Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, September 30, 2009
Drugs Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack of the Day: An Illuminating Email Exchange
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Dear Dan,It's always a pleasure to be named Hack of the Day by a publication I've never heard of. Many thanks for the honor. I realize you are just trying to entertain readers, so I won't quibble with the fantastic number of inaccuracies in your editorial. But it was especially dishonest of you to suggest that the story was about the war on drugs, no? The piece was about law enforcement's inability to find much more than big pot plantations and a few growers and harvesters—how they couldn't get to the money guys back in Mexico.
Warmly,
Bryan Denson
Reporter, The Oregonian
Yeah, yeah—it's always a "law enforcement" piece when someone complains about a biased, unbalanced report about pot. But the particular kind of law enforcement you were reporting on is a part—
a huge part—of the War On Drugs. Hello? Helicopters? Your report takes us to the front line of the War On Drugs.And "this is what the government/law enforcement is doing" pieces typically get around to this question: "is what the government is doing working? is it effective?" Not yours. You're not alone, though: there are lots of dumb fucking drug war stenographers at daily papers all over the country who neglect/refuse to ask that question. You're all part of the problem and seemingly proud of it. And, hey, I'd never heard of the Oregonian before i moved to the Pacific Northwest. So we're even.
Anxious to hear about the other "inaccuracies."
Warmly,
Dan Savage
You should stick to sex advice.
Those inaccuracies, Bryan?
Our exchange goes on—and on and on and on—after the jump.
Dan, I'm busy here and I don't have time to run them all down and open a dialog over your opinions about marijuana prohibition. But your whole editorial was predicated on a false representation of the story, and you know it.
Yeah, yeah: you're a busy guy. But not too busy to make a bullshit accusation—"fantastic number of inaccuracies"—before dashing off to hide behind your crushing workload.My blog post did not falsely represent your piece. Nice try. There are two sides to a drug war story and you told one, and were either too lazy or too biased to get a single quote from anyone qualified to question the massive expenditure of government resources those raids represent. Nor did you back up and ask the really important question: Why are people growing pot in secret on public lands anyway? For the same reason they grow pot in suburban basements: because it's illegal to cultivate marijuana safely and responsibly.
A law enforcement story as long as the one you filed that doesn't stop to ask, "Is the law effective? Is it just?", amounts to a press release, Bryan, not a piece of journalism, and you know it. Hence your little fit, your false accusations of inaccuracies, your stupid attempt at a slight (you've never heard of my paper but you know what I do for a living?).
xo
Dan
Didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Danno. A reader alerting me to your post gave me your bio.
Hey—you found the time to clear that how-you-know-me-thing up, thanks! Now about those inaccuracies? There's a fantastic number of 'em? Care to itemize, Bryano?
Bryan doesn't want to tell me what was inaccurate about my Slog post. Maybe he'll tell you.
1
Didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Danno. A reader alerting me to your post gave me your bio.
What an interesting way to call you an overly sensitive homo.
Again, I say: the Boregonian has about as much journalistic integrity as the Tribune. Which isn't a whole lot.
4
i thought "on and on and on" would lead to an exchange of "don't call me liz" magnitude. disappointed.
6
Oh No!
Not the dreaded but ever popular-
"post the email address of someone Slog wants to harass"
Very mature.
Not the dreaded but ever popular-
"post the email address of someone Slog wants to harass"
Very mature.
7
With the possible exception of things like box scores, race results, and stock market tabulations, there is no such thing as Objective Journalism. The phrase itself is a pompous contradiction in terms. - Hunter S. Thompson
Does this mean Dan will start writing "balanced" articles on gay marriage? I sure as hell hope not.
The only differences between a local ragpaper like The Oregonian and a local ragpaper like the Stranger is the former has some minimal level of fact checkers and spelling and grammar editors. The latter allows you to print the word "fuck."
Does this mean Dan will start writing "balanced" articles on gay marriage? I sure as hell hope not.
