A comic strip and two satiric columns raised questions about what is appropriate for the Tribune to publish. In the first case, a Brenda Starr comic used the word “threesome” and a column on the “The Guy Page” in the Sunday Q section was described as “shamelessly sexist.”
Even a column on this page by Los Angeles Times writer Joel Stein offended some readers, particularly women. It was headlined “A little something for the ladies” and made the tongue-in-cheek argument that women needed a new heroine if Hillary Clinton lost the race for the White House.
So I asked readers for their thoughts on how the Tribune handles material with questionable taste. I suggested just turning the page. Of course, some thought that was simplistic and trite, but others agreed that there is no way to satisfy all tastes.
Here’s a sampling of responses:
I urge the Tribune not to buckle under a 1950s censorship mentality. When my young children open the comic pages, I’m delighted that they are reading, plain and simple. It beats television. When on occasion a cartoon evokes a question from child to parent, this is a learning opportunity, not an offense.
David Reithoffer,
Chicago
My children started reading the Tribune comics when they were 8 and 11. I encouraged this because I want them to grow up to value newspapers, particularly good ones like the Tribune. The Brenda Starr threesome cartoon caused problems in my household and was more than a little suggestive. Can’t there be someplace that is at least kid neutral?
Robert Wood,
Darien
I’m going to be 69 in August (ugh!) so I’ve seen a lot of change in the world, right? The biggest, worst, most disappointing change I’ve seen is the world’s inability to laugh at/with itself. One gets sooooo sick of all the PC stuff, it makes ya just want to barf. Whether it’s about men/women/children/race/government, if someone makes the slightest joke, look out.
Ron Hoth,
Westchester
Humor is often a great way to tackle sensitive issues. But what Mr. Stein fails to understand (and a quick perusal of past columns indicates this isn’t a one-time misunderstanding; beautiful gems like “slut, wench, harlot” and “whore” are sprinkled about) is the everyday impact of gender discrimination against women. To write a column littered with ridiculous stereotypes — whether or not Stein had satirical intentions — is to perpetuate the kind of misogynistic voice that dominates even in free societies like the U.S.
Kimberly Litster,
Chicago
True story: When the Tribune introduced the Personals page full of celebrity gossip, and in the main section no less, I was annoyed to the point of being offended. Celebrity gossip is as unnewsworthy a subject as there is. But I discovered that it was just as easy to turn that page as it was before.
Michael Nielsen,
Burnham
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I read the piece by Joel Stein and the Guy Page item in Q, and my first thought after reading both was, “Some idiot is going to take this seriously and go ballistic.” Apparently, I was right.
A. Principi,
Mt. Prospect
After reading these two pieces, I have to say they aren’t exactly Robert Benchley, or even Dave Barry. So let’s have the humor and satire, but let it be better, more clever and more witty than this.
G. R.. Paterson,
Wilmette
Congratulations to the Tribune for treating the readers like adults and giving us the option of reading something or turning the page.
Ed White,
Grayslake
If you don’t offend me from time to time, your paper isn’t doing its job. If the Trib didn’t rattle my cage once in a while, I wouldn’t have been reading it for well over 50 years. When your newspaper doesn’t offend anybody, it should be called a shoppers’ guide.
Bill Hahn,
Park Ridge
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