Salon | Letters to the editor

_______________ STARR CHAMBER BY MOLLIE DICKENSON (02/24/98)

Mollie Dickenson's "Starr Chamber" was one of the most exceptionally well-researched pieces I have ever read. It answers all the nagging questions that have lurked in the back of readers' minds over the debacle that is Kenneth Starr's investigation. If your readers ever want an example of Pulitzer-worthy writing, they would do well to re-read that article.
Aside from Dickenson's exemplary story, I have found Salon's political coverage to be unparalleled. Thanks for the respite from the tripe that too often finds its way on the front page of some of the "national" papers. Your commitment to true journalism is as refreshing as it is uncommon.
-- Christian Millman
Who is paying Mollie Dickenson's salary? Could it be the White House? Why don't you just print their raw press releases and be done with it. The quality of the investigative material on Lewis is about equal to this administration's incompetence in everything they attempt. If you printed the raw releases, at least then you wouldn't impugn your reputation for honesty and fairness. Just say they are from the White House. Is Mollie D. a real person or a pseudonym for Sidney Blumenthal?
-- John Vaci

_______________ THE CASE OF THE HIJACKED HAIKU BY SCOTT ROSENBERG (02/24/98)

I must step forward as the thief who truncated your Haiku contest entries into what became an anonymous, free-floating Internet whimsy. Of course, there may be no way of ever knowing if I was alone in my act (probably not), but I feel the need to unburden my guilt, nonetheless.
My motivation to do so was not out of malice toward the creators, or for profit from their work, it was purely an aesthetic, if misguided, compulsion.
Haiku's are so small, I thought, and so elegant, they looked cluttered with all those attributions. I did, however, provide a link to Salon. So, why did Scott Rosenberg's piece bother me?
I suppose for the same reason people lie about themselves in chat rooms. I've wandered into these rooms when I first climbed onto the Web, but found the experience mildly unsettling, like being groped by strangers in a pitch black singles bar.
The Internet's illusion of anonymity makes it easy to believe that our actions have no consequences, we can come and go as we please, bouncing around the world in a matter of seconds, never staying long enough to see what we have wrought.
Thank you for reminding me that we are, as even "Seinfeld's" ethically challenged George Costanza has said, living in a society -- virtual or not.
-- Mark Stefan Kowal
SALON | Feb. 26 1998

R E C E N T L Y+| THE TERROR AT HOME BY JEFF STEIN

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_______________ STARR CHAMBER BY MOLLIE DICKENSON (02/24/98)
	Mollie Dickenson's "Starr Chamber" was one of the most exceptionally well-researched pieces I have ever read. It answers all the nagging questions that have lurked in the back of readers' minds over the debacle that is Kenneth Starr's investigation. If your readers ever want an example of Pulitzer-worthy writing, they would do well to re-read that article. Aside from Dickenson's exemplary story, I have found Salon's political coverage to be unparalleled. Thanks for the respite from the tripe that too often finds its way on the front page of some of the "national" papers. Your commitment to true journalism is as refreshing as it is uncommon. -- Christian Millman Who is paying Mollie Dickenson's salary? Could it be the White House? Why don't you just print their raw press releases and be done with it. The quality of the investigative material on Lewis is about equal to this administration's incompetence in everything they attempt. If you printed the raw releases, at least then you wouldn't impugn your reputation for honesty and fairness. Just say they are from the White House. Is Mollie D. a real person or a pseudonym for Sidney Blumenthal? -- John Vaci
_______________ THE CASE OF THE HIJACKED HAIKU BY SCOTT ROSENBERG (02/24/98)
	I must step forward as the thief who truncated your Haiku contest entries into what became an anonymous, free-floating Internet whimsy. Of course, there may be no way of ever knowing if I was alone in my act (probably not), but I feel the need to unburden my guilt, nonetheless. My motivation to do so was not out of malice toward the creators, or for profit from their work, it was purely an aesthetic, if misguided, compulsion. Haiku's are so small, I thought, and so elegant, they looked cluttered with all those attributions. I did, however, provide a link to Salon. So, why did Scott Rosenberg's piece bother me? I suppose for the same reason people lie about themselves in chat rooms. I've wandered into these rooms when I first climbed onto the Web, but found the experience mildly unsettling, like being groped by strangers in a pitch black singles bar. The Internet's illusion of anonymity makes it easy to believe that our actions have no consequences, we can come and go as we please, bouncing around the world in a matter of seconds, never staying long enough to see what we have wrought. Thank you for reminding me that we are, as even "Seinfeld's" ethically challenged George Costanza has said, living in a society -- virtual or not. -- Mark Stefan Kowal SALON \| Feb. 26 1998