Possumblog

I have an even better idea.

National Geographic goes without photo

WASHINGTON (AP) — National Geographic magazine, known for its breathtaking photography, decided this time a picture wasn't worth a thousand words — or even six.

The single-topic September issue, on the complex problems and promise of Africa, is the magazine's first cover without a photograph since 1959 — and only the second since it began using cover photos in 1943.

The white cover is dominated by a bold, brown word — "Africa" — and below that, "Whatever you thought, think again." [...]

How about this--ditch the "Letters to National Geographic" feature. It has become a cesspool of rhetorical insipidness and astonishing fallaciousness. It never matters what the story might be, there is going to be SOMEONE who writes in with such a tenuous grasp of reason and reality that they just HAVE to disagree. And to disagree in the most cloying, crass ways.

Why can't you people just read the danged magazine and shut up?! Or more to the point, WHY DO YOU EVEN READ IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!? Do you not have anything better to do than to review monthly periodicals trying to find things that offend your sensibilities so you can dash off a half-witted tirade to show your supposed moral superiority?! GET A FRIGGIN' LIFE!

Or, you know, start a blog.

Anyway, get rid of the letters. If that happened, I wouldn't allow my subscription (held since 1973) to run out.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at August 18, 2005 09:26 AM