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