2008 Woodie Awards
Loop article is opinion, not fact
Issue date: 8/30/07 Section: Letters to the Editor
- Page 1 of 1
Perhaps I missed the moment when an innocent freshman insulted Angela Riley, or maybe spilled her soda on Mallory Skinner. Whether I did, I hardly think freshmen deserved the attack The Journal used in their article (or more appropriately an "editorial") "The Loop is Lame: Delmar Blvd. Stagnates in Cultural Drought." I am almost positive that in the three days freshman spent on campus before publication, they did not do anything ignorant to the writers. I do not understand why they were told to "open their minds" in last week's "article."
The article was both full of the writers' opinions passed as fact and riddled with insults toward visitors. Perhaps The Loop is not the place for a poor college student, but it's certainly for someone who enjoys laid-back personalities and spending their paycheck. Maybe Riley and Skinner don't enjoy relaxing, or simply chatting with friends. Whatever the case, this poorly written piece that should have been listed in the editorial section is unnecessary. The "writers" call The Loop and its inhabitants "over-hyped" and seem to believe the people there are ignorant and uneducated, stating they "struggle with the notion that the sidewalk is meant for walking, not standing."
As for this piece disguising opinions as fact, the article states that a St. Louis favorite, Chuck Berry's Blueberry Hill, is "one of the nastiest restaurants around." Unless there is hard evidence of a mouse running rampant in the dining area that Riley and Skinner forgot to tell readers, "nasty" is simply a matter of opinion.
Riley and Skinner need to learn what fact is and what opinion is. Maybe next time they collaborate on an article, they'll offer up other ideas rather than just complaining for one-fourth of a page about how much they can't stand a place and then half-heartedly giving a one-sentence suggestion as to where might be better.
Erin Marie Hogan
Senior
Video Production
The article was both full of the writers' opinions passed as fact and riddled with insults toward visitors. Perhaps The Loop is not the place for a poor college student, but it's certainly for someone who enjoys laid-back personalities and spending their paycheck. Maybe Riley and Skinner don't enjoy relaxing, or simply chatting with friends. Whatever the case, this poorly written piece that should have been listed in the editorial section is unnecessary. The "writers" call The Loop and its inhabitants "over-hyped" and seem to believe the people there are ignorant and uneducated, stating they "struggle with the notion that the sidewalk is meant for walking, not standing."
As for this piece disguising opinions as fact, the article states that a St. Louis favorite, Chuck Berry's Blueberry Hill, is "one of the nastiest restaurants around." Unless there is hard evidence of a mouse running rampant in the dining area that Riley and Skinner forgot to tell readers, "nasty" is simply a matter of opinion.
Riley and Skinner need to learn what fact is and what opinion is. Maybe next time they collaborate on an article, they'll offer up other ideas rather than just complaining for one-fourth of a page about how much they can't stand a place and then half-heartedly giving a one-sentence suggestion as to where might be better.
Erin Marie Hogan
Senior
Video Production
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