Chicago writer should get fired for this article

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by Gander

He doesnt make me nearly as sick as some of the criminals involved in this sport and within the slaughter houses. Hes just a writer expressing his opinion. Whether you like it or not, most if not all of this article is true.

Ok...so Barbaro is close to being a sandwich.

[2MinsToPost]

One thing we, as readers, need always remember is that there is a difference between say an AP story and a guy or gals opinion piece. It was the way he came across in this piece, thats all that bugs me. But hey, he has that right. Sounds like he has his facts straight too. I enjoy a piece like that cause it either does one of two things too me usually - I laugh or I get all fired up. Its good for the blood circulation and brain cells either way and gets people talking, the ones in favor, the ones against or the fence line folks. Ultimately, he is responsible mostly for his words and the paper is as well.

[Danzig]

an in your face article for sure--but he got what he intended to get, attention. yeah, some of what is in there is inflammatory, and may be in poor taste....but, in the end, he's right about a lot of it. it's a sickening article, about a subject most of us try to ignore, the fact that these horses we love are putting their health and life on the line for us.

everyone involved in the sport should be putting the horses wellbeing at the top of their list of priorities. problem is, there aren't too many willing to do that.

[PeteMugg]

A shocking article might have been in order, but this seems over the top. Stretching the truth will only make the real facts seem less credible.

[irishtrekker]

Originally Posted by 2MinsToPost

One thing we, as readers, need always remember is that there is a difference between say an AP story and a guy or gals opinion piece. It was the way he came across in this piece, thats all that bugs me. But hey, he has that right. Sounds like he has his facts straight too. I enjoy a piece like that cause it either does one of two things too me usually - I laugh or I get all fired up. Its good for the blood circulation and brain cells either way and gets people talking, the ones in favor, the ones against or the fence line folks. Ultimately, he is responsible mostly for his words and the paper is as well.

Yeah, this is an opinion piece, not a news article -- so he has the right to be as inflammatory as he wants to be. When I used to freelance, I was actually told to make my pieces a little more knee-jerk because I was reasoning with people when I should have just pushed their buttons (very annoying, and thankfully not the way all newpapers run their ships). However, the rules of journalism are pretty different for opinion pieces and for news stories...so if his writing itself was over the top, he's entirely entitled to portray it however he sees it. If he actually lied, that's different.