Monday, August 07, 2006
Mr. Ellis and I have continued our dialogue over the conceptsof journalism, accuracy and libel.
From:
8/6/2006 7:28 AM
To: Bob Ellis
8/6/2006 10:09 AM
Mr. Ellis,
You still haven't asked who I was there representing (if I was), or why I was attending. I write "observations" as well on my own blogs just as you do. Whether I knew performers or participants or they knew me, (or were perhaps even readers and fans of my work). Several people wished my mother well in her recovery.
As of 9 o clock Wednesday my Mother is in a room in Rapid City Regional hospital, all panicked and worrying about not remembering much of the events of that day. She is not positive in her recovery, still asking "why did this happen to me?" I can always take her selected bible verses of your choosing to explain it to her.
She had surgery at 3:30 PM after a colonoscopy Wednesday morning tore her lower intestine/colon ... complications. tore lining of her colon. couple hours of surgery. couldn't make bend, scope made a wild turn being pulled out. hole in colon. low infection rate. but still week - 10 days in hospital on nothing but ice chips, 3 weeks rest, no lifting, colostomy bag.
She had well wishers there, and the park festival was a nice respite for me, in addition to any other imagined agendas you might attribute to my presence there.
But then, you still haven't asked about that, have you?
You came with a predetermined agenda, and were never intending to present both sides of the story. You have attributed malice and complicated agendas to groups and people. You came determined to find fault. Whether the positions (or factual details, as the mainstream media insists on presenting) are available in common widespread media, this does not reduce the obligations of accuracy in specialized / "fringe" media.
There are
Yes, your story began with comments on national coverage, whether accurate or not, about pride events in larger cities. Irrelevant as they may have been in context to the decade of such public events in Rapid City.
> you're there for. Since it was an event open to the public,
You came with a predetermined agenda and saw no need to provide an accurate account. You came to argue and thus were able to present not a dialog, but a monologue. That's not the full story, nor is it the rest of the story. You made assumptions that people would lie to you if you were not forthright as to your intentions there. Had there been any watch for Keith Rhudy, Bob Ellis, James Beardsley, Ellie Schwiesow, or Elizabeth Kraus, each booth would likely been supplied with a deluxe photo / field guide of agitators in their natural habitat.
"Stories," whether accurate or not, says Frank Luntz, are much more compelling than dry recitations of the facts. You prefer to attend these events as a gossip columnist rather than a journalist.
You still haven't answered:
Why you didn't mention the situation regarding the condoms to The Center.
Why you did not notice or report on the Republican party presence at the festival.
Whether "the" Dakota Voice "has" a Style Guide.
Whether print standards will apply to this editorial, or if one will be made regarding my prior print work.
Whether your print and web readers know the techniques you use.
May God grant you twice what you wish for me (a quotation from an event participant, accurate attribution available upon request),
Thomas
===
From
8/6/2006 12:33 PM
To: contact@dakotavoice.com
> You can say whatever you like about me;
No, I can't. That would likely open me up for libel or slander. You know how that is, right?
> I'm not going to waste my time
> responding to your criticisms point by point. I have to please God and do
> what he tells me to do; beyond that, I don't care who approves and who
> disapproves.
Gee, and it would take 10 whole seconds.
You didn't mention the situation regarding the condoms to The Center.
You did not notice the Republican party presence at the festival.
"The" Dakota Voice "has" a Style Guide.
Will this editorial be used in the print edition?
Should you provide your readers with the reasons you gave me as to why you have no obligation to report objectively?
From:
8/6/2006 7:28 AM
Dear Mr. Heald:===
I added a statement to my op/ed that makes it clear that I do not know the
capacity in which you attended the festival, so that no inaccurate
association of your festival presence with your official duties at the Rapid
City Weekly News is implied. Thank you for pointing that out.
I didn't ask anyone for quotes because I saw no need for them. I merely
came to see what was going on, not get an official statement. Your
positions and that of your associates have been made abundantly clear in the
mainstream media; I saw no need to give it yet another forum. There are
other aspects about the homosexual movement and what many members believe
that somehow never seem to get reported in the mainstream media, and I
wanted to provide "the rest of the story." You can seldom get the full
story if you come into a situation with all the bells and whistles,
announcing who you are and what you're there for. Since it was an event
open to the public, I simply came to make some observations.
Don't feel bad that I didn't seek any official quotes from you or your
associates. I often attend pro-family events in the same fashion. I simply
show up, take some notes on what is said and done, and often leave without
speaking to any event organizers. This can provide the "street level"
perspective on things that official statements don't give. It's simply
another investigative technique.
Praying God's best for you!
Bob
To: Bob Ellis
8/6/2006 10:09 AM
Mr. Ellis,
You still haven't asked who I was there representing (if I was), or why I was attending. I write "observations" as well on my own blogs just as you do. Whether I knew performers or participants or they knew me, (or were perhaps even readers and fans of my work). Several people wished my mother well in her recovery.