The only differences between a local ragpaper like The Oregonian and a local ragpaper like the Stranger is the former has some minimal level of fact checkers and spelling and grammar editors. The latter allows you to print the word "fuck."
8
Rehashing press releases. It's about all the news you see these days. And this isn't a symptom of a newspapers' decline, it's a cause.
Though I'm sure they would have no problem giving "balance" in a story about gay marriage. What should be framed as a legal/civil rights issue always falls into whether or not gays make people certain religious people feel icky, or somehow upset their deity. it blows my mind how and why newspapers give some people a soapbox in the name of balance for one story and can be completely one-sided on another.
Though I'm sure they would have no problem giving "balance" in a story about gay marriage. What should be framed as a legal/civil rights issue always falls into whether or not gays make people certain religious people feel icky, or somehow upset their deity. it blows my mind how and why newspapers give some people a soapbox in the name of balance for one story and can be completely one-sided on another.
10
@7 If journalists were even the least bit competent, they WOULD NOT NEED FACT CHECKERS, nor copy editors. It really isn't that hard to do research to get your facts straight anymore. And if a "journalist" was anything more than that kid in school who thought they were a great writer, yet still got C's in English, they could actually write decent prose that followed the common rules of grammar. Alas, we get the schmucks that couldn't make it as real writers, and aren't detail oriented, to tell us about the events of the world. So, for each article published, several people have to be involved to make it even presentable. Sounds like a wasteful business model. No wonder the big papers went down: their "stars" were actually dead weight.
12
When you piss people off this much, it usually means you're on to something. You really hit this 'journalist's' nerve (cuz he's obviously a hack, knows it, and is defensive about it)
that also goes for everyone in Dan's "comments" section as well. There are so many Dan-haters in here (even more on Dan's other posts), who take the time to log-in and post a comment, instead of just reading something, disagreeing, and moving on with their lives.
So I guess this means that the more haters there are, in the world writing to Dan and on these comments threads, the more right Dan actually is. which he usually is......and by usually, I mean all the time.
that also goes for everyone in Dan's "comments" section as well. There are so many Dan-haters in here (even more on Dan's other posts), who take the time to log-in and post a comment, instead of just reading something, disagreeing, and moving on with their lives.
So I guess this means that the more haters there are, in the world writing to Dan and on these comments threads, the more right Dan actually is. which he usually is......and by usually, I mean all the time.
15
The problem with the Oregonian article has nothing to do with checking facts and spelling.
The problem is that the War on Drugs is a huge waste and the excuse that the reporter gives for continuing it is lame. Illegal Mexican cartels would not be growing pot in Oregon if they had to compete against legal Oregonian growers. There is no excuse for this nonsense except that it keeps law enforcement groups well-funded through taxes and seized property.
The problem is that the War on Drugs is a huge waste and the excuse that the reporter gives for continuing it is lame. Illegal Mexican cartels would not be growing pot in Oregon if they had to compete against legal Oregonian growers. There is no excuse for this nonsense except that it keeps law enforcement groups well-funded through taxes and seized property.
16
follow-up:
I also love how people don't expect Dan to know things outside of sex advice. I am continually impressed with Dan's Rachel Maddow-like astuteness with the political world.
I also love how people don't expect Dan to know things outside of sex advice. I am continually impressed with Dan's Rachel Maddow-like astuteness with the political world.
18
Do you have any idea how childish you sound?
How do expect anyone to take you seriously when you form "arguments" like this? Did too...Did not...Did too...
He has no obligation to write anything.
How do expect anyone to take you seriously when you form "arguments" like this? Did too...Did not...Did too...
He has no obligation to write anything.
19
There are two sides (ahem) to gay sex as well; there are millions of people who think it's morally wrong (no, I'm not among them). For the life of me I can't see them quoted in any of Dan's posts.
20
You should have given him a sheet cake with a hacksaw.
Mind you, with one-sided biased reporting like that, he probably wouldn't know how to use the hacksaw, but it's the thought that counts.
Mind you, with one-sided biased reporting like that, he probably wouldn't know how to use the hacksaw, but it's the thought that counts.
