Re: Cyberspace loose with facts or flat out lying about Jeremy Hill grizzly case coverage/Rich Landers, Outdoors

Wayne Hoffman: Wow, step away from the computer for a few days and you miss a lot. Mr. Landers is correct that I erred when I wrote my column last week. I wrote that Landers said “federal law lets people shoot wolves that are threatening people, but not so with grizzlies.” Clearly I meant to say “federal law lets people shoot wolves that are threatening livestock, but not so with grizzlies.” Beyond that, my point remains the same. Landers wrote a column that more than takes the side of the feds and the grizzlies, and, by my reading of his words, his “down the middle” commentary seems to lean toward the federal government. Having said that, I’ve corrected my error. Mr. Landers, I’m sure, has, from time to time written things that were not true and had to correct them, not because he is a bad person, but because he typed too quickly, didn’t get enough sleep, was distracted, or for other honest reasons. The same is true for me. I made a mistake. I have corrected it. More below.

Reaction?

Of course, I would have corrected it sooner had Mr. Landers called or emailed me. I’m sure he could have figured out how to get in touch with me; he didn’t. That doesn’t bother me, because I have to take ownership for my mistake. Mr. Landers does not.

What does bother me is that for some reason, Mr. Landers has assumed that the only POSSIBLE explanation for my mistake is ill-intent, to spread rumors or lies. I made an error, so according to Mr. Landers, I must be a dirty, rotten, good for nothing jerk. It’s too bad Mr. Landers has chosen that tactic, as it is certainly not needed or helpful to the debate.