'The city is in worse condition than I knew' -- Time blogger

[RealityCheck]

. . . she's learning. Good for her.

My point.

Karen Dybis could've written the same post without acknowledging this:

I realized how ungrateful I am. Because the city is in worse condition than I knew.

But she didn't leave that unstated. And this public confirmation of a perception gap that's closing is something I cheer, not jeer with "an obvious observation."

The post salutes the Salvation Army, makes a pitch for volunteers and shares personal reflections from a drive that this suburban mom concedes is outside her normal experience.

Why isn't that something good, really? I'm not asking to instigate flame-throwing -- I honestly don't get it.

I value this forum, which I've participated in since fall 2003, but wish potentially constructive discussions didn't sometimes get undercut by a tone of . . . here goes, might as well say it frankly . . . smug superiority. Sometimes.

. . . she's learning. Good for her.

And good for you, Detroitnerd.