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Judith Tuggle's avatar

I am astonished by the posts of readers who cannot understand or relate to your humor , especially your satire. I have listened to you and read your books for about as far back as my 78 year old mind can remember. I know that your humor gently leans left, but that you are an equal opportunity purveyor of insults. Whether in religion (from Unitarians to Baptists), or education ( I am, like you I think, an English major), politics ( who could forget Bill Clinton ‘s “appearances” on your old radio show—or that wrestler who used to be governor of Minnesota). In short, I do not understand people who don’t enjoy your writing, which is designed to poke holes in all of our delusions of grandiosity. Most of all I don’t know why they bother to post their complaints to you. Praise whatever gods there be , whether Unitarian, Baptist, or that strait-laced Jehovah of the Minnesota brethren who raised you, I know you are not going to change. So my advice to your detractors is to just quit reading, go somewhere else on this vast potluck of opinion that is the internet. You’ll find some somber soul who is more to your liking.

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Simon Wells's avatar

G'day Garrison. As you guessed from the 1st sentence, I'm from Downunder. Mate. I notice more people in the last coupla weeks taking umbrage at perceived slurs and slights in your wonderful columns. I don't know why you publish these knockers, and bother responding to them. We in Australia have a strong sense of irony, and as a rule know ( more than a lot of your compatriates, it seems) when not to take things too seriously. Anyone who's a real GK fan knows when you're innocently poking fun. Which is most of the time. So, Garrison, unless you feel an uncontrollable urge to debate, just ignore these trolls. We who love you are all, I'm sure, distressed to read what these trolls send in, locking horns with a generous, perceptive and extremely civilised soul. Utterly failing to understand his whimsy, nor to show the respect due to an old fella who's been around the block a few times. Trolls abound on the social media, so they'll always find someone else to get antsy with. Please spare us their mean-spirited invective ( now, there's a nice word: I challenge you to rhyme that in a limerick !! ). There were never any trolls or knockers on Saturday nights on the PHC, and we don't need them now.

Your humour, voice, books, short stories have been a balm to my soul for 35 years, mate. Ta ( that's Aussie for 'thank you', as perhaps you know, as the English use it too). Ta muchly. And as we also say in Australia - On ya !

SIMON, Queensland

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