traumatic post stress disorder: mea maxima culpa

I think some of my (two) loyal blog-readers may be suffering from TPSD: traumatic post stress disorder. In response to the post that I titled something like, "Don't believe this post," both L. and J. commented that I should not under any circumstances be allowed to edit my posts after the initial posting. I had broached the subject in that post, indicating that the ease of editing my posts had occasioned some thinking about digital-age journalistic ethics. I promised to disclose any future post edits and encouraged readers to demand a similar standard from their mainstream and alternative online news and information sources. Somehow, though, instead of being hailed for my pioneering spirit and towering ethical stature, I became the strawman in a series of shockingly vicious attacks from L. and J. In their comments in response to my post, neither of them said word one about the scurrilous reporting and editing practices of the online editions of such "real" news sites such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, or The Onion, at least three of which I have personally observed to change wording and/or other, more substantive content in their news stories with nary a disclaimer. Now I know how John Kerry felt when he was labasted for maybe throwing some medals over the White House fence.

Ever the good martyr, though, I will comply with the results of my informal readers' poll and refrain from touching my posts once they're posted. But please, now that you have cut your political teeth on my piddling little site, demand the same of your e-news site(s) of choice. (Really. I'm serious. Why would you gore me and then let the New York Times slide when it inserts or deletes facts after initial publishing?)

"When the wise man points to the moon, the fool looks at his finger."
--Me. Or Confucius. I forget. And the stupid browser at this internet cafe is currently configured so that I can't open a new window to find out who that quote is from, or to check and see if I spelled Confucius right. Since I can't do a little checking and then edit the post, the Qe (elegance quotient) of this post goes right down the friggin' tubes. I hope you finger-lookers are happy.