2008 Woodie Awards
Thank You for All the Hate Mail
It's good to know you hate me, you really hate me!
Jami Furo
Issue date: 4/15/05 Section: Opinions
I cannot let this go on any longer without saying something about it.
I knew it would happen. I just did not expect the magnitude to which it happened. For the past few months, I have been receiving mountains of hate mail and negative responses to the articles that I write about my conservative musings in this newspaper.
I never knew that I would make such an impact. I write this column to put my ideas out there, and while many have responded rather positively to my ideas, many have responded quite negatively. The newspaper gets e-mails every week complaining about whatever I said the week before. There is even an entire group on Face Book made up of people devoted to hating me and my articles. (Yes, I have seen it, for those of you who belong to that group). I though I would take this opportunity to respond.
First, I would like to say how happy you have made me. I am absolutely ecstatic that I have that kind of influence on campus. Professors are talking about me in their classes. I have walked by people that I do not even know, and I can hear them having a conversation about me. It's incredible, and I am thrilled. A person does not write a column that specifically hits on the hardest, most controversial subjects and expect to not be hated. I love what I do, I stand by it, and I am honored that you all get so riled up about what I have to say.
You're thinking, "You're crazy. Why do you want to be hated by so many people?" That's outstanding people. I do not want to be hated, and I would hope that the people who don't agree with my articles would not think less of me as a person because of my political beliefs. That's a little petty, don't you think? I write this column and specifically say the things that no one else wants to say because I want you to think. This is an opinions section, in case you didn't notice, and it is about more than my opinion. When you read this column and it makes you turn red in the face because you're so mad and me, it forces you to think about what you believe. I am not trying to force everyone to believe what I believe. I am not trying to impose my beliefs on others. By writing what I think, however, it does force you to think about your own beliefs. I just can't stand the thought of apathy. Many readers give me wonderful positive responses to my articles. But for those of you who send me hate mail and those of you who think of sending me hate mail because you're just that angry, really don't mean to offend you. I mean to put my beliefs out there to accomplish exactly what has happened: getting under you skin to make you seriously consider your own beliefs.
In case you didn't notice, you're still reading. I notice that there are a few people from which we consistently get negative responses about my articles. If you hate them so much, why are you still reading them? And if you don't agree with me, why are you taking me so seriously that I make you so angry?
Whatever the case may be, I wanted to let you know how flattered I am. I had no idea that I could make such an impact. Thank you, and keep it coming. I certainly will.
I knew it would happen. I just did not expect the magnitude to which it happened. For the past few months, I have been receiving mountains of hate mail and negative responses to the articles that I write about my conservative musings in this newspaper.
I never knew that I would make such an impact. I write this column to put my ideas out there, and while many have responded rather positively to my ideas, many have responded quite negatively. The newspaper gets e-mails every week complaining about whatever I said the week before. There is even an entire group on Face Book made up of people devoted to hating me and my articles. (Yes, I have seen it, for those of you who belong to that group). I though I would take this opportunity to respond.
First, I would like to say how happy you have made me. I am absolutely ecstatic that I have that kind of influence on campus. Professors are talking about me in their classes. I have walked by people that I do not even know, and I can hear them having a conversation about me. It's incredible, and I am thrilled. A person does not write a column that specifically hits on the hardest, most controversial subjects and expect to not be hated. I love what I do, I stand by it, and I am honored that you all get so riled up about what I have to say.
You're thinking, "You're crazy. Why do you want to be hated by so many people?" That's outstanding people. I do not want to be hated, and I would hope that the people who don't agree with my articles would not think less of me as a person because of my political beliefs. That's a little petty, don't you think? I write this column and specifically say the things that no one else wants to say because I want you to think. This is an opinions section, in case you didn't notice, and it is about more than my opinion. When you read this column and it makes you turn red in the face because you're so mad and me, it forces you to think about what you believe. I am not trying to force everyone to believe what I believe. I am not trying to impose my beliefs on others. By writing what I think, however, it does force you to think about your own beliefs. I just can't stand the thought of apathy. Many readers give me wonderful positive responses to my articles. But for those of you who send me hate mail and those of you who think of sending me hate mail because you're just that angry, really don't mean to offend you. I mean to put my beliefs out there to accomplish exactly what has happened: getting under you skin to make you seriously consider your own beliefs.
In case you didn't notice, you're still reading. I notice that there are a few people from which we consistently get negative responses about my articles. If you hate them so much, why are you still reading them? And if you don't agree with me, why are you taking me so seriously that I make you so angry?
Whatever the case may be, I wanted to let you know how flattered I am. I had no idea that I could make such an impact. Thank you, and keep it coming. I certainly will.