Square Pegs: My response to Karleen Smith of Plano | www.pegasusnews.com

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My response to Karleen Smith of Plano

Posted By Alan Cohen in Square Pegs on January 29, 2007

I was shocked by the letters to the editor in the DMN today regarding the new ordinance that makes it legal for restaurants to allow dogs on their patios.

Karleen Smith of Plano says:

Let it be known to all eateries that I will not ever set foot on your property if you allow dogs. Period. Everyone I know – dog owners included – has echoed this sentiment.

Let me say I fully disagree with you Karleen. I like dogs, what is wrong with that?

But you continue:

"I will be an outspoken critic and shame people into avoiding such establishments by openly questioning their conviction."

No Karleen, you will not shame me...I will shame you with pictures of puppies that are saddened and hurt by your mean spirited letter:

I hope you are satisfied Karleen Smith of Plano.

Staff
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Anonymous

Chad Jones, says:

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2 years, 10 months ago
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Cooper Smith, says:

That little guy with the broken arms looks like he could use a strong Mambo Taxi on Taco Diner's patio!

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2 years, 10 months ago
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Mike Orren, says:

Y'know, maybe Karleen didn't deserve to have her letter flouted like this. Maybe she's a reasonable, thoughtful person who happens to have a different opinion... Or not. Here's the email chain from last night: Mr. Oren: I would like to suggest you have a conversation with Alan Cohen about stealing from other publications. It seems he has taken my comments to Dallas Morning News, intended only for Dallas Morning News, and used them, out of context, for his own means on your site. I have alerted DMN to this, as you are not affiliated with them, and suggest the comments be immediately removed. I do not choose to be part of your publication and do not release my writing to you. Karleen Smith <hr size="2" width="100%">>Karleen: > >Alan's excerpts were part of a critique of a publicly published letter and >well within the bounds of fair use (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use), >which is an essential part of our country's copyright law and freedom of the >press. If you feel he mischaracterized your statements, you'll see that we >have open and uncensored comments available on the page. I encourage you to >respond there. > >Thanks! >-- > >Mike Orren >President and cofounder >Pegasus News <hr size="2" width="100%"> Karleen replies: Anyone using Wiki as a reference is an utter moron. You told me all I need to know with that, and your failed interpretation of it. I shouldn't be surprised since the page link for your email bounces. The same moron must be coding the site. From your own "Copyright policy" you warn that. "You may not post, distribute, or reproduce in any way any copyrighted material, trademarks, or other proprietary information without obtaining the prior written consent of the owner of such proprietary rights." The content of DMN is copyrighted. Did you obtained permission to use it? Are you suggesting that I can copy from your site and do with it as I please as long as I pretend I'm critiquing? When I write to a publication, my comments are only for that publication and its readers. I expect my comments to have only the life the publication to which I send them sees fit to grant. Not to turn up on some hack wannabe site trying to claim they're doing review, commentary, or satire, spewing freedom speech bullcrap. With rights come responsibilities and you simply do not behave responsibly. Or knowledgeably for that matter. Creating a web site and being able to type makes you neither a writer nor a publisher, especially when you have to steal content from other writers and publishers. "President and Co-founder." Odd. On one hand we have someone humble who does not want to be thought of as more important than she is. On the other someone screaming for attention trying to appear as something more than he ever can hope to be.

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2 years, 9 months ago
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Alan Cohen, says:

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2 years, 9 months ago
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Tracy Yost, says:

"On one hand we have someone humble who does not want to be thought of as more important than she is."

But didn't she write - "I will be an outspoken critic and shame people into avoiding such establishments by openly questioning their conviction."

somebody is confused....

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2 years, 9 months ago
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BrandyKat, says:

I think you're confused by Alan's heavy editing of the original letter as to what she meant. She was talking about her friends, not promoting herself to the world as something more than a blogger. At least he was smart enough to link to the stolen article. I wasn't really aware that Pegagsus relies on stolen material for the good stuff.

Anonymous

2 years, 9 months ago
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atlasslipped, says:

BK:

You are a fool. The DMN steals more from Pegasus on a daily basis than this woman Karleen has read in her entire life.

Fair use is a concept most sixth graders understand. And the Pegasus folks often link when they don't have to. They are on the bright side of the line here.

The DMN and other local news outlets steal from these good people without citation. That is the true outrage.

No matter. Soon all the dailies will be left with is mongoloids like this who are happy to spew their venom in an echo chamber that will last only as long as the fish it wraps.

By the by: Wikipedia was recently named the 4th most respected brand in the world. Join the 20th century at least. http://www.brandchannel.com/boty_resu...

As a former DMN slave, I can assure you that your pleas will fall on deaf ears. I'm surprised these good people give you the time of day.

Anonymous

2 years, 9 months ago
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jefmelch, says:

"Wiki" is quick. Quick and dirty, even. Good for an overview. Maybe not exactly the place to STOP doing research.

Linking to the DMN for the original publication of the opinions of the powers-that-be, whether to affirm or refute in response, seems to me to be courtesy rather than an abuse.

Anonymous

2 years, 9 months ago
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April Powell, says:

For those of you who cannot bring yourselves to sully your computer screens with Wikipedia-provided information, allow me, as a trained legal professional, to supply you with a public service message from your friendly, nationwide, copyright office:

http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html

Staff

2 years, 9 months ago
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BrandyKat, says:

The only fool is the one who paid to put casts on a friggin rat-dog. Call me cruel, but putting an animal through the pain is far more vicious, especially when it's for an owner's benefit for having spent a ridiculous sum of the rat in the first place. Let's tell it like it is: that wretched animal is unlikely to sway anyone looking to eat a meal sans fleas, crap, and yelping.