By Gordon Anderson
People just want to be appreciated.
I mean, yes. I know paychecks put food on the table and a roof over your head and all that. But if you’re lucky enough to decide which endeavor you’re going to give your waking hours in exchange for compensation, you’re probably going to pick something gratifying, right?
A server at a restaurant, I’m entirely conjecturing here, has to appreciate being verbally thanked for creating a great dining experience almost as much as a nice tip. “Nice building you designed there,” must be something the architect enjoys hearing. “This septic tank is as empty as the day I got it” has got to be music to the pump man’s ears.
Everybody likes to be appreciated.
So while I do take a moment to soak it in every time I hear something like “I sure love that newspaper you’re doing, Gordon,” that spirit-affirming feeling gets wiped away like the convictions of a pardoned Trump crony every time I see a Facebook comment on one of our stories asking a question that’s literally answered in the story’s opening sentences.
I mean, come on!
It’s happening way too much lately, too. “A Mexican restaurant serving cafeteria style breakfast, lunch and dinner will soon occupy the site of the old Landmark Breakfast shop at 129 W. Main St. in the Jonesboro area, according to signs in the window and information from the Sanford/Lee County Planning Department,” I led off a story with on Dec. 23, eliciting at least three comments to the effect of “so what is this?”
“Taste of India opened last week at 143 Rand St. in the Jonesboro area, and we’ve been getting all kinds of calls and messages about the quality of food there,” I wrote back in June, prompting one person to ask where the restaurant in question was located.
“Since December 12, the Medicine Park Pharmacy at 100 Park Avenue, Magicias Tajeras at 101 Wicker St., Advance Auto at 936 N. Horner Blvd., Fabulous Finds at 201 N. Steele St., City Electric Supply at 817 Woodland Ave., and Dominion Energy at 800 N. Horner Blvd. have all made similar reports,” we included in our story about the shooting out of windows at Kringle & Kompany in the Riverbirch shopping center, only to be informed by several folks that other businesses had also had their windows shot out.
And on and on.
I don’t bring this up to single anyone out or make them feel bad. We appreciate all of our readers. And in the age of cable news and social media, sounding off on a story without giving it a full read is probably the new normal (and one of the reasons a visit to the comments section often requires a hazmat suit).
But so anyway. Thanks for reading our work. We’re probably gonna know if you didn’t.
Gordon Anderson was created in a Russian troll factory, rebelled against his masters and now lives under an assumed name (Gordon Anderson) in Sanford, North Carolina. He co-owns The Rant.
Hi, I can totally understand your frustration. I’ve thought the same things when I’ve read some of the questions.
Anyway, I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your paper. I lived in Sanford for many years and enjoy being kept informed of the many changes. Good job!
Love your paper!
Thank you for the RANT I really enjoy reading it and y’all are great and greatly appreciated
Gee, Gordon, I didn’t know there was a reading comprehension requirement to read the Rant. Enjoy your status as the owner of the paper. Have you ever stopped to consider satisfaction available to a wait person or a pumpman for a septic tank? Let’s have a little empathy here.
That Russian troll factory sure does a good job!
This was a good, hearty laugh indeed. Thank you sir.
I enjoy your paper more than the Sanford Hearld. Y’all have more insight with what goes on around Sanford. Thank you for starting your paper.
Keep going Gordon, there are lots of us reading who actually pay attention to what you write!
Hey Gordon as of Gordon and Jordan I know u r special because of who u r married to as well as her Jordan marrying the love of her life and I never heard of yr paper until well a person I love with all my heart and my stomach hurts every day for her but I understand why this had to be reported I guess some people not you thought it was more important to report things about her that were so hurtful mainly to me my sister is handling this situation so much better than me and what ever happens happens she will not be broken by these men well I honestly can’t refer to them as mean I could but I won’t smear their names as they have my sister who I love so so much u know their was a man brought in to court the same day as my sister was there and why that wasn’t more news worthy than my sister anyway Gordon i so admire your wife and my best friend since the 6th grade where Michele became friends that day because of our matching rain coats❤️❤️❤️Any way my Rant is done Gordon as I said you have a great journalist job which I admire please believe me I wish I had your ability I am not criticizing you or your paper as I said I never knew about this paper and as a result however I read it ever day and so admire your ability please know as I said events who affect my family of course but news is news and again I admire you and your talent and absolutely love Jordan’s family I would have never survived had it not been for my best friend and her family. ❤️❤️❤️
Gordon a polite way to express our current state of affairs of our country… what is even worse is the absolute fact that his followers idolize this president anyway God Bless our country…
I absolutely love The Rant! I come to this site every day after watching the morning news just to see if there is something new. Sounds silly, but I was walking out of Jim’s Restaurant in Sanford and seen the paper sitting by the Sanford Herald and I said, “that’s my paper right there!!!” Keep up the great work guys 🙂
Imagine how teachers feel. If I had a $ for every time I started a class with “Turn to page …” only to have someone ask “What page are we on?” If every classroom in America goes paperless (God forbid), the sole benefit will be never having to answer that question again. At any rate, we love reading The Rant, paper or otherwise.
Gee, it’s always nice to know that you provide such wonderful and precise information regarding our community and then are basically asked “what is it you do for your community?” Now really….The Sanford Herald has gone so far downhill since Billy left. I was never so pleased to have The Rant come online and now the hard copy is available as well–that’s been an answer to my prayers. You and Billy are what Sanford needs. Keep up the great work and hope that Sanford doesn’t lose you!