I had a call from my editor at The Arizona Republic earlier today. To be honest, I thought it was The Goodbye Look. I’m utterly amazed that they’ve let me carry on like this for a year, and lately I’m pushing even more than my normal share of buttons.
And that really was the gist of the call, not to fire me but to ask if I would mind plugging in less contentious columns between the columns in the series I have cooking right now on buyer’s agent’s commissions.
The editor said he loves the content, he just wants a break from the angry Realtor phone calls!
Fair enough. So I wrote a new column today on why overpriced homes won’t sell, and I’ll hit him with others later in the week. He can space them out however he likes.
It’s funny, though, isn’t it? That urge to censorship — call the ADRE, call the AAR, call the editor, try to brow-beat me — is so common. God help us, I hope it’s isolated to the real estate business…
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Todd Tarson says:
Greg, I don’t know if you are involved in leadership at all, local — state — whatever. However I would like to know if there is anything you’d like me to pass along to AAR when I’m down for leadership meetings later this month.
I’ve just begun to get up the nerve to speak my peace and it just so happens that much of what you have to say goes along with many thoughts I’ve had over the short period of time I’ve been in the biz.
I think it’s time to be the monkey in the wrench for me and sure would like some help in the matter. I’m sure some of your critics from the RE community will be at AAR when I’m there, anything you want me to pass along??
October 4, 2006 — 12:17 pm
Greg Swann says:
That’s very gracious of you, Todd, but it’s not necessary. None of this will come to anything. It’s just creepy that people would try to silence debate rather than make any attempt to refute it. I have a better answer, anyway. Watch this space for a picture of a big red dog… 😉
October 4, 2006 — 1:30 pm
Jonathan Dalton says:
Greg, have you ever worked at a newspaper? Do you know how many angry phone calls it takes to make an editor antsy? I have – the over/under is around two. Maybe one or two more if they’ve evolved to the point where they have a vertebrae.
I have many issues with the Republic and their coverage of the real estate market. Foremost among them is the eye toward the bottom line than any objective standard.
If there had been an outpouring of public support for your position, the editor would never have called. They would have pandered to the audience, just as they pander to the bubble boys.
And some of us have worked to refute the arguments being made, though we’re working somewhat in the shadows of the blogosphere. For now.
I rarely agree with what you right, but that’s fine … your blog is well-thought and articulate, which raises it above 90% of the schlock being posted. And my dissent always gives me a blog topic of my own.
Unfortunately, there are far too few in this profession with enough understanding to take a position on either side of the fence.
October 4, 2006 — 3:04 pm
Jonathan Dalton says:
With what you write, is what I meant to say … such is the danger of blogging while your 2nd-grader asks you for help with her reading comprehension homework.
October 4, 2006 — 3:05 pm