WHOA! .... Bill Conlin resigns amid child molestation investigation

That's why they're called colleagues.

 

I've worked at my current job for 20 months. I traveled a little bit my first year, almost none last year. I haven't seen three of our writers since our annual staff meeting last January. The other, I covered a race with last February.

There are four deskers on this staff. I haven't seen one of them since August, and the other since probably September. Vagaries of our schedule, but I literally see only my boss and one coworker for 90 percent of the year.

 

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sportsweek/20111230__Les_Bowen__Anatomy_of_a_disgrace.html

Les Bowen's column on Conlin seems far more genuine. He recalls fondly some tales and an admiration for Conlin's writing, while clearly stating that he's troubled by the allegations. I could see some saying he's insensitive for not putting the victims first, but I think he's honest for considering the ramifications on his own world first. We're selfish, inherently. Bowen provides perspective while still distancing himself, which is obviously also a human trait.

 

Lately, I've been asked a lot about what Bill was like. Bill lived and wrote in his own peculiar, florid world. It was a world I enjoyed visiting from time to time, but I don't know anybody who wanted to live there, or even to tarry very long after dinner. If any staffer at the Daily News was a really close friend of Bill, I never knew it - and that isn't me just scurrying to distance myself and the paper from an icon in disgrace. Even those of us who enjoyed Bill preferred to do so in small, controlled doses.

Sounds like scurrying away to me.

 

That is damning in its understatedness.

I don't know Conlin, and had only read a little of his work previously.

This column doesn't make me wish I did know him, either -- and not even just because of any alleged child abuse in which he may have been involved.

It's kind of sad, actually. Not to discount any abuse suffered by others, but I can't imagine how Conlin must be feeling reading some of this stuff about himself. It isn't often that people get real, outspoken feedback regarding what they look like to others mirrored back to them -- at least not while they're still alive, anyway.

 

WTF? It's not like it's a four-person staff with the desks all jammed together and everyone hangs out at the same bar after work.

Conlin has always been a gruff guy who kept his distance from people. Because of his demeanor, people weren't exactly clamoring to spend time with him. So you say hello and that's it. Everybody goes about their business. It's not unusual for that kind of scenario to unfold when you're dealing with a paper and a market that size.

 

The size of the paper doesn't matter. People I work with and work for are just that, people I work with and work for. While there are some that I know better than others, my personal life doesn't evolve or involve those I work with and work for.
Conlin has his friends, those he chooses to be around. I don't see what's the big deal about people he worked with not being close to him personally.

 

The size of the paper most definitely does matter. You don't have the option of "not knowing" the people you work with on a small sports staff. Have never seen that phenomenon.

 

I disagree Shot. I've worked in small shops. There's nothing phenomenal about it.
It was here I worked, not where I lived. I didn't want those people knowing anything more about me except I came to work on time and busted my ass to do a good job. They didn't need to know anything more about me. It was a job.
Don't get me wrong, there were times we may have hung out for dinner or something but again, people I work with, and my friends, are complete different.

 

Must be different here. I just never lived under that outlook when I was at smaller papers.

 

Shot, I've done the small paper thing in PA. Again, it's not a big thing or a crime. It's an individual choice. The people I worked with were just that, people I worked with.
Conlin chose not to be close to his co-workers. No big deal as far as I'm concerned.

 

WTF. Everyday there are stories about great co-workers who have perverted secrets that come out.
Not being close to co-workers HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH Conlin's alleged actions.