A message to the proofreader

Most regular readers, and even some irregular readers, are aware of my often putting “what do you think” at the end of a column. My purpose in that is to encourage folks to respond by letter to Box 3 Columbia Falls, 59912, or e-mail to lwilson@aboutmontana.net. If they prefer, they may also call me at (406) 892-5951 or even write a letter to the editor at the Hungry Horse News.

This invitation does not guarantee a big volume of comments, perhaps a dozen or so a year. About 80 percent are positive with brief statements like “I agree with your opinion about this or that.” The remaining 20 percent disagree with something I said. I appreciate them all, thank you.

Recently, I received 18 typed pages of comments. This reader took the time and spent the effort to copy seven columns from July and August of this year and highlight what they considered errors accompanied with snide remarks.

On a strictly grammatical basis, this person (they did not choose to identify themselves) was probably correct. I do not worry much about being grammatically correct. I put commas where I think they should be and am, no doubt, often in error when it comes to capitalizing proper nouns. I assume readers know that when I say U.S. Forest Service, I am referring to the Flathead National Forest. Likewise, when I say Glacier Park, I mean Glacier National Park. I think if those things are not obvious, the reader has more deficiencies that I do. It doesn’t help when someone tells me the syntax here is awful. I don’t even know what syntax is – or care.

All in all, there were some comments that I can use to make this column better. Maybe I do sometimes think readers are more knowledgeable than they are. I will try to do better.

Since the reader went to so much trouble and was too shy to sign the document, I do have some thoughts.

This column is titled “North Fork Views” for a reason. It is not a news column, it is a personal view column. I write what I think and I don’t worry much about grammar. In fact, this 18-page document reminded me of an old baseball announcer named Dizzy Dean.

Dizzy used horrible grammar on air and was once chastised by a retired English teacher. Dizzy’s response was short and sweet: “Lady, you learn ‘em English and I’ll learn ‘em baseball.”

My goal is to learn ‘em about the North Fork. More than that, I want folks to think for themselves about North Fork issues. It will take all of us, with our diverse opinions, to come up with solutions for the future.

What do you think? And, thanks Richard.

Larry Wilson’s North Fork Views appears weekly in the Hungry Horse News.