22
Here's to fine local Oregon non-violent growers! Once it is legalized, it'll put Oregon's Pinot Noir reputation to shame. 14 minutes to 4:20 but alas, a bit longer for me to salute you properly Danno. Keep up the good fight.
26
By this logic, George W. Bush has never made a mistake. What other sage advice did your mother give you? That when kids tease you it's actually because they're jealous?
So I guess this means that the more haters there are, in the world writing to Dan and on these comments threads, the more right Dan actually is
By this logic, George W. Bush has never made a mistake. What other sage advice did your mother give you? That when kids tease you it's actually because they're jealous?
27
You're calls of "tantrum" are missing the point. Bryan didn't do the first two things you learn in Journalism 101: Cite your sources, and outline different aspects of the story. Now he's too busy to "run them all down"? That's the first thing you do when researching a "real" news article.
That's all Dan is trying to say.
And Bryan contacted Dan first (apparently) so the High-School tantrums started south of SEA.
That's all Dan is trying to say.
And Bryan contacted Dan first (apparently) so the High-School tantrums started south of SEA.
29
It's perfectly fair to call out a reporter for letting his unexamined biases inform the story he's reporting. We need to examine the "war on drugs" from a critical angle, and isn't that what we rely on the fourth estate to do with public affairs? And has it?
One reporter got called out today for letting his unexamined prejudices dictate his story. Hopefully he will examine them before he writes the next story that earns him the Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack award.
20 emails from barely-literate sloggers probably isn't going to convince him to be thoughtful, though.
One reporter got called out today for letting his unexamined prejudices dictate his story. Hopefully he will examine them before he writes the next story that earns him the Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack award.
20 emails from barely-literate sloggers probably isn't going to convince him to be thoughtful, though.
31
@29: "barely-literate sloggers"
We may be "barely literate sloggers," but we are nothing if not pedantic.
We may be "barely literate sloggers," but we are nothing if not pedantic.
32
I just read kmac, disagreed (laughed, actually), added him/her to my ignore list, and moved on with my life.
*and* I took the time to post a comment!
*and* I took the time to post a comment!
33
Anyone who works for a Portland-based newspaper and has never heard of the Stranger has his head up his ass. But I guess you could say that about most of the Oregonian's staff. They operate within a reality distortion field. Seriously, every time I've read an Oregonian story about an event that I had first-hand knowledge of, it makes me wonder what they were smoking. Everyone I personally know who has been quoted in an article in the Oregonian has been misquoted. Their arts/culture stories are more out-of-touch than your mom. They're a shit newspaper. They're just the house organ for Oregon's petty plutocracy.
35
I find it hard to believe that Bryan never heard of "The Stranger" and/or Dan Savage. He works for a newspaper for Christ sake, this is supposed to be his "Medium". He obviously didn't even bother to take the time to be well informed when he tried and failed to launch a counter-attack. Hack indeed !
just sayin
just sayin
37
Keep in mind that it was Denson who decided to contact Savage and was less than mature about it. Anyone who thinks Dan won't willingly and openly join him in the sandbox isn't familiar with him.
Anytime something like this comes up, I remember the time he was on This American Life and talked about the very gay thing he did at The Stranger when they were debating whether to allow gay-seeking-gay classifieds to include "seeking straight-acting" as a criterion: Dan threw a hissy fit to get his way. (His word, BTW.) He's not ashamed of this behavior, so it's worthless for any of you to criticize him for it.
Anytime something like this comes up, I remember the time he was on This American Life and talked about the very gay thing he did at The Stranger when they were debating whether to allow gay-seeking-gay classifieds to include "seeking straight-acting" as a criterion: Dan threw a hissy fit to get his way. (His word, BTW.) He's not ashamed of this behavior, so it's worthless for any of you to criticize him for it.
38
I bet if the two of you met you could hash this out in the bedroom. Ooops! Did I say hash? I meant thrash.
41
you girls are being unfair to Dan.
