29.3 C
Byron Shire
February 10, 2025

Excess letters

Latest News

Something extra for NSW nurses and midwives

The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) has called on the Minns government to put its extra share of federal health funding towards NSW nurses and midwives’ wages.

Other News

Logging stopped in Tasmanian Devil habitat

Yesterday, forest defenders returned to protest and halt logging of ancient forests near Tasmania’s Lake St Clair.

Women take over Stone & Wood for IWD event

In preparation for a day when women will take over the brewery, the women of Stone & Wood were recently joined by local creative women and not-for-profit founders, to brew a beer together ahead of International Women's Day.

A musical journey across two decades

With a career spanning over two decades and hailing from the vibrant music scenes of Europe and the UK,...

Local wins national regatta comp

The Richmond River Club in Ballina hosted the RS100 class’s National Championship regatta from January 24 to 26, with...

Lismore Theatre from script-writing to stage – are you interested?

The Lismore Theatre Company has developed an exciting and innovative project and is calling all interested creative people wanting to learn new skills and have the opportunity to perform on stage. 

Powerful results from joining quantum computing and AI

Researchers have used quantum physics and machine learning to quickly and accurately understand a mound of data – a technique, they say, could help extract meaning from gargantuan datasets.

Why do you print letters (usually whinging) far in excess of your limit. January 8 Letters section is such an example.

Personally I ignore them depending on the heading. If subscribers cannot make their point within close to 200 words they should direct their comments to an alternative media source.

Peter Walters, Ballina

Previous articleQuestions
Next articlePsychosausage

Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Like you, people often need an outlet for their thoughts. The quality of the letter is not as important as the help to mental health.
    Lots of other reasons too, mostly good.

  2. I agree and disagree Peter. Brevity is the soul of wit and all that. However, if you are trying to address a complex topic, or respond to the many shortcoming that might exist in much longer letter, editorial or opinion piece, 200 words is all but useless and counterproductive to worthwhile debate. What I object to is how the rules seem to apply variably according to the views expressed.

    Recently I was replying to a rambling, admonishing rant of near 700 words and thought that my 226 might just sneak through. Alas no – a paragraph was deleted (about 26 words) with the omission significantly altering the intended meaning.

    It’s not the first time I’ve had a pertinent comment removed for the sake of a few words.

    I’d suggest that the Echo definitely needs to be stricter here but with a common sense approach that looks at the topic covered, the context of the reply and the difference between ramble and substance. Between quality and quantity. Not just base application of the rules on the side taken by the correspondent.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Hundreds gather in Lismore for trans rally

'Right now Queensland lawmakers and politicians are ignoring the advice of the many science and health experts who know for a fact that denying essential healthcare to trans youth costs lives.'

Prime minister visits Lennox Head

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was on the North Coast last Friday to announce that a re-elected Albanese Labor Government will deliver $3 million for a North Coast Crime Prevention Infrastructure Action Plan.

Diversity is weakness, according to some

Until recently the acronym DEI was unknown in Australia. Now it's become one of those annoying Americanisms like vacation, SUV and soda which are steadily invading our language. Like 'woke', its meaning has been inverted by malicious actors seeking to confuse, divide and conquer.

Women take over Stone & Wood for IWD event

In preparation for a day when women will take over the brewery, the women of Stone & Wood were recently joined by local creative women and not-for-profit founders, to brew a beer together ahead of International Women's Day.