December 18, 2003

Every Day, in Every Way, Salon Gives Us One More Reason Not to Care

Top of the scroll on Salon Salon this morning greets us with:


American gothic
The revelation that Strom Thurmond fathered a child with his black maid raises a host of thorny questions about race, sex, power -- and media silence

By Rebecca Traister


Nice to see that Salon is getting down hard on those stories from 1925. But really, SO WHAT?

The man is dead. The daughter who has now 'boldly' come forward for the book advance ("I Was Strom's Luv Child") is 72.

Questions with thorns about "race, sex, power" and the dreaded 'media silence' abound across the vast wasteland of what passes for intellectual life in America today. Indeed, you can hardly take a step in America Deserta without stubbing your sore toe on the thorns of race, sex, power and media silence. Why, the "media silence" on these issues is so deafening that you could have a demonstration for democracy in Bagdhad and nobody would hear it.

This story, in journalistic circles, is known as a "thumbsucker." Nothing more and nothing less.

It is well that Salon now hides these little thumbsuckers behind the vast wall of it's subscription only service, otherwise wise we might actually have to read it. Which would compel us to comment "So what?" at every line instead of "So what?" at the title and tease.

The Salon items that do concern us, however, are things like this one from Salon Personals -- Catch of the Day

lobo_solitario

"I am an agnostic pantheist, pragmatic idealist of eco-liberal tilt, ambiverted, spirited, 6ft, fit, playful, good partner."

The "catch" appears to be of the male persuasion, but lacks a signifying erring. Color him ambiguous and take protection. Nevertheless, a perfect example of the demographic that now reads Salon.

Bottom line:
SALON: SO WHAT?

Posted by Vanderleun at December 18, 2003 9:41 AM
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Comments:

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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

Absolutely. So what? Salon used to be the premiere online publication. Even as a conservative I could find enough good writing there to justify the Salon Premium subscription. This year, I didn't renew. It's really become a trash rag that no longer contributes anything relevant to the debate. Some people just don't know when to quit.

Posted by: dave at December 18, 2003 12:35 PM