He does lot's of cutting edge all-sides-of-the-story journalism, especially about issues relevant to His People:
Unflinching unbiased medically accurate exposes on the health effects of anal sex, for example; including fisting...
Why the 1.43% of the population that is Homosexual Men account for 59% of all new AIDS cases in America...
Suicide among adolescents pressured to 'out' themselves...
all of these issues have been exhaustively examined in Slog.......
He does lot's of cutting edge all-sides-of-the-story journalism, especially about issues relevant to His People:
Unflinching unbiased medically accurate exposes on the health effects of anal sex, for example; including fisting...
Why the 1.43% of the population that is Homosexual Men account for 59% of all new AIDS cases in America...
Suicide among adolescents pressured to 'out' themselves...
all of these issues have been exhaustively examined in Slog.......
42
You should really just let him know that you're calling him a moron on behalf of all of us, who are neither famous nor significant enough to get under the skin of pluperfect assholes like him.
43
Dan's critique of the article was premised on the straw man version of it he set up first- Dan (and Dom) can't comprehend that there are any aspects to reporting about pot other than how neat-o it would be to legalize it.
44
Why does a dialouge on the internet always make those who can't check facts to save their lives (or read anything other than headlines - or for that matter talk to the other side and get the full sotry rather than just going with the "talking points") and have the gall to call themselves actual reporters so damn TOUCHY?
/snark
/snark
45
Regardless of the facts in this particular exchange you have to hand it to 2009. 20 years ago this would have played out over weeks in letters to the editor that nobody read because they rely on too much prior understanding of the initial, and subsequent, letters. Now it's all done in minutes, and it allows the participants to be snarky and childish in a way that's fun and doesn't take up too much of anyone's time.
Which brings me to my actual point. The initial article could have been written 20 years ago. Dan does have a point about the progression of civilization, and societies tired (and failing) response to marijuana.
Which brings me to my actual point. The initial article could have been written 20 years ago. Dan does have a point about the progression of civilization, and societies tired (and failing) response to marijuana.
46
Speaking of hacks, good job reporting on McGinn's missed elections. How deep in his ass is your tongue?
47
#19.
Dan quotes homophobes all the time. He posts their articles, their blogs, their videos. He spends more SLOG time responding to the "other side," than any other topic. Even politics.
In fact, most of his political posts are in regards to civil rights topics like DADT or DOMA or hate crime.
I am really surprised to read this. Are you new to SLOG? I'm not trying to be condescending here. I'm just surprised to see this, considering how often Dan is accused of making The Stranger "too gay."
There are two sides (ahem) to gay sex as well; there are millions of people who think it's morally wrong (no, I'm not among them). For the life of me I can't see them quoted in any of Dan's posts.
Dan quotes homophobes all the time. He posts their articles, their blogs, their videos. He spends more SLOG time responding to the "other side," than any other topic. Even politics.
In fact, most of his political posts are in regards to civil rights topics like DADT or DOMA or hate crime.
I am really surprised to read this. Are you new to SLOG? I'm not trying to be condescending here. I'm just surprised to see this, considering how often Dan is accused of making The Stranger "too gay."
48
What I liked was how Bryon just kind of played with Savage like Danny was an annoying blog commenter or something. And Savage just kept escalating. Too funny.
49
I work for a law firm and know all the main law firms around the Northwest and the big ones across the country. How do you work for a newspaper in Oregon and not know about a hugely popular alternative newspaper in the Northwest with a national influence?
50
I think the point Dan raised were perfectly valid. The reporter did only cover the story from one point of view. And yet, every time there is a gay-rights story in the press the journalists have to dig up some christian evangelist to give "their side of the issue".
I'm sure the Oregon reporter has absolutely no inkling that he was not practicing journalism. Just like the people who hate Obama are unaware that they are racists.
I'm sure the Oregon reporter has absolutely no inkling that he was not practicing journalism. Just like the people who hate Obama are unaware that they are racists.
51
#49
The Stranger has a national influence?
Are you high?
Since when do people in Bumfuck, Arkansas give a shit about the Pike/Pine corridor?
