Looking for cure for no comment

The public's willingness to speak to reporters on the record really varies.

This morning, for instance, a man at the senior center offered all kinds of funny, outrageous comments. "I just want to be quoted in the newspaper," he told me.

Others are so press shy, all I see are the backs of their heads as they yell, "No comment!"

This week, I interviewed one resident over the phone and heard his wife in the background saying, "I don't want to be quoted," as if I could extract her quotes through her husband.

About once a month at a social gathering, somebody would say, "You better watch what you say. There's a reporter here." This is usually followed by nervous laughter and a really boring conversation. I wonder if people really think I would quote them talking about their weekend plans or opinions of the new Sherlock Holmes movie.

Generally, people are comfortable speaking on a non-controversial topic. One person prior to an interview this week felt comfortable enough to poke fun of the paper I work for. "So, how long have you been writing for the Daily Repeat? Ha, ha, ha," he said. The 'Daily Repeat,' as you may know, is the play on words on the Daily Report, the Bulletin's former moniker.

I much prefer newspaper jokes over people running away from me. I don't bite, even if you make fun of the Daily Bulletin.