[net.suicide] Letters to 60 Minutes -- your turn

hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) (11/18/85)

Dear fellow netters,

Two weeks ago I posted to this newsgroup a copy of a letter I  sent  to  60
Minutes  regarding  their segment on Dungeons & Dragons and related teenage
suicides.  Two of their shows have aired since that time  and  neither  has
acknowledged  receipt  of  the  letter,  let  alone  apologized  for  their
misrepresentation of the facts.  This apparent contempt for the facts,  and
for us, their audience, leads me to think some cage rattling is in order.

Below is a generic letter to 60 Minutes demanding that they acknowledge and
respond  to the facts presented in my original letter.  I urge those of you
who care about such things to either print out this letter with  your  name
appended  or  write  your  own  letter  to  60  Minutes  and  mail  it  out
immediately.  They seem to respond to mail volume.  Let's  show  them  they
can't get away with "National Enquirer" style sensationalism.

---------------------------------CUT HERE-------------------------------------




	       18 November 1985


	       60 Minutes
	       524 W. 57th Street
	       New York, NY  10019


	       Dear 60 Minutes,

               Two weeks ago I read on a world wide computer network an
               open letter to your program regarding the segment you
               recently presented on fantasy gaming and related teenage
               suicides.  The letter cited statistics indicating that
               teenagers who play fantasy games are less likely to commit
               suicide than the average teenager by a ratio of at least 24
               to 1.  It concluded with a request that you check these
               statistics out for yourself and then respond appropriately
               (i.e.: with an apology).

               At least two of your programs have aired since that letter
               was mailed and no mention of it was made in the letters
               segment of either.  From this I can only conclude that you
               are more interested in sensationalism than facts and your
               reputation for honest, even-handed reportage is merely a
               fabrication of your publicity department.

               I'm willing to give you a final opportunity to prove my
               conclusion wrong.  If you haven't responded to the original
               letter within the next two weeks I'll know it's time to find
               something more useful to do with my Sunday evenings.



	       Sincerely,




























--------------------------CUT HERE--------------------------------------------

Ok, folks.  Here's your chance to make a  difference  and  strike  a  blow
against the know-nothing reactionaries.  Have at 'em!!

(And my sincere thanks to all those who sent encouraging responses  to  the
original posting).

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe)
Citicorp(+)TTI                    Common Sense is what tells you that a ten
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.             pound weight falls ten times as fast as a
Santa Monica, CA  90405           one pound weight.
(213) 450-9111, ext. 2483
{philabs,randvax,trwrb,vortex}!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe

moakler@glasgow.UUCP (02/24/86)

> Dear fellow netters,
> 
> Two weeks ago I posted to this newsgroup a copy of a letter I  sent  to  60
> Minutes  regarding  their segment on Dungeons & Dragons and related teenage
> suicides.  Two of their shows have aired since that time  and  neither  has
> acknowledged  receipt  of  the  letter,  let  alone  apologized  for  their
> misrepresentation of the facts.  This apparent contempt for the facts,  and
> for us, their audience, leads me to think some cage rattling is in order.
> 
> Below is a generic letter to 60 Minutes demanding that they acknowledge and
> respond  to the facts presented in my original letter.  I urge those of you
> who care about such things to either print out this letter with  your  name
> appended  or  write  your  own  letter  to  60  Minutes  and  mail  it  out
> immediately.  They seem to respond to mail volume.  Let's  show  them  they
> can't get away with "National Enquirer" style sensationalism.
> 
> ---------------------------------CUT HERE-------------------------------------
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 	       18 November 1985
> 
> 
> 	       60 Minutes
> 	       524 W. 57th Street
> 	       New York, NY  10019
> 
> 
> 	       Dear 60 Minutes,
> 
>                Two weeks ago I read on a world wide computer network an
>                open letter to your program regarding the segment you
>                recently presented on fantasy gaming and related teenage
>                suicides.  The letter cited statistics indicating that
>                teenagers who play fantasy games are less likely to commit
>                suicide than the average teenager by a ratio of at least 24
>                to 1.  It concluded with a request that you check these
>                statistics out for yourself and then respond appropriately
>                (i.e.: with an apology).
> 
>                At least two of your programs have aired since that letter
>                was mailed and no mention of it was made in the letters
>                segment of either.  From this I can only conclude that you
>                are more interested in sensationalism than facts and your
>                reputation for honest, even-handed reportage is merely a
>                fabrication of your publicity department.
> 
>                I'm willing to give you a final opportunity to prove my
>                conclusion wrong.  If you haven't responded to the original
>                letter within the next two weeks I'll know it's time to find
>                something more useful to do with my Sunday evenings.
> 
> 
> 
> 	       Sincerely,
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --------------------------CUT HERE--------------------------------------------
> 
> Ok, folks.  Here's your chance to make a  difference  and  strike  a  blow
> against the know-nothing reactionaries.  Have at 'em!!
> 
> (And my sincere thanks to all those who sent encouraging responses  to  the
> original posting).
> 
> -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
> The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe)
> Citicorp(+)TTI                    Common Sense is what tells you that a ten
> 3100 Ocean Park Blvd.             pound weight falls ten times as fast as a
> Santa Monica, CA  90405           one pound weight.
> (213) 450-9111, ext. 2483
> {philabs,randvax,trwrb,vortex}!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe

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