Cheap Don't

I just finished reading your article titled "Cheap Thrills" (by Karen Shugart, Feb. 28) and would like to comment on your addition of "Crash an AA Meeting." Just because Golden Girls made it sound amusing doesn't make it an acceptable thing for people to do. And you even state that you didn't know if it was a well-advised idea, and you were right. That should have been the first clue as to why not to print it in your article.

I don't think one can be that respectful when "crashing" an AA meeting. They aren't for non-addicts to get their kicks off on seeing how some people's lives have been destroyed by this disease. It's for the people who have come to rely on this group for support in a safe setting. You may have now just made it a place where someone might be hesitant to seek help wondering if there is someone there who doesn't respect anonymity.

Bad choice for a cheap thrill for your readers. I am disappointed in Creative Loafing for this disrespect and disregard for people.

-- Anonymous for good reason, Charlotte

Not Entertainment Tonight

Your suggestion that "crashing" an AA meeting ("Cheap Thrills," Feb. 28) is good "theater of the living" is repugnant. Putting one's life back together after the wreckage alcoholism can cause is not something entertaining. Dealing with this disease is tough enough without worrying that someone sees our plight as amusement. You should be ashamed.

-- Scott C., Charlotte

Trumpeting tributes

I've lived in Texas on and off for most of my life. I always found Molly Ivins' columns to be entertaining, and I was very sad when I learned of her passing (Boomer With Attitude: "Molly Ivins lives!" by John Grooms, Feb. 7). My sister still lives in Fort Worth, and I scolded her for not sending me any local obits. Seek and ye shall find! For I was amply rewarded when I opened an issue of Creative Loafing with your very loving obit of Molly. I had always thought she merely had a local, Texas audience and was pleasantly surprised by her universal appeal. Thank you for the very nice tribute.

-- Nancy Pittman, Charlotte

Correction

In last week's issue, we erroneously reported in the Urban Explorer's Handbook: "Welcome to Weird Charlotte," the kind of merchandise found at one of the stores at Independence Promenade. According to Brandon Viebrock of the Rock and Roll Emporium, they actually sell skateboards, shoes, denim, clothing for men and women, posters, concert T-shirt's, jewelry, body jewelry, stickers, incense, skate shoes and the list goes on.