Dear Editor,
One of the more entertaining sections of
The Austin Chronicle is the letters to the editor. I'm always pleased to read the letters from those disgruntled with Austin for whatever reason, who post one final blast as they leave the city.
The most recent dissatisfied visitor was Juliette Cowdin, who snubbed Austin's art scene in her letter dated Oct. 14 ["
Postmarks"]. She said, "no thanks … to this vapid art scene here. Back to NYC next month.” I have no idea if her comments were justified, but I do know artists can thrive in Austin because it's affordable (especially when compared with Manhattan) and boasts a high percentage of creative types – many who you would not expect.
I can't imagine why one feels the need to condemn a whole city and then write a scathing letter to the editor to justify why they're leaving it. I find that happy people get along well in most places and that malcontents are malcontented in most places. And I guess that, by nature, those malcontents are compelled to express grievances.
You can count this letter as one of the inevitable replies to the malcontents. You know, the one that rebuts, "Don’t let the door hit you on your way out."