We at THG appreciate feedback from our readers, so we have decided to post some
recent comments sent in to our staff on various subjects. We left in all
spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors to preserve authenticity. These are
actual comments, not works of fiction like most of our material.
Concerning our article on the Indiana General Assembly passing country’s
strictest anti-smoking law:
From Princeton, IN:
my comment is about the new law that is about to take order
in our state. i think it is wrong and very discremanting to all of the
people in our state that are smokers and i dont think it should have
been passed at all. It seems like smokers might as well as be prisoners
of thier own state but without bars doing a life sentence for nothing. I
just wish that the government would look around and open their eyes
alcohol kills more than tabacco and that isnt banned so why is smoking.
smoking might as well be illegal in the our country and they say we are a
free country that is wrong because all of our rights are being takin
away because congress cant stop thinking of money in their pockets and
other countries but our own.
From Evansville, IN:
This is a general comment on the stated law banning smoking
in Indiana except in the home or a closed automobile. I have been a
resident of this state since I was 15 years old and will turn 65 next
week ..... that is 50 years ..... half a century. This weekend I am
moving to TN and have had, up to the point of readint this article, very
mixed emotions about the move. I am now proud and happy to say that, if
this law goes into effect, I am happy to be moving and will totally
disavow any ties to the state of Indiana. Yes, I am a smoker, and have
traveled extensively throughout the world for almost 40 years on business.
Up until this time, California has topped my list of absolutely
ridiculous states with their smoking laws .... it now appears that Indiana
wants to take the top prize for stupidity. I can understand restraunts,
bars, offices, buildings, etc., but out of doors ..... that is totally
and unequivically insane. You cannot legislate peoples habits any!
more than you can morality. To the two representatives mentioned in
your article I only have one comment .... a vertically extended middle
digit and a hearty fairwell to stupidity. You have lost a very well
known and successful businessman who will, hopefully never return to such
stupidity.
May common sense someday take over.
From Evansville:
My wife called to "break the news to me" that all public
smoking was going to be banned in Indiana. She and her co-workers heard it
on Hot96 radio. The station were getting plenty of calls and discussing
it to great length. They even linked your article with the first few
sentences as their lead story on their web page.
Apparently, everyone at my wife’s work were talking about the ban and
calling people to gloat. When they called me (cigar smoking, bourbon
guzzling, smartass). I told them that they were full of it, the basic
response was that it was on the radio and they had pulled up the story link
from Hot96’s website to the newspaper story. I told them I would look
and call them back.
I went to the radio stations webpage and sure enough, there it was
front and center, their main story. I clicked the link and was sent to the
“full story” on your page. First look at your page gives the small town
newspaper kind of feel. The story did not feel real to me, and then I
reached the part of the story stating that windows would have to be
rolled up. That’s when I started laughing. Just to make sure, I made a
quick check of the quoted senator’s names, no match. Then I went back and
explored your site, a lot of fun, but made me feel like a dumb ass for
not looking around the site prior to checking the senators’ names!
I called my wife and her co-workers to tell them to get off of their
soapboxes and that my cigar would still be smoking. Then I called the
radio station. Let’s just say they were shocked! It was very obvious that
they were not in on the joke. The story was off of their website within
10 minutes. Did I get a free shirt and beer coozie for my effort? Nope,
not a thing. You would think after informing them that they were
spreading bogus news, stirring up a shit storm, and directing all of their
listeners to a website designed to poke fun at Hoosiers; I would get some
worthless trinket out of the deal! Oh well, I don’t listen to their
station anyway.
One thing still makes me curious though… who led them to the article in
the first place? What station moron posted the story link without even
making the most basic two-minute check I made? Let’s not even discuss
the amount of people roped into this fable during the hours it was
discussed by on air personalities!
Good work guys, this story and it’s aftermath gave me a smile today.
From Newburgh, IN:
Just thought you'd enjoy this. Your story on the smoking
ban was posted around a local hospital as a real story. The anti-smoking
folks were dancing in the hallways until it was pointed out to them
that the story was a spoof.
As Scott Adams would say, "In-duh-viduals are everywhere!"
Good job!
Concerning the lovely city of Vincennes:
I love the site! I'm a 20 year old college student at Vincennes Univ.
(sadly), and your stories, although fictional, somehow ring true about the
Hoosier culture. As I said, I go to school in Vincennes, and the two
stories I read about the town (the ones about ShopVincennes.com and the
"Queer Eye Fiasco") sum it up in a nutshell, a has-been city full of
dreams as big as the rebel flags flying from the backs of the pickup
trucks on Hart Street. Anyway, if I have any story ideas, I'll be sure to
pass them along to you, but otherwise, keep up the good work!
General comments:
From somewhere in Kentucky:
HILARIOUS! I grew up in Evansville...so this is friggin'
awesome. :)
From Gary, IN:
You guys are nothing but a bunch of n*****-loving stupid ass
sons of bitches. You can kiss my ass.
From Louisville, KY:
Too bad the best the hoosiers can do is make fun of people
from kentucky. Keep up the hard work! Maybe one day you guys will come
up with a real website. I'll pray for ya!
From London, England:
Great site - very well written. I have visited Indiana only
once (Sullivan area) and this makes me laugh and brings back happy
memories of the trip!
Concerning Angel Mounds being Indiana’s most boring attraction:
From parts unknown:
About the angel mounds, they have one of the best facilities
for any of the sites their kind, I`ve been to 10 or 15 of them all over
the country. Its the only thing I`ve ever found interesting to do while
driving thru your midwestern cultural desert of a state. I know this is
a satirical paper, but god your an asshole. Why not just tell everyone
in the country to just stay away from your boring state.
Thanks again to all of you that took the time to comment!
