At least it wasn't fava beans and a nice Chianti
Some readers objected to the main photograph on our Life front this past Sunday. The photo was one of three on the page, and they accompanied short stories about fathers and their children. (It was Father's Day, after all.)
Here are two comments about it:
"WOW! How impressive that a dad and his daughter can sit and discuss less filling/better tasting beer. C'mon -- If you are going to do a tribute on dads, make your photos ones that show the wisdom and love of a parent. I have seen firsthand the disaster that has come from alcohol on the family structure and how it many times not only destroys the one participating, but destroys innocent bystanders. The next time you do a tribute on dad, moms or the family, please consider your viewers and use pictures that really represent what a family is supposed to be like. The Causey family picture was GREAT."
"Who had the final approval for the main picture contained in the Father's Day article? A dad and his daughter looking at their beer bottles? How is that a good influence? This is just one more reason I don't subscribe to the paper."
Simonne and Simon Ritchy are pictured. She runs M'Coul's Public House. He is her landlord. The photo is relevant to the story and to their relationship. Seems as if they have a pretty healthy family connection.
That's why we ran it.
Update: The person who designed the page, Penny Wofford, tells me that the Ritchys are actually looking at root beer bottles. Because the photos didn't have captions, that fact was missed, and our minds fill in the presumed details.
Comments (7)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
"Who had the final approval for the main picture contained in the Father's Day article? A dad and his daughter looking at their beer bottles? How is that a good influence? This is just one more reason I don't subscribe to the paper."
He/she may not be a subscriber to the paper but, he/she sure did picked it up and read it.
Brilliant photograph! I for one thought it was eye-catching and refreshing.
Posted on June 22, 2005 11:41 AM
Yes, I suppose you could say that writer got what she paid for.
Posted on June 22, 2005 12:57 PM
I'd say I'm surprised people get so worked up over about so little, but I've answered too many newsroom phones for that.
Posted on June 22, 2005 2:30 PM
As usual someone honed in on their own personal problem and missed the point of the story and photo. Sigh.
Posted on June 22, 2005 3:02 PM
I personally think alcohol is often overused and overrated, but I don't think I would have regarded the picture negatively, even if alcohol had ended up being the product in the bottles.
As it turned out, I got a big laugh from your update, informing us that the bottles actually contained root beer.
Knowing people, however, there are probably some who for some reason will object to that as well.
Posted on June 23, 2005 5:54 PM
I thought the story was about a daughter who followed in her father's footsteps and went into business for herself with her father as her landlord.
Geez. Some people need to get a life.
Posted on June 24, 2005 10:36 AM
I hate to be the one to say this - and maybe I'm being sort of ultra-feminist and reactionary - but would we even be having this conversation if this photo had been a father and son?
Dad and the boy talking beer, even knocking back a few together on Father's Day -- that'd be almost Norman Rockwell, wouldn't it? But Dad and daughter - even if daughter owns a bar and Dad's the landlord - can't even be photographed near ROOT beer bottles without raising eyebrows?
Give me a break, already...
Posted on June 25, 2005 12:32 PM