From writings by Ben Franklin, criticized for including inappropriate infoprmation in his publishings:

http://www.uark.edu/depts/comminfo/cambridge/apology.html


"A certain well-meaning Man and his Son, were traveling towards a Market
Town, with an Ass which they had to sell. The Road was bad; and the old Man
therefore rid, but the Son went a-foot. The first Passenger they met, asked
the Father if he was not ashamed to ride by himself, and suffer the poor Lad
to wade along thro' the Mire; this induced him to take up his Son behind
him: He had not travelled far when he met other, who said, they were two
unmerciful Lubbers to get both on the Back of that poor Ass, in such a deep
Road. Upon this the old Man gets off, and let fis Son ride alone. The next
they met called the Lad a graceless, rascally young Jackanapes, to ride in
that Manner thro' the Dirt, while his aged Father trudged along on Foot; and
they said the old Man was a Fool, for suffering it. He then bid his Son come
down, and walk with him, and they travell'd on leading the Ass by the
Halter; 'till they met another Company, who called them a Couple of sensless
Blockheads, for going both on Foot in such a dirty Way, when they had an
empty Ass with them, which they might ride upon. The old Man could bear no
longer; My Son, said he, it grieves me much that we cannot please all these
People: Let us throw the Ass over the next Brisge, and be no farther
troubled with him."

Had the old Man been seen acting this last Resolution, he would probably
have been call'd a Fool for troubling himself about the different Opinions
of all that were pleas'd to find Fault with him: Therefore, tho' I have a
Temper almost as complying as his, I intend not to imitate him in this last
Particular. I consider the Variety of Humours among Men, and despair of
pleasing every Body; yet I shall not therefore leave off Printing. I shall
continue my Business. I shall not burn my Press and melt my Letters."

For you whom the shoe fits,


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