How they did it in the old days

[springyzone]

I was browsing Trove newspaper archives and came across this, from the Age newspaper in Melbourne, 1857.

Wow, so genteel but they didn't pull any punches. 

We like to think we're all so much more open & direct about things than people of the past, but I can't imagine any editor today daring to be as blunt. They'd be sued and the correspondent would need councelling and compensation.

Not much changes though. Look at the reply to number 3, 

[brerrabbit585]

The last line actually made me think of ebay (and buyers).

I don't think we're more direct these days. We're all gagged by 'political correctness' and aren't allowed to say what we think or believe.

[springyzone]

I think you're right in that we are gagged by political correctness.

People today though often think they are so open and accepting and take that as a virtue. Probably in a lot of cases, it is.

But a bit of straight talking doesn't go astray either.

It's a bit like a pendulum, sometimes we swing too far in one direction or another.

Oh and yes, in the last one we could substitute ebay.

And I felt a bit of guilt with the first one-to avoid writing till I have enough knowledge & training.

The mods could use that line when they lock threads etc. LOL

[chameleon54]

Thats a classic Dave, off to work with a smile on my dial. Thanks for posting it.