12 Opinion

The Cadre + 27 October 1998

Letters to the Editor

“Editing Shmediting” or “A Comment on Your Editing”

OK, I don’t want to offend anyone, let’s get that clear. I realize that you have space restrictions, but I felt that the editing of my article “Big Sugar Rush” was pretty slack.

The first thing: “They then played two more from this album, “Empty Hea ”, and “I’m a Ram.” Those songs aren't from Heated! I’d never say that! You’re making me sound like an imbecile here! I believe that I commented that those are two of my favourite songs live, but I never said they were from Heated. They’re from Hemivision and 500 pounds, respectively. | also said, “...by the way, Buy it!” in regards to the CD, but that was OK to be edited out.

The second thing: In the paragraph commenting on "the guy next to me," you also cutout my comments about “the idiot in the white shirt with his poor girlfriend” who sat on the table in front of us and butted ahead. My comment, “I’ve seen brighter lights on small appliances compared to these lads” was about the guy in the white shirt, and the guy in the glasses and dark hat. You made it seem as if I was insulting the security department, which I wasn’t. Although, they were somewhat encouraging the “glasses and hat” guy to shove forward, giving him high-fives and grabbing his hand. That was tad unprofessional, but I’m OK with that. It just seemed odd to be holding everyone back while encouraging this guy and maybe others. You also edited my comment about the guy with glasses from Pluto starting the body surfing, or so I heard.

Number three: The song is called “Opem Up Baby”, not “Open Up Baby”, like you printed it. A forgivable editing mistake, but incorrect. Also, about the only cover song, “Some Kinda Wonderful”, it as by The Drifters, not the Beatles as the first concert review said. I felt that was something that had to be cleared up, and it was edited out of my article.

And finally, youedited out my commentto Gerry, but that was OK, he doesn’t say much. Andas I wrote it, Gavin said, “I LOVE Pluto”, not “I love Pluto”. He puta lot of emphasis into that and it wasn’t shown in print.

I think that the editing could use a little improvement.

There were other little things edited out, but that was OK. I expected some to be edited. But what was edited kind of made me come across as a bit of a fool in regards to Big Sugar, and one comment could have been constrewed [sic] as an insult to security. I’m not really angry or offended and I don’t want anybody to think I’m a whining jerk, I just wanted things cleared up in regards to my article.

- Stephen McQuaid

Mr. McQuaid,

We appreciate your care to detail and Big Sugar enthusiasm, and are thankful that you prefaced your letter with “no offense intended” disclaimers. We do feel that great care was put into the editing of your story to assure that as little as possible was removed from your text or from your style, while still making it fill the allotted space. As a form of ree we have printed your letter in full -- although it exceeds our 400 word policy.

A general notice to submitters: you can make our jobs a lot easier when it comes to editing by including your telephone number so that we may contact you should there be substantial editing to be performed. This gives you a hand in seeing how the story needs to “ shortened, and we can negotiate about what should be cut and what you feel is integral.

892-1113

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