The Internet was right

Lo these many years ago when I was in college, working as the managing editor for the World's Best Student-Run Newspaper, there was a guy named Aaron. He was a little older than the rest of us, had a family and everything. Smart guy. Nice. Enjoyed baseball. And he was in charge of the fledgling Web site.

University Daily Kansan newsroom, circa 1997.

That's where my confession of wrongness comes in. Getting stories onto the Web site meant an extra layer in the news editing process, which I did a few times a week. Processing stories for online was often done the next morning anyway--why should I gum up the production process with some Web nonsense?

So he and I would have periodic arguments about why I didn't have time for the Internet.

And, of course, he was right and I was wrong. This point is especially clear now, as I am shepherding stories online myself, trying to keep us ahead of the other guys and make sure readers know where they should go to get the goods if they want to buy a newspaper. I'm having to rebut the same arguments that once tumbled from the mouth of a much younger (and less wise?) Doyle.

Aaron--and I apologize for not remembering your last name--you win. And I'm posting it online for everyone to see.