You make work in a law firm, but I suspect the truth is you serve coffee to lawyers.
The Stranger has a national influence?
Are you high?
Since when do people in Bumfuck, Arkansas give a shit about the Pike/Pine corridor?
You make work in a law firm, but I suspect the truth is you serve coffee to lawyers.
52
This is another spat that is the current trend in media. Picking on other media. "Our ( (TV channel, newspaper, radio talk show host) is more honest than yours. Phhht!" In real journalism, the kind I was taught in high school of all places, you don't dignify such snippiness with a response, you ignore it and move on.
54
Ahh "objective journalism". When will people learn that talking points and specific events don't equal comprehensive reporting on a subject? Sure it's easier to just give readers a detailed (29 paragraph) account of an event that happened but that doesn't inform the reader about what it means in the larger context of the event.
56
#51
The Stranger, or perhaps just Dan via Savage Love, has a national, or perhaps international influence.
I found his column as early as the mid 1990s in free weeklies in southern California, and it's been influential to me to be able to read someone coherently expressing politics I agree with (and clearly having fun doing it), especially when my environment lacked that kind of discourse.
The Stranger, or perhaps just Dan via Savage Love, has a national, or perhaps international influence.
I found his column as early as the mid 1990s in free weeklies in southern California, and it's been influential to me to be able to read someone coherently expressing politics I agree with (and clearly having fun doing it), especially when my environment lacked that kind of discourse.
57
Fuck this guy. My old man worked for "The Oregonian" more than 40 years ago - and he's heard of "The Stranger".
58
I love it. He started it all wrong anyways with the "... publication I've never heard of" comment. No point in being a dick if you're really out to make a point about your article. Of course, if you're just out to be a dick... then I guess it's probably the right course of action.
Way to call him out.
Way to call him out.
59
First of, @36 - Ha ha ha...can you even see past the Capitol Hill horizon, bud? The O is the largest publication in the Pacific Northwest by circulation - larger than either Seattle daily (when there were two) and more than FOUR TIMES larger than The Stranger, according to Wikipedia. You, like many Stranger staffers, should wake up and realize there's a world outside Pike/Pine.
Second: Dan Savage is a hypocritical asshole. Truly.
If only he would ever answer why he never writes about the vast numbers of youth pastors around the country doing great things, and instead focuses on the small percentage of youth pastors who are up to no good.
But he doesn't have to respond to criticism. He's Dan Savage, famous sex columnist for The Stranger, the planet's totally hugest newspaper!
Second: Dan Savage is a hypocritical asshole. Truly.
If only he would ever answer why he never writes about the vast numbers of youth pastors around the country doing great things, and instead focuses on the small percentage of youth pastors who are up to no good.
But he doesn't have to respond to criticism. He's Dan Savage, famous sex columnist for The Stranger, the planet's totally hugest newspaper!
60
First of, @36 - Ha ha ha...can you even see past the Capitol Hill horizon, bud? The O is the largest publication in the Pacific Northwest by circulation - larger than either Seattle daily (when there were two) and more than FOUR TIMES larger than The Stranger, according to Wikipedia. You, like many Stranger staffers, should wake up and realize there's a world outside Pike/Pine.
Second: Dan Savage is a hypocritical asshole. Truly.
If only he would ever answer why he never writes about the vast numbers of youth pastors around the country doing great things, and instead focuses on the small percentage of youth pastors who are up to no good.
But he doesn't have to respond to criticism. He's Dan Savage, famous sex columnist for The Stranger, the planet's totally hugest newspaper!
Second: Dan Savage is a hypocritical asshole. Truly.
If only he would ever answer why he never writes about the vast numbers of youth pastors around the country doing great things, and instead focuses on the small percentage of youth pastors who are up to no good.
But he doesn't have to respond to criticism. He's Dan Savage, famous sex columnist for The Stranger, the planet's totally hugest newspaper!
