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If you wrote something to the effect of
“Dan is a bad writer because of mistake a, b,
c, d, e and f," then perhaps you would have
created a semi-legitimate critique of a critic
and left some merit and integrity intact.
Instead, your story was obviously an emo
tional outburst by someone who did not
realize the consequences of what they were
writing. I'm very happy that people pay
close enough attention to what I write to
correct me if I am wrong, and enlighten me
if I do not know something. I can take
criticism a whole lot better than mushy
praise if it is direct and on target, but not a
vendetta based on late-night anger and
misguided statements.
I really wish Flagpole the best and hope
it continues to prosper. I would like to con
tinue writing for the publication if that is
alright with you Dennis, as well as Jared.
You could even have a vote deciding my fate
in the magazine by you readers since you
thought you were doing the a community
service. But I think it is high time you offer
some token reimbursement for all the colum
nists and writers who have spent long hours
creating the cop, regardless of whether I
ever write for you all again. I realize you and
Jared spend twice or three times as long (if
not much longer) putting the actual maga
zine together, and I think your talents as a
graphic artist are excellent. But you should
be a whole lot more careful in the future with
your personality pieces or their might not be
a Flagpole to hoist any more. I'm glad I did
not pursue some stupid legal battle, as some
have suggested, because that would just
prolong the agony and incite numerous
battles that need not be fought. But next time
you might not be so fortunate. Always have
a second pair of eyes go over every story.
Dennis, i would love to learn some of the
tricks on the computer keybourd that make
the Macintosh and the Apple Laser printer
perform such graphic miracles as you cre
ate in the advertisement area. I would in turn
be happy to show you the basics of English
and journalism that were obviously lacking
in you last piece. My self-respect and dignity
are intact, but I can't say the same for
Flagpole’s credibility. I bear no ill will or
malice for your outburst, but I keep thinking
of the kid who ends the game and runs of
with his football and starts calling people
names from a 9afe and protected sideline
location
I love music in general and you will never
do anything to diminish that. I love to write
and you will never curtail my creative output
the, either, although you have every right to
exclude me from further volunteerism. I do
not love writing for free and donating my
time to an organization that would just as
scon crucify me or otherwise attempt to
publically humiliate me. All I can say is:
“nice try at writing some rather off-base
comedy and fiction.” I do hope we can
continue to relate in a positive and profes
sional manner. I understand where your
feelings and anger are coming from, but I
think we both realize that they could have
been dealt with in a much more productive
manner. I thank you for the opportunity to
have let me me write anything for Flagpole
and you know I have always left it up to you
all whether my name would go on any article
or photo caption. With one major exception,
it has generally always been you all that
have asked me to write a few things when I
come in on Sunday of Mondays to check the
club dates, etc. I hop to continue this on
some small scale, but, again, would insist
on some sort of small cash reimbursement
(or perhaps a beer, coffee, etc.) to the tune
of several dollars an issue for all your writ
ers. My conclusion could be wrong, and I
know ;you all do a lot of trade-outs, but it
would appear your 40-page advertising
base is such thatyou could afford a pittance
for your scribes in the future.
Finally, Dennis, my opinion is no better or
any more valid than yours or anyone else’s
for that matter. I wish more people would
write for Flagpole, and I always thought of
my “position” there as something of a safety
net, fallback or last-ditch effort; i. e. I would
usually always come in late Monday and
crank out the photo captions and stories
that no one else would, and I really haven’t
been doing that much as of late. I really
hope you don’t have to terminate or alidhate
any other writers. Creating false delusions
of superiority and being the all-encompass
ing arbitrators of what is hip, cool, and
groovy is far more pompous than I could
ever hope to be. In this back-patting, my-
aren’t-we-trendy world of music and egos in
Athens, Georgia, you can’t afford to con
tinue to burn bridges and there will be no left
to cross back over. You can’t keep exploit
ing volunteers forever or you will always
burn out you staff and morale. Opinions are
like assholes, we’ve all got one (and cer
tainly been one in the eyes of some) it’s just
that some are bigger and stink more than
others.
Yours »n exile,
Daniel Johnson Matthews, Jr.
Letter #5
Dan Feedback V
Dear Dennis (the REAL menace),
I find it hard to believe that you have ever
been at a loss to find sufficing drivel to fill the
pages of Flagpole. The half-page “article"
(according to Jared) which you signed last
week (Vol. 4, No. 6, p. 10) suggests a wealth
of driveling ability at your own disposal.
Unlike art, abuse does thrive in a vac
uum. Unaddressed, it hardens like cement,
preserving itself and the innappropriate
message it carries. When that abuse is the
product of vindictiveness—whether coldly
thought out or disorganized and rambling
(see alleged article)—its evil effects are
multiplied.
In your self-righteous attack on. Dan
Matthews, you demonstrate you own jour
nalistic impotence quite well. You rattle a
few adopted nuts and bolts around, but fail
to put together a case against the man. You
refer to a betrayal of trust, but neglect to
present the facts so the reader can decide.
Your argument stumbles, loses footing,
sinks to the level of propaganda, and reeks
of the “schmooze and slime” you talked
about.
The color of this cowardly article is the
same as the color of your belly and your
journalistic style—yellow. By bearing this
color in your pages, you magazine—"The
Colorbearer of Athens' Alternative Music"—
betrays the trust of every band, musician,
writer, and fan connected with Athens'
music. Your noble mission of serving your
readers is in vain. By pretending that you
are ostracizing Dan Matthews for our bene
fit, you portray the whole music scene as
ignorant, elitist, petty, delved, self-right
eous, vindictive, and cowardly. While this
may be true of you and your business asso
ciates, I refuse to be represented this way.
. Especially since you take such an inde
fensible position. First, there is no such
thing as a secret in this town. I mean, who
told Dan, anyway. Are you worried about
ethics or just concerned that a hot tip es
caped the too-hip clique without your ap
proval. Second, worst case, Dan is the
scapegoat for sloppy editing. If his press
leak was such a crime, why was it not
stopped. His publisher is responsible for
the printing of his words.
At best, your attack is insulting to the
reader. If you have a problem with your
writers, please, take care of it else where.
Your personal problems and self-righteous
delusions have no place in an ambitious
publication. v our lofty title does not legiti-