The editor strikes again

The editor strikes again

First, let me thank The Jakarta Post for their past indulgence
with the few short and light articles I have submitted. Also I
would like to comment on the overall quality of the paper in
general which is of a high standard, easily surpassing many mass
tabloids in the West. Well done The Jakarta Post!

Unfortunately the letters section, a common favorite with the
majority of readers, persistently spoils the satisfaction of this
section by rewriting letters, turning points and indeed entire
themes upside down.

In my previous letter, (The danger of generalizing, Aug. 27),
the sentence "a fine sociologist" was exchanged for the original
sentence "a fine sociology," which of course is an entirely
different thing -- a sociologist being the practitioner and a
sociology the practice. Other sentences in my article were
fiddled with and split, scattering the points rendering them
incomprehensible.

I note that this is a problem experienced by many past
contributors, who follow up their original letter, (as I have
just done), attempting to redress the editorial damage inflicted
upon their work. Finally I send this letter with trepidation
wondering what new meaning it will assume or how incoherent it
will seem in its published form.

FRANCESCO

Jakarta