63
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/12…
"Bryan Denson is a reporter from the Oregonian with a long history of feigning to care about environmentalism and activism in order to get to a story. Once he gains your trust he will misquote and slander you and suggest that you are a dangerous person in his articles. "
"Bryan Denson is a reporter from the Oregonian with a long history of feigning to care about environmentalism and activism in order to get to a story. Once he gains your trust he will misquote and slander you and suggest that you are a dangerous person in his articles. "
64
I never ever want to piss you off, Dan. That being said, I just read this and it cracked me up. You're frakking brilliant. Thanks for the laugh.
65
Why don't you two just get it over with and fuck already? I could cut that gay tension with a knife.
67
@46: It wouldn't be fair to Mallahan to report that he's missed more than 3x the number of elections that McGinn has.
Actually, no, that would be great.
MALLAHAN: MISSED THREE TIMES AS MANY ELECTIONS AS MCGINN
Even better:
MALLAHAN: MISSED MORE ELECTIONS THAN SUSAN HUTCHISON.
Best:
MALLAHAN: HATES VOTING, PUPPIES
Actually, no, that would be great.
MALLAHAN: MISSED THREE TIMES AS MANY ELECTIONS AS MCGINN
Even better:
MALLAHAN: MISSED MORE ELECTIONS THAN SUSAN HUTCHISON.
Best:
MALLAHAN: HATES VOTING, PUPPIES
68
"The Stranger has a national influence? "
Atlanta reader, who reads the Slog daily and started because of Dan. I would love to see the stats for readership around the country.
Bryan Denson just wrote another article that is a big sloppy wet kiss to the law enforcement and military industrial complex. If he had written about liberal protesters somewhere, he would have had "the other sides" viewpoint, but he could not hear because it is the side of conservatives.
BTW, the whole two sides reporting is a load of shit. Journalists are supposed to find and report the truth, not what the two sides said. And the truth is that decades of the war on drugs has not only been a huge failure, but also a huge waste of billions of dollars, which the law enforcement and military industrial complex has gotten to pocket- private industry pocketing the taxpayers money!
Atlanta reader, who reads the Slog daily and started because of Dan. I would love to see the stats for readership around the country.
Bryan Denson just wrote another article that is a big sloppy wet kiss to the law enforcement and military industrial complex. If he had written about liberal protesters somewhere, he would have had "the other sides" viewpoint, but he could not hear because it is the side of conservatives.
BTW, the whole two sides reporting is a load of shit. Journalists are supposed to find and report the truth, not what the two sides said. And the truth is that decades of the war on drugs has not only been a huge failure, but also a huge waste of billions of dollars, which the law enforcement and military industrial complex has gotten to pocket- private industry pocketing the taxpayers money!
69
@ gttim: I'm in Maryland, a long time reader who sometimes even reads other parts of the stranger after perusing the slog - there are lot of people like you and I around the country and I even know some Europeans who found it while living here and still read it now that they've moved back. Dan actually does have national and international influence - as weird as that sounds for a sex columnist, rights activist and Political blogger.
70
68
" I would love to see the stats for readership around the country."
They're down 50% the past year:(
" I would love to see the stats for readership around the country."
They're down 50% the past year:(
71
68
69
I imagine the Seattle strip clubs, tattoo parlors and dildo shops that advertise slog are thrilled to know their ad dollars go to entertain losers in Atlanta and Maryland.
69
I imagine the Seattle strip clubs, tattoo parlors and dildo shops that advertise slog are thrilled to know their ad dollars go to entertain losers in Atlanta and Maryland.
72
The Stranger does have huge influence-
Dan managed to get Gay Marriage passed by the voters in California, not just once but TWICE!
And here in at home in Washington Gay Marriage has been legal for YEARS!
Of course, don't forget that Dan managed to get Obama elected over Hillary.
That has been the most PRODUCTIVE of Dan's many many triumphs...
Dan managed to get Gay Marriage passed by the voters in California, not just once but TWICE!
And here in at home in Washington Gay Marriage has been legal for YEARS!
Of course, don't forget that Dan managed to get Obama elected over Hillary.
