Raise your hand if you have blasted a media outlet in, say, the last month.
How about the last week?
Figured.
We in this business have become an easy scapegoat. Don’t like the message, blame the messenger.
Jay Greeson
It’s a play as old as the halfback dive and the pick and roll.
But we in this business are not without fault, whether that fault is a point of perspective or the power fail that is plagiarism.
In my 25-plus months of writing my opinion on A2, I actually have learned some things, which is saying something for an old dog starting my third decade in newspapers and may surprise some of you.
I’ve learned that pointed views on politics generate far more passion than pointed views on college football, something that shocked me from the start.
I’ve learned that the phrases “No offense intended” and “Bless their heart” more times than not will generate offense and a heartfelt blessing out.
I’ve learned that there is no bigger writing risk/reward proposition than trying to “write funny” and make people laugh. When you succeed, it’s very enjoyable. Alas, when you fail, it’s very painful. (Bless my heart.)
The last two were hammered home to me this weekend. In Saturday’s space, a from-the-hip look at things that hopefully generates smiles, I took an easy shot with my barrels half-cocked.
I wrote about the Longhorn Diner getting a 74 on its health inspection and tossed out a couple of zingers. Some of you enjoyed it, and I appreciated the feedback.
But, to be fair to Longhorn owner Charlie Danner, who right now is not looking to hold office in my fan club, the other side of the story needs to be told.
Danner, who emailed Saturday and offered to buy me breakfast to prove my thoughts about his family owned-and-operated joint were wrong, made me aware of some things. And taught me a couple more.
Did you know Danner and his wife Susan immediately protested that report and asked for another evaluation the very next day?
Did you know they rechecked the refrigeration gauges with a certified contractor before the next inspection?
Did you know their steam table malfunctioned roughly an hour before the original inspection, but the Danners fixed it before the re-inspection?
Do you want to know the score 24 hours later? I know I did.
It was a 94, back in the above-90 range that has long been the baseline by which the Danners grade themselves internally.
Mr. Danner’s email was not hostile, nor did he email my superiors calling for my job, seeking a retraction or a chance to meet me in a dark alley.
Nope, he wanted to state his case and buy me breakfast.
And whether he knew it or not, he taught me a couple of new things to add to my list, starting with these two:
None of us want to be judged by our worst days.
And, while nothing I wrote Saturday was wrong, being only half right can sometimes be just as bad.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6343.