Dear Happy Resident/Kind Critic,

We want to share the thoughts and comments recently sent to us by one of our most loyal readers. To those not in the loop, Kind Critic and Happy Resident, are one and the same.
We recently received this comment from them:

HR/KC Says: 

August 20, 2008 at 12:37 pm e

Opinion and unfound harsh accusation are two completely different things.
You use such harsh language when talking about the mermaids. This language is aimed at them most of the time and not on this “fancy” audience you are so obsessed with. You really only add the reference to the audience at the very end… to maybe make these angry comments “okay.”
I really just do not understand.
Plus, they have readers outside of Liberty Lake in some neighborhoods that maybe you wouldn’t consider fancy. I think every woman has every right to feel fancy every once and awhile, to get away. The newsletter is fun. It is not a philosophical piece, more a light pick me up.
I only wish that we could sit down and have an actual conversation about this.

We do this in hopes that Happy Resident aka Kind Critic will help us in having an open conversation about our goals and purposes for this blog.

Dear HR/KC,

We are grateful for your contribution. We would like to help you have a better understanding of what we are doing. We are open to an exchange of ideas, opinion and information. That being said we take issue with your most recent comments and ask for clarification if you don’t mind.

Regarding the statement, “You use such harsh language when talking about the mermaids. This language is aimed at them most of the time and not on this “fancy” audience you are so obsessed with.”  Would you kindly point out these occurrences to us? We have ridiculed the Ideals, and values being promulgated by their Lifestyle publication, we have not attacked them. On the other hand we have been labeled by some as-a lonely old screw, depressed, angry, hateful and even a high school cheerleading reject. We assume many of these very personal attacks have come directly from those who embrace the ideals we are calling into question. We have singled out no individual to accuse or speak of harshly. If we are wrong please point this out to us. 

Regarding this statement, ‘You really only add the reference to the audience at the very end… to maybe make these angry comments “okay.” I really just do not understand.” We are unsure of what it is you are pointing too. Is it our style of writing? We intend to be rather tongue in cheek even sarcastic in our approach and style.

Finally regarding this,  “Plus, they have readers outside of Liberty Lake in some neighborhoods that maybe you wouldn’t consider fancy. I think every woman has every right to feel fancy every once and awhile, to get away. The newsletter is fun. It is not a philosophical piece, more a light pick me up.”  We have stated that they have found a clear niche in for their publication. Those whom this offering is targeted are not exclusive to Liberty Lake. We recognize that many women across this great country enjoy the tips, essays, insights and ideas presented in the Mermaids publication. We use the term “fancy” as a blanket targeted at a group rather than any one individual. We agree that all women should feel the freedom to feel fancy as often as possible. We are not taking that freedom from anyone. Have pointed out that you can feel fancy without having a man with a Porsche. While we have made generalizations about the readership of the mermaids, we have never attacked them as women, as people or as residents.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Thanks again for the interest.-TP