That has been the most PRODUCTIVE of Dan's many many triumphs...
73
By his own admission, Cryan, I mean Bryan is quote "a Reporter", unquote. This is just my report man, I don't know nothing about nothing else, I just report.
This guy should be shot and pissed on by his editor for making such a ludicrous statement in a public forum that he's never heard of "The Stranger" or Dan. The last time I checked a map, Washington and Oregon are about as close as Arkansas cousins. Seattle isn't BF Kansas and The Stranger isn't the PoDunk Cryer.
Hack hack ack ack ack acccckkkkk
This guy should be shot and pissed on by his editor for making such a ludicrous statement in a public forum that he's never heard of "The Stranger" or Dan. The last time I checked a map, Washington and Oregon are about as close as Arkansas cousins. Seattle isn't BF Kansas and The Stranger isn't the PoDunk Cryer.
Hack hack ack ack ack acccckkkkk
74
e-mail sent:
More...
From: me
To: Bryan Denson - The Oregonian - Reporter
Cc: Dan Savage - The Stranger - Editorial Director,
Susan Gage - The Oregonian - Breaking News and Online Editor,
Peter Bhatia - The Oregonian - Executive Editor,
Sandy Rowe - The Oregonian - Editor
Subject: "Oregon battles Mexican Drug Gangs" and alleged inaccuracies in Dan Savage's analysis thereof
Mr. Denson:
I read your article, "Oregon battles Mexican drug gangs' marijuana fields" [1] along with a response [2] blogged by Dan Savage, editorial director of my local alt-weekly, _The Stranger_, and the discussion between the two of you that later ensued [3].
In the first e-mail from you that Mr. Savage quoted, you wrote, "I won't quibble with the fantastic number of inaccuracies in your editorial." I'm curious what inaccuracies you found. I re-read his blog post and identified the following assertions of fact made by him therein:
1. You had a lengthy article in the Tuesday, September 29, 2009, issue of _The Oregonian_ about heroic efforts to eradicate illegal Mexican marijuana plantations on public lands.
2. Only "authorities" are quoted in your article.
3. In your article, you did not describe having sought comment from anyone representing the other side of the issue at hand.
4. Your article was 1200 words long, consisting of 28 paragraphs.
5. Nowhere in your article does anyone question the effectiveness of the United States' so-called "war on drugs".
6. At the end of your article, you expressed some doubt about the wisdom of law enforcement officers' prioritization of marijuana eradication by writing, "It might seem wasteful to spend scarce public resources seizing pot plants, especially in a state that tolerates the drug."
7. The United States' so-called "war on drugs" has been happening for approximately 40 years.
8. Marijuana is now less expensive than it ever was in the past.
9. Marijuana is now more potent than it ever was in the past.
10. Marijuana is now more widely-available than it ever was in the past.
11. In your article, you went out of your way to avoid considering that the so-called "war on drugs" has been happening for approximately 40 years and pot is less expensive, stronger, and more widely available than ever.
With a few possible exceptions (#8: Does this take inflation into account? #9: Is it more potent on average, or have we simply cultivated some strains that are more potent? #11: This is speculation, but seems likely to be accurate.) I find all these statements made by Mr. Savage to be accurate.
Could you please list a few of the "fantastic number of inaccuracies" you believe you found in Mr. Savage's blog post?
Thank you for your time.
References:
[1]: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf…
[2]: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
[3]: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
76
to all those people who think that the Oregonian guy was the first to "be a dick:"
did you at least notice that the TITLE to Dan's post was "Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack of the Day?" (yeah, that's the title of the series, but still incredibly dickish)
Talk about being a dick.
And to those of you who point out that the reporter is a dick for -for shame!- CONTACTING Dan DIRECTLY to be -OH NO's!!- insulting?
At least he had the guts to do it to his face, privately, and spare us the public fit (did he know that Dan was going to post his replies to his blog? That's almost like the internet version of calling up all his buddies...)
did you at least notice that the TITLE to Dan's post was "Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack of the Day?" (yeah, that's the title of the series, but still incredibly dickish)
Talk about being a dick.
