Does this guy deserve front-page play for mutiliating himself?
Summary: Kudos to Derek Donovan, the Kansas City Star's Readers' Representative, for pointing out that a front-page, above-the-fold story on a guy who markets himself as "The Scary Guy" did not deserve that kind of placement in the newspaper. 01-15-2008
I just got off the phone with a very nice caller who doesn't think today's A-1 story on "The Scary Guy" belonged on the front page. "I have a few tattoos and had my ear pierced," he said. "My mom had eight tattoos and my dad has twelve, so this is familiar territory. But I don't know where it belongs in the paper. He got some good press and that's good for his career, I guess." It's a fine story, but I share my caller's concern about its play. The Scary Guy makes a living based on his appearance (and the story does note that his seminars can cost $5000 a day), and it's not as if he hasn't appeared in The Star many times in the past. I wouldn't have put it on the cover, either.
The Scary Guy wants us to face our inner demons By STEVE ROCK, The Kansas City Star
As he sits at a table in a small Italian restaurant, the man known as �The Scary Guy� is the center of attention. A waitress glances his way, then glances at him again. �Oh, my gosh,� she mumbles to herself. A customer walks in and does a double-take, trying to be subtle but staring nonetheless. The Scary Guy never flinches. Link to rest of story: http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/444843.html
