Playing the secret-keeper
Today is my last day at the Record (Joel was insistent that I have time for a summer vacation) and I'm busy writing up a last pair of feature stories, but I wanted to take some time out to make an observation.
The stories I reported in Multimedia Reporting and at the Free Press in Hillsboro were never personal tales, and I don't remember a source ever telling me anything that they wanted "off the record." But in the three weeks I've spent in Hesston, it seems that everyone I've talked to has given me an off-record secret or two. Some of them were minor details that just fleshed out some background details, but some were incredibly personal details that I certainly wouldn't have told in an interview.
I've been led to understand that small-town folk live for gossip. After a few years working as a reporter in a small town like this, I imagine you'd know every secret in town. What I'm curious about is why people tell me things they'd never want to see in print and trust me enough to not publish any of it.
Comments
I'm not sure what your roots are, but I guess I'll give mine in response. Most of my family are farmers living in Kansas or Missouri, so small town living is something they just... do.
I think the easiest way to think of it is not like a small town, but more like a small church (because that's where this rumor thing has many of its roots). Between you and another person, you two form the right side of the fence with anyone who opposes the obvious wrong.
You'll notice, that also means they feel a pact has been made, and you are now some how befriended to them. That's where the promise came from... you listened and didn't oppose. Now you agree!
Irony... blogging could potentially be the most devestating in a small town... yet few residents rarely own a computer, if they even know what one is.
Posted by: JT | July 8, 2005 02:07 AM