Atomic City Talk

I had a very interesting online conversation yesterday with an employee of the Oak Ridger. Actually it was less of a conversation than it was a rant. This particular employee, I’ll call him Moose, has decided to take my criticism, and that of several others, of the dead tree daily personally.

According to Moose we “ridicule an organization’s entire body of work because something didn’t go your way, that’s your right … I respect all of that freedom of speech stuff.” “In essence, you are wanting my job, a job I bust my ass 50, 60, sometimes 70 hours a week at, to be in jeopardy.” Isn’t that special. A “journalist” respects that “freedom of speech stuff.”

The purpose of this post is to put all of your minds at ease. Neither I nor anyone that I am aware of is on a personal campaign to put Morris Communications out of business. As extremely powerful as I am in this part of the world, (tongue in cheek there Moose) I promise I won’t use my superpowers to crush your employer and end your livelihood.

What I find so interesting is that these criticisms apparently raise the ire of employees of the paper, but they don’t seem to affect any change in the way things are done. As I mentioned to Moose, if the paper continues to lose business or goes belly up, it won’t be because I didn’t subscribe and it won't have happened because I made a complaint.

I think you boys need to take a few minutes in the corner.

You do huh? Well I think that grown-ups shouldn't take criticisms of their employer personally.

If he feels vested in the job he's working, then its perfectly natural to take criticism to heart.

Fair enough. So, we should all stop pointing out the shortfalls of the Oak Ridger, because we might hurt someone's feelings?
I think people need to get a grip and remember what a "public forum" is good for.

"Well I think that grown-ups shouldn't take criticisms of their employer personally." (Daco)

But you weren't criticizing the employer--you were criticizing the staff--the people who write the articles. As someone who works in small business, I can understand if writers at the Oak Ridger are getting pretty mad at all of your (and other people's) snide comments. When you put a lot of yourself into something, you become pretty invested in what you're doing and if you're not paid very much/have to work long hours/feel unappreciated, but you still believe in what you're doing, criticism like the kind that's been on this forum can feel pretty personal.


"if the paper continues to lose business" (Daco)

*Is* the paper losing business?

Oh? What "staff" was I criticizing Rummy? I certainly have criticised the "staff" operating the other forum. That is an individual. I and several others have contacted that staff member and made our concerns very clear. Our concerns were ignored and belittled.
I have pointed out the fact that the Oak Ridger is no longer my hometown newspaper. That isn't a personal jab at anyone, that is a statement of corporate fact.

I can certainly understand taking a job personally. I have owned a couple of very small businesses and I have certaily taken them personally, but I have no control over the management of the Oak Ridger. It the staff of that paper is unhappy with comments that are being publically made about their employer, I would suggest that they talk to their boss. Not get mad at the public. That's a little like a teacher getting upset with the citizens of Oak Ridge when the citizens find fault with the school system.

I agree, tho, that it was silly for ol' moose to PM you with a hissy fit.

In ol' Moose's defense, the conversation became a little heated. He didn't initially PM me with a hissy fit.

Hey, you can dog my employer, and I won't get bothered..