Dear Editor,
April 27, 2018 you published a very nice tribute to local citizen, now Meaford Municipal Councillor, Ross Kenter, on the occasion of his retirement after 56 years at Bayshore Broadcasting. It was a good article. Personally, I’ve only met him once briefly, but I have never heard one negative word about Mr. Kentner in my life.
Fifty-four readers awarded that article a thumbs up to show their support. Four readers chose to award a thumbs down to it.
More baffled than angry, I do what I do in situations like that one, I interrogated my poor long-suffering wife.
“How is this possible? How could four people take exception to a nice article like that? Did Mr. Kentner steal four guys’ girlfriends in high school? Have those men been nursing a grudge ever since? For almost 60 years! Did Mr. Kentner leave for work at 5 a.m. one day and back over the neighbour’s dog? What could explain this kind of a reaction to a very nice article about a man retiring – after 56 years – of service?”
My wife believes in giving people the benefit of the doubt. Best she could come up with was four people hit the wrong button and were unaware they had an option to correct it.
Flash forward to May 27, 2021. You penned an obviously heartfelt and sincere tribute to your adopted community. A community you are very clearly proud to be a part of. Pointed out that while we weren’t perfect, we’ve mainly done our best. And there may very soon be a light at the end of the tunnel at last.
As I write this, 57 readers awarded that Editorial a thumbs up to demonstrate their agreement. Three readers have chosen to award it a thumbs down.
Yet again, I’m baffled, but this time I’m bypassing my wife and I am going straight to the source.
So what about YOU, Mr. Vance? Were you some kind of serial girlfriend-stealing Don Juan in high school? Make a habit of backing over the pets in the neighbourhood on the way to work, do you? Or is it work related in your case? Is there some horrible shady secret in your newspaper past or some controversial history of Editorial positions that could explain that kind of reaction? To a Love Letter? To a Love Letter!
Something’s not quite right in Meaford and I for one believe we deserve an answer.
Bruce Mason, Meaford
Editor’s Note: Well, there was the Yvonne scandal in first grade. She had a boyfriend, but he would steal her crayons and pull her hair… On a serious note, a friend used to joke that no matter what editorial I write there will be 6 or 7 who click thumbs down. I wouldn’t let it bother you.
