The Boston Globe
The Globe recently printed a column by Jeff Jacoby in which he stated that there was no problem with an over populated world since children are our best resource and will be our best problem solvers.
Try telling that to the starving babies of Sudan.
I will not waste time pointing out in detail the errors of Jacoby’s ways.
I’m an old campaigner against Jacoby. He gets the column inches; I write letters to the Globe pointing out his logical idiocies. It’s an unfair struggle, since he gets first word, some 1000 of them, actually, and I get, if I’m lucky, about 100 in which to refute his claims. You may recall that Jacoby was one of the last to support the Global Warming doubters, and he’s also argued that more guns make us safer. Yes, I have the page cuttings. I use them in my classes when we talk about logic - and what is not logic. My students are appalled at his writing.
Well, now he claims we have no population problem.
In response today’s Globe had several thoughtful, intelligent letters from people who really do know what is what, shredding Jacoby’s words neatly. Good.
But… what sort of newspaper continues to print the words of someone as selective in his facts, as dubious in his sources, and as uneven in his logic as Jacoby? Where is the sense of accurate reporting and fact checking?
I’m sure the Globe likes Jacoby because he generates letters of complaint. They print these as proof that the Globe is a paper that is read by educated citizens.
This is a bit like fire-bombing your own home so you can get advice from architects on how to remodel it.
Fundamentally the Globe’s tactic is dishonest, however. Some poor benighted souls actually believe that Jacoby is correct in all he says, and that is both sad and dangerous (especially the article about more guns equalling more safety).
So when is the Globe going to face its moral problem? Here we have a journalist who is arguing untruths, and the Globe gives him lots of space, three times a week, every week, and pays him.
Is that not immoral?
on June 28th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I read that column while I was on vacation and I was once again amazed at the half truths that the Globe allows Jacoby to submit.!!
And I think you are right - they allow it because he stirs up controversy which (theoretically) sells papers.
But it is so disheartening to think that many people value his opinions.
on June 30th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Dear Jean,
I’m so pleased you replied, because Jacoby’s mendacity is something that, I suspect, too many people just accept. And it is so very dangerous. I actually sent this posting of mine to the Globe’s editors as a letter (they’ve printed about a half dozen of mine in the past) but they ignored it. So they seem happy to stir up controversy but not to be held accountable in any way.
Jacoby writes such vitriolic stuff that, in fact, it borders on the obscene.
Oh well… I canceled my subscription.
warm wishes, Allan