum opinion editor’s latest Sunday column. If you thought his previous “you’d better stay out of my face while I’m sipping wine” defense of red-faced, girl-hitting loudmouth Ed Schultz, get a load of this one entitled “Must we respect stupid readers?”
That’s quite a statement coming from someone who works in a medium that is hemorrhaging readers. And from a guy who was just grousing about the “coarseness” of public discourse just a few weeks ago. But really, you’ve got to see the portrait of the guy that lines up right next to the headline:

Now, granted, the communications Zaleski describes in his column sound rather nasty, but no worse than anything those of us engaged in public commentary on current events get on a routine basis. I got far worse in my inbox (up to and including death threats) after one of Zaleski’s colleagues at the Grand Forks Herald called me a “backhanded bigot.” It’s the way the world works, unfortunately. There are mean, hateful, unintelligent people all over (including among the ranks of the newspaper industry). It’s hard to imagine that Zaleski is just waking up to this now.
I’m going to go a step further than simply accusing Zaleski of faux naivete, though, and say that I don’t think he got the calls he’s claiming. I think he made it up. I flat-out don’t believe him. They’re just too convenient, too pat, to be believed. I think Zaleski wanted to launch an attack on critics of the Fargo Forum so he fashioned some wacko phone calls as a strawman to then ruthlessly attack in his column.
But I’m just not buying it.

Tags: Asshats, Media, North Dakota News, Politics

http://Array Bat One

K-Lunch,

Whatever that teacher or yours may or may not have known about physics, she was obviously a genius with words. And you are no less brilliant for remembering the lesson. Mr. John Simon (Paradigms Lost) would be proud of just such an offering.
k_lunch

Thank you so much Bat One – it feels good to be appreciated. Of course I must give credit where credit is due: to my high school physics teacher who made that expression all too familiar and haunting to all of us girls who sat in the front row of her class.
Bat One

k_lunch,

Your description above is the funniest thing I’ve read in months. Thank you!

It will be impossible from now on to even consider taking anything by Zaleski seriously.
k_lunch

Whatever that teacher or yours may or may not have known about physics, she was obviously a genius with words. And you are no less brilliant for remembering the lesson.

No, she made us familiar with the facial expression – she was very smug and I would wager a month’s salary that she quite enjoyed her “own brand” as some would say. The words are all mine.
k_lunch

But really, you’ve got to see the portrait of the guy that lines up right next to the headline:

He looks like he’s enjoying the aroma of his own flatulence in this shot. Half-closed eyes, flared nostrils, slightly suppressed smile. I’ve seen it a hundred times. $20 says he had eggs for breakfast.
k_lunch

That is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever read. Grosser because it appears accurate, too.

Of course it’s disgusting, the truth is never pretty.
Mr. Mxyzptlk

He may have a point. If you’ve ever read the Forum opinion section, you’ll understand why I’ve labeled that section the funnies.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

That is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever read. Grosser because it appears accurate, too.

SayAnythingBlog.com

Why Must Jack Zaleski Listen To The Insipid Rantings Of You Stupid Plebes?

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