In last week's Miner, one of the staff writers had some very harsh words written about him by an irate reader. This student accused the writer of writing articles that contained little significance or even a point. His criticisms were well stated, but I believe that he missed a large part of the problem with this paper.

I like to consider myself a devoted reader of your excellent and usually well-written paper. I consider myself a sort of conisuer, if you will, of fine student news sources. But the articles written by John Johnson have recently prompted me to reconsider my lofty views of your publication.

Week after week, we as readers must put up with John's columns that usually end up in some way related to dating. Who does he think he is, anyway? Does he really believe that he is some sort of authority on the subject of relationships? The "Dating Game" indeed! As a long time resident of Rolla, I don't believe that dating should be considered a game. It's much more serious, and perhaps desperate a matter than what is portrayed in John's articles.

I mean, if I truly wanted to hear someone address the subject of dating, I would watch more sitcoms (I especially like the ones starring Bob Sagat). At least then the subject would be treated as it should, by trained Hollywood actors who care about the viewers.

But John's articles, or "humor columns" as he likes to call them, are obviously just one big pitiful attempt to get attention. In one week's article, he even went as far as to discuss the activity of dogs sniffing each other's butts. He then went on to relate this disgusting activity to dating! Is that supposed to be funny?

Even if these articles were actually funny, does that mean that humor should be found in a student publication? I don't want to laugh when I read the Miner. I want to be informed. I don't need to see common problems such as dating and the computer revolution presented to me in a unique and funny way.

I'm sure there are people out there that would disagree with me on this subject. These are the people that find humor in the prospect of wearing "ticker-tape light signs on their heads to communicate what we can't say out loud." But when it comes down to it, I don't want to laugh at communication problems, or for that matter high-school dances, telephone etiquette, or anything else John writes about in his weekly columns usually found on page 8 of this paper.

John Johnson