Poor Mojo's Two Minute Hate

I loved this Joel Stein piece for the L.A. Times. Since it’s Joel Stein, much of it is obviously purposeful outrageousness, but I think there’s a core of truth: why must everything be interactive today? What great works of art or literature would have been improved by a link to reader/viewer comments at the bottom? “Why not just save a step and have them set up a folding table at a senior citizen center with a sign asking for complaints?” asks Joel.

DON'T E-MAIL me.

That address on the bottom of this column? That is the pathetic, confused death knell of the once-proud newspaper industry, and I want nothing to do with it. Sending an e-mail to that address is about as useful as sending your study group report about Iraq to the president.

Here's what my Internet-fearing editors have failed to understand: I don't want to talk to you; I want to talk at you. A column is not my attempt to engage in a conversation with you. I have more than enough people to converse with. And I don't listen to them either....

Where does this end? Does Philip Roth have to put his e-mail at the end of his book? Does Tom Hanks have to hold up a sign with his e-mail at the end of his movie? Should your hotel housekeeper leave her e-mail on your sheets? Are you starting to see how creepy this is?

A lot of e-mail screeds argue that, in return for the privilege of broadcasting my opinion, I have the responsibility to listen to you. I don't.