Sir, – While sitting in vacant and in pensive mood, having read the day's Irish Times, I wondered about the letter from Deirdre Byrne, who has taken to grinding her teeth when letters from "frequent flyers" appear (June 12th).
What kind of people write to a newspaper?
Are they writing from a computer at work while the boss is not looking? Are they bored retirees at home? Are they people who have lived a life without exerting any influence and are now trying to have an impact? Are they cranks? Have they no friends with whom to debate issues? Are they good conversationalists? Are they scruffy in their appearance? How do their spouses tolerate them?
Is the mental image I have of them anywhere close to their real appearance?
Whatever the reality is, I must admit that I open my paper at the two opposing pages that contain the letters, editorials and opinion articles with great enthusiasm, and I always look at the letters page first. – Yours, etc,
SEAN O’SULLIVAN,
Crossabeg,
Co Wexford.
Sir, – The grinding of Deirdre Byrne’s teeth is as nothing compared to the teeth-grinding of those who yet again have failed to to get their latest and most crucial letter published! – Yours, etc,
BRIAN LOUGHEED,
Killarney,
Co Kerry.
Sir, – Deirdre Byrne’s letter on a dental condition caused by “frequent flyer” letter-writers reminds me of a solution to another problem.
A man was so shocked by what he read about the dangers of smoking cigarettes that he forced himself to give up reading. – Yours, etc,
DERMOT O’ROURKE,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.