Comments on: WaPo Suckered by Ben’s Chili Bowl

By: Arthur Delaney

Arthur Delaney — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:28:09 +0000

I see what you mean, but I think the soda bottles and plastic cups are just too cute. Reaching too hard for that show in 2003.

By: Michael J. West

Michael J. West — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:51:54 +0000

It's all in the details, Arthur. 2003's "red-and-white storefront." Its storefronts as "scarred shells." U Street with the drugstore and bank just down the block. The soda in plastic cups today, but orange and grape and served in the bottle way back when. It's just full of visual bits like that. 2008 has them too, but less plentiful.

By: EchoBeach

EchoBeach — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:39:11 +0000

Aww, I feel sorry for the 2008 guy. This is like writing one of those 'last minute IRS-filer' stories on April 14.
Also? Half-smokes are pretty nasty.

By: Erik Wemple

Erik Wemple — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:59:17 +0000

Dear Adams Morgan: Good point you make. Indeed, we've covered 18th Street more than we should. And we've done any number of similar-sounding stories on any number of other spots/issues in the District. I just found this morning's piece amusing because here you have two stories with nearly the same exact content, published on the same day and same month, five years apart. Now, you can rummage through our archives and find some overlaps, but I doubt you'd find anything quite this extreme. Thanks so much for writing in and participating in this forum.

By: Arthur Delaney

Arthur Delaney — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:23:24 +0000

I want you to point to specific examples, is what I meant. I don't see it.

2K8 is still king.

By: Michael J. West

Michael J. West — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:07:26 +0000

Arthur, "Show, Don't Tell" is a rule of good feature writing--shorthand for "don't just state your point, illustrate it with vivid imagery and examples." Which, overall, the 2003 article does a much better job of than the 2008.

By: Adams Morgan

Adams Morgan — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:01:11 +0000

Yes, the WaPo article mentions the expansion...

And Wemple, I'm surprised at your shock/outrage/disgust over this. This is classic summer-time newspaper reporting...besides it's not as if the City Paper has only once ever written a story about, or done a photo/ artwork montage about 18th Street....People in glass houses Mr. Wemple....

By: Crutch

Crutch — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:44:35 +0000

Did the WaPo article mention the expansion of the restaurant at all? I hear pretty soon you'll be able to get an over-priced beer to go with the over-priced hotdog. I agree 100% about the District losing it's character...each block looks like the next.

By: Arthur Delaney

Arthur Delaney — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:40:56 +0000

Michael, I wish you would tell us what you're talking about.

By: Michael J. West

Michael J. West — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:24:17 +0000

2008 wins far and away in the Quote and Fact categories, no doubt. But 2003 takes the All-Around, also known as the "Show, Don't Tell" category.

By: Arthur Delaney

Arthur Delaney — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:19:54 +0000

No way, SMBC, no fucking way. Amanda's right: Peaches + Cosby = Gold.

By: Single Mom By Choice

Single Mom By Choice — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:11:52 +0000

uummmmm sorry...2003 hands down--the 2008 writing is juvenile and unrefined, the '03 piece sounds more authentic

By: Amanda Hess

Amanda Hess — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:59:14 +0000

I thought that 2008 was going to have it by a nose with the "Peaches" fact. But down the final stretch, 2008 catches Bill Cosby trailing off "as if he was caught in the memory of the taste," in a fucking telephone interview! It's 2008 by a long shot!

By: Arthur Delaney

Arthur Delaney — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:43:23 +0000

2008 gets the gold, no doubt.