Oops, There Goes My Skirt Droppin' to My Feet
If you haven't seen it yet today, here's Star Tribune Reader Rep Kate Parry's column on my recent vita.mn piece about sex in public.
vita.mn drops every Thursday, so every Thursday the cover story is automatically linked on the parent paper's homepage (StarTribune.com). This one probably should've been scanned for content first, but I guess that's just a lesson for next Thursday and every Thursday thereafter.
Anyway, it's my understanding that Kate's job is to represent the opinions of the Strib's readers, but the reader quotes she uses only imply disapproval with the placement of my story on the front page of the Strib's website. Not with the actual subject of sex al fresco itself. Kate seems to be the only one thinking a "reality check" is needed with regards to Minnesotans enjoying sex as just another outdoor hobby in the summertime. Even my 57-year-old mother asked me if Kate lived under a Lutheran rock; does she really believe such recreation has never existed in the lives of healthy adults?
Maybe Kate's friends "never look more content and comfortable than on that first crisp fall
day when they can finally cover up with heavy sweaters again" but mine relish in every day they can spend in sandals or shorts. And I challenge anyone to find something more fun than getting frisky outdoors. (Except maybe playing Twilight Zone pinball. Okay, tie.)
There were really just two things that bothered me about Kate's column:
a) Her implication that my interviews of 15 people "is not a poll, even an unscientific one." Merriam-Webster says a poll is "a questioning or canvassing of persons selected at random or by quota to obtain information or opinions to be analyzed", so we'll just chalk that error up to Kate not having a dictionary handy.
2) She says I declined to identify which neighborhood I live in. I told her I live in Northeast! Sheesh, everyone knows I live in Northeast.
Whatevs, it's part of Kate's job to assuage the ticked off readers of the Star Tribune, so I don't think her column affects the opinions of the readers of vita.mn, specifically with regards to my writing. If anything, the column just brought us more readers, which is win-win for the Strib.
Oh the high and mighty Strib! I think the trouble here might be that the Strib prefers to fuck its employees indside...and behind closed doors.
Posted by: geoff | June 17, 2007 at 02:56 PM
I don't really understand her beef. If the issue is the inappropriate linkage on the front page of StarTrib.com, I agree with her. It shouldn't have been there.
What's the journalistic complaint? You said it was an unscientific poll. Indeed, I saw the open topic on vita.mn. Perhaps the word "survey" would have better conveyed what happened, but really, who cares?
Is she saying that you are wrong? That people don't have sex outdoors? In her column she seems to be making the same mistake she accuses you of making. She's relying on her small group of friends (and readers who complained) to justify her assertion.
What would have tighter editing changed? Should you have spoken to a degreed expert in the topic? Consulted statistics? It seems to me, you did a trend piece. Is she saying that using comments from registered users on a website as the basis for an article is wrong? Is it better to stop ten people on Nicollet Mall and ask them? I'm confused.
That said: the byline should have had a second line, vita.mn columnist. And don't sell yourself short, Alexis. To say you're doing entertainment rather than journalism seems wrong to me. Entertainment implies fiction. You're doing trend journalism. The Strib does that all the time.
Posted by: Jason | June 17, 2007 at 03:17 PM
Ah, the price of fame. I had a fleeting thought when the article came out that I wish I had a ... less distinctive first name. Then again, I'm hardly shy, so why pretend.
The kiddo saw you on one of the billboards when we were at the Kowalski's on Hennepin. He was pretty excited, "Mom, we know someone famous!"
Posted by: Marchlle | June 17, 2007 at 03:56 PM
Congratulations on all the publicity, well done. I suspect Kate's rant gives the Star Tribune something to point at when the prudes come yelling. They even reprinted the lady bug cover image, gold!
Keep it coming.
Posted by: Andy | June 17, 2007 at 04:28 PM
With a subject line like that I feel totally cheated that there aren't any images in this post.
Posted by: DON Rodent | June 17, 2007 at 05:17 PM
*yawn*
Kate Parry has a lot of other shit she could be writing about. I'm kind of disappointed she even made a column about it when there are so many other things Strib readers are probably concerned with. No offense, I'm disappointed you took the time to even respond to it too. It's mostly nonsense to even talk about. It's a non-story.
And for her to imply that you won't know that vita.mn is part of the Strib without trying hard to read the fine print? c'mon...
Your ordered list of two items could have been 8 items.
"Whatever," is what I say.
-Aaron
Posted by: Aaron | June 17, 2007 at 06:15 PM
I gave my two cents in your previous blog about the shoes. I'll let me comment there stand (missing closing " mark and all.)
Posted by: Dave | June 17, 2007 at 06:19 PM
Aaron, it's almost not even worth a response from me, but I think it would be weird if I didn't give one.
