Comments on: “Never, ever clean up a quote?” Columnists and writers discuss an age-old issue http://sportsjournalism.org/sports-media-news/never-ever-clean-up-a-quote-columnists-and-writers-discuss-an-age-old-issue/ America's most comprehensive sports media program Fri, 11 May 2012 22:52:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: charles pierce http://sportsjournalism.org/sports-media-news/never-ever-clean-up-a-quote-columnists-and-writers-discuss-an-age-old-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-1100 charles pierce Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:57:29 +0000 http://sportsjournalism.org/?p=2889#comment-1100 Well, it seems like I should check in here, what with being the Maiden Aunt in this discussion and all. Let us first dispose with the "I don't use a tape recorder because I don't trust them new-fangled machines" argument. I didn't trust them -- or me -- for a long time, either. But, now I do. I can't speak for all the brethren and sistren, but just for me, I like using it because it prevents me from cleaning up quotes, which, as I said, is wrong and dishonest. I'm more interested in Gene Weingarten's arguments because I think, within them, is a fundamental difference in the way he sees the people he interviews and the way I do. (And, it should be noted that, in the case of the hypothetical GW proposes, you don't have to quote the father's malaprop AT ALL. Presumably you asked more than one question and got more than one answer. Use one of them.) Frankly, and I hope this doesn't make people think I'm uncivil, if I identify myself to you as a reporter, and you talk to me, I have no affirmative obligation to make you look better or smarter in the paper than you actually are. The notion that this is a co-equal ethical mandate with quoting someone accurately is preposterous -- which is demonstrated even further by the fact that GW thereupon seems to argue that famous people are less entitled to this measure of "fairness" than are the Ordinary Folks. It's easier just to have one rule and stick to it. Frankly, I don't know what in the hell Point Two means, although I suspect Jayson Blair might have some ideas on the subject. To reiterate, while not an absolutist -- if a guy's teeth whistle sibilantly when he says a word beginning with S, I wouldn't try to reproduce it onomatopoeically -- I am close en ugh to one for government work. Well, it seems like I should check in here, what with being the Maiden Aunt in this discussion and all. Let us first dispose with the “I don’t use a tape recorder because I don’t trust them new-fangled machines” argument. I didn’t trust them — or me — for a long time, either. But, now I do. I can’t speak for all the brethren and sistren, but just for me, I like using it because it prevents me from cleaning up quotes, which, as I said, is wrong and dishonest.
I’m more interested in Gene Weingarten’s arguments because I think, within them, is a fundamental difference in the way he sees the people he interviews and the way I do. (And, it should be noted that, in the case of the hypothetical GW proposes, you don’t have to quote the father’s malaprop AT ALL. Presumably you asked more than one question and got more than one answer. Use one of them.) Frankly, and I hope this doesn’t make people think I’m uncivil, if I identify myself to you as a reporter, and you talk to me, I have no affirmative obligation to make you look better or smarter in the paper than you actually are. The notion that this is a co-equal ethical mandate with quoting someone accurately is preposterous — which is demonstrated even further by the fact that GW thereupon seems to argue that famous people are less entitled to this measure of “fairness” than are the Ordinary Folks. It’s easier just to have one rule and stick to it.
Frankly, I don’t know what in the hell Point Two means, although I suspect Jayson Blair might have some ideas on the subject.
To reiterate, while not an absolutist — if a guy’s teeth whistle sibilantly when he says a word beginning with S, I wouldn’t try to reproduce it onomatopoeically — I am close en ugh to one for government work.

]]> By: Dave Kindred http://sportsjournalism.org/sports-media-news/never-ever-clean-up-a-quote-columnists-and-writers-discuss-an-age-old-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-1093 Dave Kindred Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:55:54 +0000 http://sportsjournalism.org/?p=2889#comment-1093 Rufus... My pal Callahan says the Chinese insert mistakes into their writing to avoid the perfection that leads to pride. So do me. Rufus…
My pal Callahan says the Chinese insert mistakes into their writing to avoid the perfection that leads to pride. So do me.

]]> By: Rufus Leaking http://sportsjournalism.org/sports-media-news/never-ever-clean-up-a-quote-columnists-and-writers-discuss-an-age-old-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-1080 Rufus Leaking Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:09:15 +0000 http://sportsjournalism.org/?p=2889#comment-1080 "Two years ago, Gene Weingarten of The Washington Post did a online chat that included ruminations on this subject." ...did a online chat ... Should I quote you verbatim? “Two years ago, Gene Weingarten of The Washington Post did a online chat that included ruminations on this subject.”

…did a online chat …

Should I quote you verbatim?

]]> By: JJ http://sportsjournalism.org/sports-media-news/never-ever-clean-up-a-quote-columnists-and-writers-discuss-an-age-old-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-1064 JJ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:45:30 +0000 http://sportsjournalism.org/?p=2889#comment-1064 Good topic, Dave. I really enjoy these little explorations into our craft. My two cents: I never believe people who say they never EVER clean up a quote. Where do they draw the line? Do the quotes they use include wannas and gottas and shouldas and gonnas? Because if you change "gonna" to "going to," how is that different than changing "I don't got no" to "I don't have any"? Good topic, Dave. I really enjoy these little explorations into our craft. My two cents:

I never believe people who say they never EVER clean up a quote. Where do they draw the line? Do the quotes they use include wannas and gottas and shouldas and gonnas? Because if you change “gonna” to “going to,” how is that different than changing “I don’t got no” to “I don’t have any”?

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