Here’s a glimpse into the world of my email box:

To Jonah Goldberg:
In ‘Restoring the “Hidden Law”‘, NRO, 7/17/00, you state, “When stunt skydivers die, I admit, I feel less sorrow than when old ladies get hit by cars or children die of some disease. “
In ‘Rebel get indignant without a cause’, townhall.com, 6/22/01, you state “When stunt skydivers die, I admit, I feel less sorrow than when kids get hurt in a car accident.”
How many more times have you flippantly used the phrase, “When stunt skydivers die?”
Have you ever jumped from an airplane and piloted a parachute to the ground?
I doubt that you have. I’m a skydiver, a member of USPA, and more safety conscious in everything I do than the vast majority of pundits are in their public opining. Your words are neither cute nor clever. To print them again and again for the smug self-satisfaction of sharing voluntary ignorance with the easily swayed is not admirable anyway you care to spin it. Stop referring to when stunt skydivers die.
You require humility. Access the USPA Web site, www.uspa.org. Research the member drop zones nearest to you. Choose one, train, and make a skydive. Get video and pictures. Publish these in every media to which you contribute. Be sure to give the photographer (skydiver) credit. Make a very public apology for your documented boorishness and your calloused words about skydivers. Do not forget to properly research the sport for your articles.
If you want your words to carry any weight with readers, your going to have to risk stating your case without appealing to the basest elements the human character.
[Name withheld]

And here was my response:

Mr. [Name withheld] – You come across thin-skinned and silly here and I don’t think either your tone or the merits of your complaint deserve to be dignified at length. The two columns are four and five years old. So, in effect I’ve stopped “defaming” stunt skydivers for the last four years. Second, if you don’t understand the point I’m making, you’re not too quick on the uptake. My guess is it’s harder for you to take out a life insurance policy than it is for, say, an accountant.
That my words do not carry weight with you is not evidence whatsoever that my words do not carry weight. However, if you like I would be delighted to post your comments on National Review Online — just for the fun of it.
Regardless, I’ll apologize for nothing and I may in fact try to rework stunt skydivers into a new column. I’m long overdue.
Lighten up,
Jonah

And his response:

You come across as a self-absorbed prick. Clearly, you’re afflicted with the journalist-as-star syndrome that has left the news media a desert and passes off turd slinging as editorial commentary. Whatever you may claim to be, you’re no true conservative. The likes of you will be the ruin of the National Review.
May you reap what you sow.