Thanks, I agree that my comment would be much more helpful if stated less ambiguously, and I also felt frustrated about the article while writing it (and still do). I also agree that we don’t want to annoy such authors.
1) I interpreted your first commented to say it would not be a good use of resources to be critical of the author. I think that publically saying “I think this author wrote a very uncharitable and unproductive piece and I would be especially careful with him or her going forward” is better than not doing it, because it will a) warn others and b) slightly change the incentives for journalists: There are costs to writing very uncharitable things, such as people being less willing to invite you and giving you information that might be reported on uncharitably.
2) Another thing I thought you were saying: Authors have no influence on the editors and it’s wasted effort to direct criticism towards them. I think that authors can talk to editors, and their unhappiness with changes to their written work will be heard and will influence how it is published. But I’m not super confident in that, for example if it’s common to lose your job for being unhappy with the work of your editors, and there being little other job opportunities. On the other hand, there seem to be many authors and magazines that allow themselves to report honestly and charitably. So it seems useful to at least know who does and does not tend to do that.
Thanks, I agree that my comment would be much more helpful if stated less ambiguously, and I also felt frustrated about the article while writing it (and still do). I also agree that we don’t want to annoy such authors.
1) I interpreted your first commented to say it would not be a good use of resources to be critical of the author. I think that publically saying “I think this author wrote a very uncharitable and unproductive piece and I would be especially careful with him or her going forward” is better than not doing it, because it will a) warn others and b) slightly change the incentives for journalists: There are costs to writing very uncharitable things, such as people being less willing to invite you and giving you information that might be reported on uncharitably.
2) Another thing I thought you were saying: Authors have no influence on the editors and it’s wasted effort to direct criticism towards them. I think that authors can talk to editors, and their unhappiness with changes to their written work will be heard and will influence how it is published. But I’m not super confident in that, for example if it’s common to lose your job for being unhappy with the work of your editors, and there being little other job opportunities. On the other hand, there seem to be many authors and magazines that allow themselves to report honestly and charitably. So it seems useful to at least know who does and does not tend to do that.