Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

How far is too far?

This is a question I've been wrestling with of late. Actually, it's one of many questions I've been pondering recently, but "How far is too far?" is the one we'll discuss as it pertains to this column and the limits I've been known to go to.

The first problem, is what is too far? It's hard for me to think there is such a thing, though others disagree, and have pretty much since the "Void's" been around. But this is all right, part of the idea is to stimulate thought and conversation, and sometimes buttons must be pushed.

Granted, there have been times the writing style used in the "Void" has been argumentative, insulting, Nietzchian and downright rude. Each style used, though, has been a tool  thought out with the intent of getting people to think in ways they ordinarily wouldn't consider.

No subject is safe, as there are no sacred cows in my world. Everything is open for question, in fact, everything needs to be questioned, for a life lived without questions, is not a life at all, but merely existence (and a boring one at that).

This, though, doesn't answer the question: "How far is too far?" Again, this is a concept foreign to yours truly.

In the years I've been writing the "Void", I have intentionally pushed the envelope to the limits, fought to get you, dear readers, to ask yourself questions on all aspects of life.

Yes, there have been times when this has blown up in my face, but it's all right. Getting people angry means I won, because they had to think about what had been written in order to get mad.

Letters have been written scolding me, chastising me and calling me some things we can't print in a family newspaper. Each and every letter along with each and every phone call has been a blessing for this writer, because it means I've gotten your attention for a little while.

It means the message has pulled you away from something else and made you take time from your busy lives to respond. For this I thank you.

But, the question remains unanswered. No, it has been, as I think about it. How far is too far? Ain't no such thing.