But "whatever" is also what I say!
Also, fans of my Mom will enjoy the fact that she asked me today, over Father's Day barbecue dinner, why I didn't interview my own parents for the piece. Gag.
Posted by: Alexis | June 17, 2007 at 06:22 PM
Oooh...I could just see you say, "I'm not reporting the news, Kate," all calm and cool but with just a tinge of "fuck off" for good measure.
I noted, as well, that her big beef seemed to be that, since she couldn't imagine people having sex outdoors, that must mean that it doesn't really happen. Really? Maybe instead of directing a poorly supported column about you, she should be calling up Kersten to set up a coffee date.
Posted by: Amber | June 17, 2007 at 10:04 PM
You are being admirably mild in your reaction, as she comes off as not only a scold but one whose perspective seems rather limited.
But one service she does perform is to make clear the reason why the Star Tribune started publishing vita.mn in the first place. Judging by her reaction and what she has to say about her paper versus yours, it's clear the readership must overlap very little. And if that's true, then the Star Tribune is secretly celebrating -- since they have achieved what they wanted by beginning the tabloid in the first place, namely to expand their market -- no matter how publicly censorious they pretend to be.
Posted by: toobeaut | June 17, 2007 at 10:42 PM
Awesome. I love every single thing about this.
Posted by: Rex | June 17, 2007 at 10:46 PM
pfft. some people need to get over their fear of the s-e-x word.
Posted by: hedy | June 17, 2007 at 10:47 PM
Well, that's the last time I ever have sex on the front page of the Star-Tribune!
Posted by: Max Sparber | June 17, 2007 at 10:57 PM
How does she critize you're lack of an _unscientific_ poll (let's be kind and assume that's what she really meant) when she herself offers up nothing of the sort to support her claim that this isn't something MN's do?
Posted by: Allen | June 18, 2007 at 12:50 AM
Wow, you ruffled feathers at both the Strib and City Pages.
My hat, and my pants, off to you madam.
Will you start wearing a red letter "A"?
Posted by: chuck | June 18, 2007 at 01:09 AM
Kate Parry's story should have not been about Alexis, it should have been about whomever is putting vita.mn's entertainment content on Star Tribune.
The reader criticism comes from Star Tribune readers expecting Star Tribune content, right? Alexis writes for vita.mn. So why is she taking heat for vita.mn content showing up on Star Tribune? Parry focused on the content of the piece being acceptable or not for the Star Tribune when the piece, AFAIK, wasn't intended for the Star Tribune in the first place.
It almost feels like Parry's story is a sly way to drive more readership to both the Star Tribune and vita.mn by exploiting this very minimal controversy.
Posted by: Aaron | June 18, 2007 at 08:21 AM
What a bunch of prudes at the Strib. Talking out both sides of their mouths saying they need to attract younger non-readers to any form of printed news product then receive a couple of church lady-esque comments specifically for the sake of stirring up some forced controversy. Bleh.
Posted by: sornie | June 18, 2007 at 08:34 AM
Hey, I'm going to the park! With my camera...!
Posted by: Dan | June 18, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Is there anyone on the inside at StarTribune.com who will divulge the page view traffic from all things related to Alexis' article? I bet the advertising department is busting...er...I mean bursting with glee. Win-win.
Posted by: andrew | June 18, 2007 at 01:44 PM
Amen Aaron!
“I am a handful, ... He should be able to handle me. If he can't, he's not a very good pimp.”
Posted by: Heidi | June 18, 2007 at 06:13 PM
sex out door sighting.... 18th and monroe under the railroad bridge... maybe not my first choice of location but it is out there and I saw it!!!
Posted by: Sarah Buckley | June 19, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Dang, Twilight Zone pinball! I haven't played that since I was washing clothes in a laundromat in Austin probably 6 years ago. Now I got the URGE.
Posted by: Jeremy | June 19, 2007 at 11:58 AM
If anyone needs proof, forget polls, see it for yourself, prudes included, goto 300 block of Clifton Ave, Minneapolis, after 1am on any Friday or Saturday night. You will see more sex in cars, sex behind trees, and everywhere else you can imagine, than you thought possible. People drive around and around looking for causal encounters.
Posted by: Mr.xxx | June 19, 2007 at 02:43 PM
In the event you're taking an additional poll: I'm 55; not bought a STrib for 20 years; and, after "closing time"... on the roof of a downtown office building-- before I met your mom of course.
Posted by: Dad | June 20, 2007 at 02:42 PM
wouldn't it be hillarious if mr.xxx is a cop.
Posted by: Cracker | June 22, 2007 at 02:39 PM