As of 9 o clock Wednesday my Mother is in a room in Rapid City Regional hospital, all panicked and worrying about not remembering much of the events of that day. She is not positive in her recovery, still asking "why did this happen to me?" I can always take her selected bible verses of your choosing to explain it to her.
She had surgery at 3:30 PM after a colonoscopy Wednesday morning tore her lower intestine/colon ... complications. tore lining of her colon. couple hours of surgery. couldn't make bend, scope made a wild turn being pulled out. hole in colon. low infection rate. but still week - 10 days in hospital on nothing but ice chips, 3 weeks rest, no lifting, colostomy bag.
She had well wishers there, and the park festival was a nice respite for me, in addition to any other imagined agendas you might attribute to my presence there.
But then, you still haven't asked about that, have you?
I didn't ask anyone for quotes because I saw no need for them. I merely
came to see what was going on, not get an official statement. Your
positions and that of your associates have been made abundantly clear in the
mainstream media; I saw no need to give it yet another forum.
You came with a predetermined agenda, and were never intending to present both sides of the story. You have attributed malice and complicated agendas to groups and people. You came determined to find fault. Whether the positions (or factual details, as the mainstream media insists on presenting) are available in common widespread media, this does not reduce the obligations of accuracy in specialized / "fringe" media.
There are
other aspects about the homosexual movement and what many members believe
that somehow never seem to get reported in the mainstream media, and I
wanted to provide "the rest of the story."
Yes, your story began with comments on national coverage, whether accurate or not, about pride events in larger cities. Irrelevant as they may have been in context to the decade of such public events in Rapid City.
You can seldom get the full story if you come into a situation> with all the bells and whistles, announcing who you are and what
> you're there for. Since it was an event open to the public,
I simply came to make some observations.
You came with a predetermined agenda and saw no need to provide an accurate account. You came to argue and thus were able to present not a dialog, but a monologue. That's not the full story, nor is it the rest of the story. You made assumptions that people would lie to you if you were not forthright as to your intentions there. Had there been any watch for Keith Rhudy, Bob Ellis, James Beardsley, Ellie Schwiesow, or Elizabeth Kraus, each booth would likely been supplied with a deluxe photo / field guide of agitators in their natural habitat.
Don't feel bad that I didn't seek any official quotes from you or your
associates. I often attend pro-family events in the same fashion. I simply
show up, take some notes on what is said and done, and often leave without
speaking to any event organizers. This can provide the "street level"
perspective on things that official statements don't give. It's simply
another investigative technique.
"Stories," whether accurate or not, says Frank Luntz, are much more compelling than dry recitations of the facts. You prefer to attend these events as a gossip columnist rather than a journalist.
You still haven't answered:
Why you didn't mention the situation regarding the condoms to The Center.
Why you did not notice or report on the Republican party presence at the festival.
Whether "the" Dakota Voice "has" a Style Guide.
Whether print standards will apply to this editorial, or if one will be made regarding my prior print work.
Whether your print and web readers know the techniques you use.
May God grant you twice what you wish for me (a quotation from an event participant, accurate attribution available upon request),
Thomas
===
From
8/6/2006 12:33 PM
Dear Mr. Heald:===
You can say whatever you like about me; I'm not going to waste my time
responding to your criticisms point by point. I have to please God and do
what he tells me to do; beyond that, I don't care who approves and who
disapproves.
I'm sorry to hear about your mother; I've just said a prayer for her and
will continue to pray for her recovery. I don't know whether what happened
to her was the result of negligence on the doctor's part, or simply one of
those bad things that sometimes happen to us through no particular fault of
our own in a fallen world that exists under the curse of sin. Knowing
whichever one it might be would bring her little comfort, I'm sure. But I
know that God wants a much better life for her, you and me than we currently
enjoy on this fallen world. And if we'll trust in Him to change our hearts
and renounce doing things our way, He gives us hope for a painless, perfect
life in the new Heaven and new Earth.
That is what I hope for you, your mother, and all of us. God's grace and
blessings to you both.
Bob
To: contact@dakotavoice.com
> You can say whatever you like about me;
No, I can't. That would likely open me up for libel or slander. You know how that is, right?
> I'm not going to waste my time
> responding to your criticisms point by point. I have to please God and do
> what he tells me to do; beyond that, I don't care who approves and who
> disapproves.
Gee, and it would take 10 whole seconds.
You didn't mention the situation regarding the condoms to The Center.
Yes or no.
You did not notice the Republican party presence at the festival.
Yes or no.
"The" Dakota Voice "has" a Style Guide.
Yes or no.
Will this editorial be used in the print edition?
Yes or no.
Should you provide your readers with the reasons you gave me as to why you have no obligation to report objectively?
Yes or no.
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