READERS RESPOND

OR

"TOO MANY OUT-OF-TOWN READERS, I SUSPECT, SHARE GENE DAMON'S COMPLAINT (THE LDDER, SEPTEMBER): 'HOW IN H CAN ❘ STEP CASUALLY INTO THE DOB OFFICE FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI?' OTHER HINTERLANDS. WITH SEVEN LEAGUE BOOTS SO HARD TO COME BY, SHE OFFERS TO FRUSTRATED COMMUTERS A SCHEDULE FOR HELPING-IN-

ABSENTIA. I AGREE WITH THEN ALL, BUT POINT 6 INSPIRES ME IRREPRESSIBLY: DON'T HATE THE EDITORS FOR FAILING TO WRITE BACK. THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE TIME.

"ONLY A KAGAZINE WITH A LIFE-SIZE STAFF WORKING 'ROUND THE CLOCK COULD EVER COPE PERSONALLY WITH ITS CORRESPONDENCE. COPING IMPERSONALLY BY SIMPLY REPRINTING A FEW LETTERS,

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WITH NO COM ENT FROM THE EDITORS IS ONE SOLUTION. BUT IS IT GOOD FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS? SUBSCRIBENS TO THE LADDER ARE PROBABLY THE MOST DEDICATED READERS OF ALL. AS SUCH, THEY WANT TO BE HEARD ESPECIALLY FROM A DISTANCE. AND SO I A

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OFFERING THIS SUGGESTION:

"HAT ABOUT AN OPINION POLL AS A MONTHLY FEATURE IN THE LADDER? OH, I KNOW THAT THE MAGAZINE INVITES OPINIONS FROM ANYBODY, ANY TIME, AND PRINTS THEM, IF POSSIBLE, BUT I DON'T MEAN JUST THAT. THIS IS A RATHER HAPHAZARD WETHOD OF COMMUNICATION, IT SEEMS TO ME. IT LIMITS READER RESPONSE, DUE TO LACK OF PAGE SPACE AND STAFF TIME.

"SUPPOSE THAT, IN EACH ISSUE OF THE LADDER, OPINIONS WERE SOLICITED ON ONE PARTICULAR QUESTION? IT COULD BE PERSONAL OR SPECULATIVE BUT SHOULD CONCERN A MAJORITY OF SUBSCRIBERS. THESE OPINIONS COULD BE SENT TO ME DIRECTLY WITHIN A WEEK AFTER THE MAGAZINE APPEARED EACH MONTH. I WOULD POLL THE RESULTS AND CONDENSE THEM INTO A SINGLE, ONE-PAGE REPORT IN TIME FOR THE NEXT MONTH'S LADDER. THIS WAY, EVERYONE WHO WANTED TO GET A WORD IN, COULD DO SO IF ONLY EDGEWISE.

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"TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, I AM LISTING A FEW SAMPLE QUESTIONS, ANY ONE OF WHICH MIGHT SERVE AS A THOUGHT-PROVOKER:

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