Cancer claims Bob Jelenic, 58

LJB shoots and ...

 

Good post.

 

Let 'er rip!

Shit, it's Christmastime, or something.

 

Bob Jelenic was an enemy of journalism and humanity in general. What don't you understand about that?

 

Speaking of Christmastime, remember when Ebeneezer Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Future, and he hears people talking shit about him and sees paupers ransacking his goods? There was no rule of decorum in that situation, the whole point was to show he brought it upon himself.

I don't have a dog in this fight, and I'm not going to say anything bad about someone I've never been touched by. But I have never understood why someone's death makes telling the truth a no-no if in fact that truth is a harsh one. I guess it would just be wise to do it in a respectful manner.

 

There has been more than one Hitler reference on this thread.

Perspective.

 

I'll field that one, lono.

He's somebody's dad, somebody's husband, was somebody's son.

That's enough reason.

 

And every career he ruined belonged to somebody's dad, somebody's husband, somebody's son.

He had absolutely no regard for his employees or the craft.

He destroyed careers and, ultimately, a chain of newspapers.

I can pity his family, but for him I have nothing but contempt.

 

At any point, any of this guy's employees or anyone else's employees could have begun looking for other work. Nobody was subject to this guy unless they agreed to be. Every one of us can have that Pat Riley moment -- at least, that's what Riles talks about regarding his dad -- where you plant your heels and say, "Enough." Love of our craft or financial obligations induce a lot of us to let ourselves be terrorized or humiliated or bullied or whatever. Crippled journalism is something to mourn. Slavery, though, went out about 143 years ago. We could always walk. Not walking is what gives the bad guys their power.

On the other hand, I've always felt that jerks get old, too, and don't automatically deserve revering just because they orneried around long enough to become elders. Similarly, jerks die, too.

 

The man would make deals, then pull the rug out from under people, "below and within" the understood scope of said deals.

Too many hires requiring significant travel, brought to an abrupt end shortly after the execution of said journeys, have been related
on this board, ad nauseum.

I'm not going to be abusive, here. There's an eternity, for that.

But facts is facts.

 

Sure, legally anyone can walk away from a job and change careers. But it's not always that simple. People have their own individual talents and abilities. I can't just up and decide to quit my job today to become a brain surgeon. If I did, there would be a lot of dead patients.

Likewise, I know journalists on the newsside who wouldn't know that a touchdown is worth six points. And I wouldn't be able to write about baking six-tiered wedding cakes either. Every person has his or her own abilities, and they are trying to make a living the best way they can. Otherwise, we could all choose to become millionaire baseball players if it were that easy.

I feel rather neutral about Jelenic. I don't think what he did is worth wishing death over. I'd rather save that for child abusers and the real dictators of the world. On the other hand, he shouldn't be lionized either.

That's why, in my previous post, I merely wished that Jelenic, at some point on his deathbed, regretted how he treated people in this life.

 

I came home ripped last night and don't remember half of these posts. All I know is that Dee Lite's "Groove Is In the Heart" is on the desk.

I stand by the comments, just without the indignation.