Kirk Wessler column from March 30, 2010- ethical hypocrisy

[Biff]

Baloney. Being a columnist is never an excuse for hit&run journalism and creating false rumors intended to damage someone. Especially when he condemned this same behavior a year ago. Unethical and hypocritical.

[BradleyJD]

Baloney. Being a columnist is never an excuse for hit&run journalism and creating false rumors intended to damage someone. Especially when he condemned this same behavior a year ago. Unethical and hypocritical.

It's unethical to post your thoughts and opinions?? Wow. Welcome to America!

[Da Coach]

I think he is referring to the fact that Kirk himself told us this:

Usually, we don??™t acknowledge rumors when they??™re found to lack substance.
Don??™t believe everything you hear. ...

[MacabreMob]

Just because someone attended a school and graduated from there must mean they are a fan.

[Beninator]

Look, I don't begrudge any one on here their opinion. In fact, I value them. However, what KW did was strictly an editorial (and one was a blog where all bets are off anyway). He never said he had information to substantiate that Les would be fired. He basically just said he had a hunch; it was his opinion that Les might not be around next year. He was editorializing.

These editorials are meant to accomplish one of two things -- either you agree and say "right on man, I love what you're saying", or you disagree and say "you're full of crap KW, show us the beef". That's why people write letters to the editor or post on forums like this.

I'll say it again -- this was not an investigative report where facts are gathered and the reader is allowed to draw their own conclusion. This was an editorial where the writer simply states his opinion.... no matter how full of crap that opinion might be.

I know that this was an editorial, however if KW makes a statement as he did about the coach and even cloaks that statement with the word "likely", then he needs to cite a source to back that statement. Otherwise, the statement is irresponsible and extremely damaging without substantiated merit!

[canadian]

Just because someone attended a school and graduated from there must mean they are a fan.

Absolutely not. But when someone says publicly or tells me personally they are a fan then I believe them. Not sure what other way you can judge it....maybe people smarter than me can differentiate.

[BradleyJD]

I think he is referring to the fact that Kirk himself told us this:

Usually, we don??™t acknowledge rumors when they??™re found to lack substance.
Don??™t believe everything you hear. ...

I never believe everything I hear.

KW was addressing outside rumors in the earlier column. His latest entries are based on his own views of the situation, I believe. The two are quite different, IMO.

[canadian]

I know that this was an editorial, however if KW makes a statement as he did about the coach and even cloaks that statement with the word "likely", then he needs to cite a source to back that statement. Otherwise, the statement is irresponsible and extremely damaging without substantiated merit!

Damaging to who? Is it the newspapers job to protect people?

[tornado]

is it their job to talk about the tingle going down their legs when they hear someone?

[Da Coach]

I never believe everything I hear.

KW was addressing outside rumors in the earlier column. His latest entries are based on his own views of the situation, I believe. The two are quite different, IMO.

OK, thanks. Now I see the difference.
The only unsubstantiated rumors that should be allowed are those that Kirk reports or makes up.

[BradleyJD]

OK, thanks. Now I see the difference.
The only unsubstantiated rumors that should be allowed are those that Kirk reports or makes up.

So, in your opinion, no newspaper writer should ever publish or post his/her own thoughts?

[Braves4Life]

Again, if you are implying he has some high-level inside information that nobody else has, including people far closer to the situation, then I don't agree. I will not predict what will happen, but it is not a done deal.

If you don't think journalists (especially those that have been close to a situation for an extended period of time) don't get inside information than you are more naive than I thought. How do you think scandals and other stories get broken and "scooped" by journalists? Give me a break.

[Da Coach]

Do you believe KW is "close to the situation for an extended period of time"?

If so, then you would be incorrect.

[Braves4Life]

Do you believe KW is "close to the situation for an extended period of time"?

If so, then you would be incorrect.

Oh, OK then. He's only been around BU his whole life! Come on man!

[Da Coach]

So, in your opinion, no newspaper writer should ever publish or post his/her own thoughts?

Had the writer in question posted his thoughts, that would have been fine. But he went way beyond that. He could have simply said "I believe coach should be fired", or "I am in favor of a coaching change". But that is not what was done.