Guilt by Kinship?

[_Runtu]

Dan,

I've already opined on the nature of the alleged "nepotism" (that there wasn't any). As for his prose, I didn't say it was wretched. The film review was fine, though the second article was a bit of a mess.

I'm an editor, so I notice these things. I'm sure he'll improve with time.

[_just me]

I think that it is great he has had articles published in the paper! I hope he continues, too, if that is what he enjoys. That is cool!

I haven't read them, so can't really say if they are good or not.

Networking and knowing someone who knows someone is a crucial part of getting a job and being successful in our society. I know I have benefited from it. It should be a skill taught in high school.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Thanks. I'm pleased at his achievement, and proud of him.

I'm an editor, so I notice these things.

I'm an editor, too. Day in, day out. And a writer, a grader of student papers, a teacher of language and (sometimes) literature, and a textual analyst.*

I notice things, too.

We disagree.

*And, to spare certain others here the time and effort, a boastful, mendacious, cruel, unprincipled blowhard, hypocrite, and pseudoscholar.

[_Runtu]

Thanks. I'm pleased at his achievement, and proud of him.

I'm an editor, so I notice these things.

I'm an editor, too. Day in, day out. And a writer, a grader of student papers, a teacher of language and (sometimes) literature, and a textual analyst.*

I notice things, too.

We disagree.

*And, to spare certain others here the time and effort, a boastful, mendacious, cruel, unprincipled blowhard, hypocrite, and pseudoscholar.

That made me laugh, Dan. I am sorry if I appeared to be piling on. I don't begrudge him his publications. Heck, I'd be thrilled, and you have reason to be proud.

[_Rollo Tomasi]

For those interested in discussing the important question of whether it's appropriate (and perhaps even necessary) to criticize and ridicule my son essentially because he's my son ....

I know that in the past you and I have agreed on essentially nothing, but this is an exception to that rule. The silliness on this bb about how your son got his job, is out of bounds, in my opinion. Even if his being your son somehow helped in his job search, so what? Everyone knows that the most effective way to land a job is 'who you know.' We all do it. And as a parent, if I could help my child get a job, I wouldn't hesitate (my mom got me my first job!). Kudos to your son in landing a good job, and I wish him all success in his chosen career path.

[_Yoda]

Great minds, Rollo!

I stated the same thing on Eric's other thread.

In addition to teaching computer classes at my college, I also do one on one counseling with students on interviewing, resume building, and various job search techniques. The number one thing I always emphasize is networking. It's all about who you know. The only people who don't like it are those who haven't benefitted from it.

I got my current position by a recommendation from a former boss. There were no formal postings for my current teaching position. I just interviewed with the VP, and was hired. Do I feel guilty about that? Not in the least! I've busted my rear end for this college for the past eight years. I have definitely proven my worth.

I wish your son continued success in his writing career, Dan.

[_cinepro]

Unless Dan's son happens to use the pen name "Mckay Coppins", I don't have a problem with any of this.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Thank you, Rollo and Liz, for your kind comments.

Incidentally, just to clarify things for the record, here is the sum total of my intervention on my son's behalf: One day back (I think) in November, I met with two Deseret News editors about my involvement with the newspaper. (I had been writing a regular column for them every second week since roughly the beginning of last year. Starting this year, as a result of that meeting, my column will appear weekly.) In the course of general remarks about the change of direction at the Deseret News, they told me that they no longer employed a full-time movie critic, but were instead using wire-service reviews and were hoping to recruit freelancers. I mentioned that my youngest son is interested in film and might enjoy trying his hand at writing film reviews. One of the editors invited me to suggest that my son contact him, and said that maybe they could give him a shot at doing occasional pieces for the paper. I mentioned this to my son and gave him the editor's contact information, and he took it from there. That's it. I see nothing unethical, improper, or even very unusual about what I did or in the editor's reaction.

Knowing, though, how some of my more personally hostile critics were likely to react to my son's articles for the simple reason that he's my son, I did not publicize his articles or his relationship to me. In fact, I very consciously and carefully refrained from doing so. Thus, I was puzzled this morning to read down in the "Terrestrial Forum" that "Mr. Peterson himself promoted [my son's two articles] elsewhere on the Internet." I don't recall doing this (although I did mention them in notes to friends on two closed e-mail lists) and would genuinely appreciate links to my alleged "promotion" of them on the public Internet. I have always tried to avoid making my wife or my children targets or pawns in the scorched-earth on-line total war that some of my critics feel I deserve.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I'm still very curious about where it is on the Internet that I was publicly boasting about my son's two articles in the Deseret News. The claim has been asserted a second time.

If I ever did it, I surely don't remember it. Advancing age, I suppose?

[_sock puppet]

I'm still very curious about where it is on the Internet that I was publicly boasting about my son's two articles in the Deseret News. The claim has been asserted a second time.

If I ever did it, I surely don't remember it. Advancing age, I suppose?

Why wouldn't you brag about your son, on the internet or anyone else? You are his father, right?