As the opinion editor of The Daily, I have been called an idiot and incompetent more times this semester than ever before in my life.
I have had angry calls. I have read angry e-mails. I have sat by people in class who have read the content on page four and rolled their eyes or said a few four-letter words. Or both.
And, despite what I may say at the end of certain days, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My goal when I took this position was to make this page a forum for intelligent discussion by running a wide-ranging variety of opinions on a variety of topics.
I’m encouraged when I get letters to the editor and when I see that columns and editorials posted on www.OUDaily.com have 14 comments listed underneath them.
Readers will not agree with the viewpoints in every column on this page. I do not even agree with the views presented in every column.
The point of the opinion page is to present valid opinions — not unbiased articles.
Those are listed in the rest of the newspaper. Columns and articles must not be confused.
Every column and editorial on this page is biased. That is the point.
When you disagree or even agree with a column or an Our View, please, please, please write a letter to the editor or comment online.
Upon hiring my columnists and cartoonists, I told them they would be open targets for criticism. I told myself I’d have to develop a thick skin more than anyone else.
Our whole staff is prepared for you to respond, positively and negatively, to what we produce.
Even on days when I leave work thinking the world hates me, I’m glad people are reading and responding. I’m glad what they read got them thinking even a little bit.
I’m glad I live in a country that allows a free press. I’m glad we have the right to write things that may not be popular but that represent what we believe.
I’m glad you have the right to tell us we’re wrong. And I’m glad you have the right to call me an idiot.
That said, please respond to what we print.
Letters to the editor can be brought in person to our newsroom in 160 Copeland Hall. They must be signed. They also can be e-mailed to dailyopinion@ou.edu. E-mailed letters must have a phone number listed for the writer.
All letters must contain the writer’s year and major.
I can’t wait to hear from you.
Hailey Branson is a journalism junior and the opinion editor of The Daily.
The Oklahoma Daily is pleased to provide you the opportunity to share your thoughts about this article. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or straying from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of OUDaily.com. Thanks for taking the time to offer your thoughts.
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JWade 3 years, 6 months ago
I love you, Idiot.
Boom Sucka.