Comments on: Editorial Nonsense from San Antonio

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 17:49:03 +0000

I wrote a reply letter to the editor expressing just how ludicrous I felt the editorial to be. I also pointed
out that the US is actually far behind many countries in per capita beer consumption and those countries
(all 12 of them) do not have the obesity problem we have here nor do the countries slightly behind us in
beer consumption.

I then showed how we are the undisputed world leader of fast food with a fast food chain almost literally
on every corner and that in almost all of those countries people walked or rode bikes for transport far more
than Americans do.

Apparently, they printed my reply. I got a call while Christmas shopping asking if I cared if they printed it
and confirming my identity. Doesn’t make the original editorial any less stupid, but at least a common sense
rebuttal might get read by some who read the original piece.

By: Ainz

Ainz — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 19:06:57 +0000

As a full-time newspaper guy, I can explain something that got Jay upset. Editorials might be written by one person, but the reason they do not have bylines is because they represent the feelings of the newspaper’s editorial board, which might consist of 4-6 people (usually the editorial page editor, the managing editor, the executive editor, the publisher and couple of designated and distinguished community representatives. The paper often prints a list of who is on the editorial board. Sometimes the members of the board take turns writing editorials, picking ones about which they are particularly knowledgeable or passionate. But the whole board approves them before they’re published. Guest op-ed pieces get bylines and sometimes column sigs (a headshot of the writer), but editorials from the editorial board do not. Now … let’s have beer.

By: Jim F

Jim F — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 00:16:25 +0000

Yeah, what Steve, Loren and Bryan said.

I drink more beer than I care to admit. 6-0 and 160lbs (same as high school, which was more than 20 years ago). Guess eating a good diet and excercising every day play a part in things.

By: Texbelly

Texbelly — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 04:29:13 +0000

I live here in San Antonio. I think the beer plus tv equation is actually accurate based upon my non-scientific personal observations of my fellow citizens. It’s so hot here that no one exercises. There’s really not much of an outdoor culture at all except for shooting deer. It’s just beer, tv, and tacos.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:49:47 +0000

And I bet it doesn’t explain how the year 2006 for me equated to a 30 pound weight loss, the running of the NYC Marathon, and drinking/appreciating more beer than in any previous year. It’s all about balance and common sense. Fortunately, we all know that :) Why do these articles find the light of day???

By: Travis Poling

Travis Poling — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:20:14 +0000

Those are good folks over there, but the editorial writers are a
separate department from the newsroom. Oversimplification of an
issue is sometimes an occupational hazard for folks who are not
specialty writers.

I wrote in February in defense of beer: “What about wine belly, scotch belly, foie gras belly or duck confit belly? Again, society gives beer the low class rap. When wealthy trend setters eventually make well-crafted beer a part of their diet perhaps “beer belly” will disappear from the language.”

Prosit!

http://www.mysanantonio.com/specials/weblogs/beer/archives/2006/02/the_myth_of_the.html#comments

By: Loren

Loren — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:59:58 +0000

Quicker route. I asked a friend to send him this page at his BeerAdvocate handle, tpoling.

And if beer alone makes you fat…why am I 180lbs? Chasing 2 sons around maybe? Nah…

Idiots.

Cheers!

By: Steve Beaumont

Steve Beaumont — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:19:37 +0000

Hard to believe that simple common sense is in such short supply in San Antonio! As I wrote recently in Ale Street:

“Plainly put, beer alone will not make you fat. Beer and bad diet and night after night sitting in front of the television, on the other hand, will. But then again, lethargy and poor food alone will also increase your middle, with no help needed from beer.”

By: Lisa Morrison

Lisa Morrison — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:39:47 +0000

“It’s enough to turn your hair red.”

So THAT’s what happened! :)

Loren: I would love to hear Travis Poling’s thoughts on this ridiculous excuse for an “editorial.”
Anybody shoot him a link to Jay’s posting?

Hoppy Holidays,

Lisa

By: Loren

Loren — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 12:22:56 +0000

One would think a paper with a competent beer writer, Travis Poling, would’ve RAN THIS STORY BY HIM FIRST!

http://www.mysanantonio.com/specials/weblogs/beer/

JFC…

Isn’t Lisa’s hair already red? Met her at Magnolia last year. Good times!

Happy Holidays!