The Soapbox: Rants and Commentary: In response to Virgin Newspapers and Anal Retentiveness Composed by Anonymous(Llamendola682401@cs.com) In response to Mike O’Leary’s Virgin Newspapers and Anal Retentiveness, Do you have a subscription to a book, magazine, or newspaper? If you do, does it become community property before you get a hold of it? This is the point that Mike O’Leary is trying to argue in his letter “Virgin Newspapers and Anal Retentiveness.” He works at the front desk of a dorm. After being caught reading a girl’s newspaper, the girl calls the dorm manager and the front desk to complain. O’Leary becomes offended by the girl’s angriness. Does he have any reason to be offended? Does he have any right to read the girl’s paper? O’Leary tries to prove that there is nothing wrong with reading someone else’s newspaper. Am I missing something here? Is a newspaper not mail? I thought that tampering with other people’s mail is a federal offense. I do not want someone reading any of my mail. Newspapers, bills, junkmail, or magazines with my name and address are only for my personal use. If I pay for those newspapers and magazines, I am taking money out of my pocket to buy something for me, not you and your neighbor. I understand that O’Leary means no harm by reading the girl’s paper, but it is her property, and she does not give him permission. The girl has every right to be angry with O’Leary. She pays $120 to get her newspapers, and she deserves to get them without them being tampered with. O’Leary may have meant no harm by reading the sports section, but by doing this he is violating the girl’s privacy. If O’Leary or anyone else wants to check out the box scores or stay updated with the 2000 presidential campaigns, they need to dig into their own pockets and put up the change for a newspaper. Some people may not be offended by O’Leary’s actions, but people have different feelings about things like that. For instance, my Aunt Jan can’t stand for someone to read her paper before she does. She believes that the paper will never be in the order that it was in when it was delivered if someone else reads it. If it were someone without this mentality, O’Leary would never hear a word from the newspaper recipient, but the girl must think like my Aunt. Therefore, O’Leary must respect the girl’s property and the way she expects to receive it. What if I stopped in your driveway on my way to work, read the funnies and the sports section, and stuffed it back into its little plastic covering? Would you be mad? Of course you would be mad, and you would have every right to be. This is the same scenario with O’Leary reading the girl’s newspaper. The only difference is that the girl’s driveway and mailbox are in the lobby of the dorm. I do not question why she calls and complains. She pays for it, and it is her mail, not O’Leary’s. O’Leary has no reason to be offended by her complaints. He was in the wrong, and he should admit his wrongdoings and apologize. It all comes down to privacy and ownership of property. Everyone has the right of privacy through the postal service. Whatever is addressed to them is meant for them to receive. Also, if someone pays for something, such as a newspaper, it is only for their personal use unless they state otherwise. O’Leary has no right to read the girl’s paper or to be offended by her complaint. He should either find some one who doesn’t mind his reading of their newspaper, or he should buy his own. Back To Rants and Commentary

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