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Roger Rabbits with |
When you put yourself out there every week writing stories, expressing views with the noble intention of informing, educating or entertaining you are, at times, bound to draw hostile return fire.
And this week I got a salvo. “Come on Hunter Wells…that is so old and insulting…stop writing like this.” Ouch!
The ‘incoming’ prompts us to call on humility to accept there is always an alternative and legitimate point of view.
Then a bouquet for the exact same story. “We need to say thank you Hunter. The story you wrote about our girl Maia…just hit the spot.”
As the medieval monk and poet, John Lydgate observed: “You can please some of the people all of the time...but you can’t please all the people all of the time”.
And so it was recently when this reporter got that sharp jab in the ribs from someone displeased, irritated, annoyed. Rightfully so maybe. Anyhow the eyes are still streaming and the ego bashed and bruised after I got that acerbic “come on Hunter Wells” letter from a reader.
Wildly entertaining
The story that rankled was intended to be an inspirational yarn about eight-year-old Maia Roddick from Welcome Bay who has grown a passion for thrashing a full-blown Dave Grohl sized drum kit in the family living room. Loudly.
“If it’s not loud,” she said, “I am out of here.”
As I explained, Maia was a reluctant starter for the story because she didn’t think she was special. “Lots of girls are doing very cool things,” she said. We weren’t suggesting she was ‘special’, more that she was interesting and inspirational. Community newspapers like The Weekend Sun are full of locals doing interesting and inspirational things.
Regardless, watching and listening to an eight-year-old belting out Green Day’s anti-war anthem ‘Holiday’ beat perfect, was wildly entertaining and impressive. Even our photographer, a woman, was pumping her fist and high-fiving at the final crash of cymbals.
Then Maia and Mum Bindy decided there was an important message to impart – that young people should give anything and everything a try because they just might enjoy it, they might be good at it.
That’s not how our correspondent perceived the story. Fair enough. Theirs is a valid opinion and we respect it. And we aren’t immune to criticism.
This is the letter
“Come on Hunter Wells, do we really need to start an article about a young girl with a stereotype that is so old and insulting? I appreciate Maia wanting to constantly enforce that ‘girls can do anything’ because she has to. Hunter’s starting point references the role of girls and women more than 100 years ago – “doing a pas de deux, tap dancing or flitting up and down the piano scales”. Really Hunter? Every time a man writes about stereotypes of girls and women in society, we are left to constantly pick up the seismic shift in how we live our ourselves today.
Hunter leaves no insult stone unturned and describes Maia as ‘little’. Can I suggest the word ‘young’ so we don’t compress girls into another demure stereotype.
Stop writing like this and we will stop having to chant ‘girls can do anything’. Surely we have proved this by now. Constantly justifying our position in the world for equal capability, equal pay and equal offering is getting tiring.”
The writer’s name was attached but withheld in the belief the opinion was of more relevance.
The Weekend Sun referred the letter to Maia’s mother Bindy Roddick.
Mum’s offering
“The story you wrote about our girl Maia and her dedication to drums just hit the spot, Meeting you was not Maia’s idea. She doesn’t feel special and knows that so many other kids are amazing at different things too, so why should she get the write up.
With a bit of persuasion, she agreed to meet you in the hope her story would inspire other kids, and send the message that anyone can do what they put their mind to no matter their age or gender.
We need to say thank you Hunter. You manged to describe Maia’s drive, passion, excitement and dedication to learning something new.
The overall response from the article was that it showed how someone so ‘little’ can have such great commitment and we should all be very proud of the enjoyment and success she gets from playing drums.
As Maia said: ‘If I can show one person it's ok to try something then that's all I want!’
So thank you Hunter for your caring nature, positive energy and friendly attitude to Maia. It was a beautiful write up. She has shown others near and far to aim high and not give up if you have a passion.
Here’s to a bright future ahead for all those out there starting something new and shining in the spotlight!”
So one story, two very different perspectives, both well received.