And to those of you who point out that the reporter is a dick for -for shame!- CONTACTING Dan DIRECTLY to be -OH NO's!!- insulting?
At least he had the guts to do it to his face, privately, and spare us the public fit (did he know that Dan was going to post his replies to his blog? That's almost like the internet version of calling up all his buddies...)
77
Apparently the staff of The Oregonian have a lot of time on their hands, because this comment thread smells a lot like a small group of stupid fucking credulous indignant hacks posting a lot of stupid juvenile insults about someone who called them out.
79
Yeah I'm a little tired of the Drug War Battles and Pot seizures angles. Thanks for calling him on that Dan, it needs to be done more often.
80
I live in Canada and I know many people who read Dan's column faithfully. I've been reading it for several years myself and I also enjoy reading the blogs. So ya, let's make that an international influence. You rock Dan.
81
Maybe the Oregonian's story was one sided. But Dan Savage's responses to this editor were so childish and immature, he completely turned me off what legitimacy his argument had. I feel so sorry for his employees.
82
Haha.. This is hilarious. I mean, I don't deny (nor would Dan [I think]) that his style of argumentation is less than cordial- but guess what? That's why we love him! That's the point. Because Dan is a columnist- and he is a successful columnist- his bitchiness, his opinions, biases, humour, originality, etc. are REFRESHING. Dan's job, Dan gets paid to- interest/entertain/charm/infuriate us (his readers) because that's what we want! If it wasn't- he wouldn't be so successful. Look at all you freaks who ROUTINELY post just to argue with his fans. Do you have nothing better to do with your lives? It's absurd! Bottom line-the man gets paid to have a personality and an opinion as much as he does for his expertise on sex and relationships. THIS IS A FUCKING BLOG. He can air his views about journalists, politics, whatever all he wants and he doesn't have to be a "professional" about it.
The truly funny thing- is how "bry-bry" responded. Because BRY BRY is "a real journalist" and therefore a "professional" who knows things about the world and doesn't have to listen to some "overly sensitive homo" tarnish his award-winning reputation. OH COME THE FUCK ON. How much of the "Oregonian" staff has retaliated in the comments today? You guys are like teenage mean girls on livejournal. At least Dan owns it. And for the record- I first heard of Dan Savage from a friend from Alabama when we were in school together in Washington, DC. Currently, I work for the State Dept. in Moscow and I have met plenty of folks who know and love the Savage all over the world. So yes- I would say he does have an international influence. And despite being a "west-coaster" myself originally, I have never heard of "The Oregonian" (way to lead, Bry-o). In any case- this is not about the war on drugs, or about journalistic integrity... it's about one guy being a douchebag and one guy being a funny, self-aware, and well-loved douchebag. The latter has my vote anyday.
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The truly funny thing- is how "bry-bry" responded. Because BRY BRY is "a real journalist" and therefore a "professional" who knows things about the world and doesn't have to listen to some "overly sensitive homo" tarnish his award-winning reputation. OH COME THE FUCK ON. How much of the "Oregonian" staff has retaliated in the comments today? You guys are like teenage mean girls on livejournal. At least Dan owns it. And for the record- I first heard of Dan Savage from a friend from Alabama when we were in school together in Washington, DC. Currently, I work for the State Dept. in Moscow and I have met plenty of folks who know and love the Savage all over the world. So yes- I would say he does have an international influence. And despite being a "west-coaster" myself originally, I have never heard of "The Oregonian" (way to lead, Bry-o). In any case- this is not about the war on drugs, or about journalistic integrity... it's about one guy being a douchebag and one guy being a funny, self-aware, and well-loved douchebag. The latter has my vote anyday.
83
Instead of emailing the lazy "journalist", which will change nothing, why don't we email his boss to complain about the lack of journalistic integrity in his writing?
84
I don't even know what this argument is about, and this Dan fellow sounds like a dick, but isn't it kind of not cool to post a private e-mail transaction on a blog?
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