Page 3 from: November 2007

V I E W P O I N T

I think that over the last nine-and-a-half years, myViewpoints have cost us at least 12 subscription can-
cellations. In their usually angry cancellation letters,
these people deployed a variety of arguments for no
longer wanting to receive Recycling International.
Some said I had offended their country while others
described the column as a waste of valuable editorial
space, but most complained that I had offended the
women in the recycling industry. In all sincerity, I can
say that it has never been my intention to hurt the feel-
ings of any of our 33 000-plus readers in more than
120 countries worldwide.

And more particularly,
I have never ever wanted to
hurt the feelings of women.
On the contrary. I love women
– let’s face it, I’ve been mar-
ried before.

Last month’s Viewpoint was
a case in point. Remember it?
Entitled ‘Use it or lose it?’, it
was about sitting in a bar in
the early hours of the morning with a fellow recycling
congress delegate which whom I was jokingly compar-
ing the attitudes of men and women. This provoked
completely opposite reactions from two readers in the
USA – one a woman and the other a man. The woman
e-mailed to say:

‘Dear Mr Beck, I had considered Recycling
International a well-respected, informative magazine
read worldwide by professionals. Your Viewpoint was
the most undignified and inappropriate display of
male commentary I’ve run across in my career. Do you
realise how many professional women, currently in
the recycling industry, who will be as dismayed as I
upon reading your column? Maybe you should not ‘Use
it’ (your editorial column) or ‘Lose It’ (your editorial
respect by readers) by not demeaning your magazine
this way in the future. Maybe some of your co-workers
could counsel you somewhat in the future on what is
and is not appropriate editorial material.’

The man’s e-mail arrived the following day and read:
‘Manfred, I’ve been reading your magazine for years.

Upon receipt, I immediately go to your column for some

much-needed respite. Your October edition is classic
and the timing relating to a recent experience is uncan-
ny. My main home is large enough to absorb and store
my wife’s unnecessary purchases. We have a second
(summer), smaller home at the beach, with far less
storage space, where as recently as last weekend, we
entertained some friends with a “cocktail perfection”
party. She went down Friday morning to begin prepa-
rations and I followed on Saturday. When I walked in,
there was an array of new purchases – martini glasses
and mixers, platters, napkins, etc – which I had accu-

rately predicted would happen
since they have some connec-
tion to the party. Then I noticed
a new fancy coffee-maker. Since
we already have two coffee-
makers there – of course, one
must have a spare – I said:
“Why the hell did you buy
this?” Her response: “It was on
sale.” I then asked: “Where the
hell are we going to put it?” Her

response: “I’ll find room.” And if you are wondering if
the new coffee apparatus was used, the answer is no.’

Well, was my Viewpoint offensive or funny? It’s
clearly open to debate. But I was intrigued by the sug-
gestion in the woman’s e-mail that I should have my
co-workers counsel me on what is and what is not
appropriate editorial material. Actually, I do that
every month. My Viewpoints are read by people who
work with me on Recycling International – both male
and female. They have often been amused, but never
offended. Not even my wife Helga, who has appeared
in many of my Viewpoints.

Some of our readers who have never met Helga
have formed their own impression of her. At last
month’s BIR Convention in Warsaw, an Italian man
told me that he was shocked and disappointed after
having met Helga for the first time. ‘Having read your
Viewpoints for many years, I had an image of your
wife as being big and tall,’ he explained. ‘I’ve just met
her and she turns out to be delicate, attractive and
utterly friendly. I’m really disappointed in you, sir.’

Oh well, I thought, you can’t please them all.

is a month ly busi ness mag a zine for
the inter na tion al recy cling indus try
and is pub lished 10 times a year.

Address

P.O. Box 2098
6802 CB Arnhem
The Netherlands

Delivery Address

Jacob Marislaan 30
6813 JV Arnhem
The Netherlands

Phone +31 26 3120 994
Fax +31 26 3120 630
E-mail:
info@recy clin gin ter na tion al.com
Website:
www.recy clin gin ter na tion al.com

Publisher & Editor

Manfred Beck
[email protected]

Deputy Editor

Gert-Jan van der Have
[email protected]

Magazine Administrator

Helga Fresen
[email protected]

Editorial con sul tant

Ian Martin
[email protected]

Contributing edi tor

Alfred Nijkerk
[email protected]

Contributing edi tor/Consultant tech nol o gy

Prof. Ir. Wijnand Dalmijn, Technical
University of Delft, The Netherlands

Contributing to this issue

Helga Fresen, Gert-Jan van den
Have, Ian Martin, Adam Minter,
Alfred Nijkerk, Shi Lili, Voermans
van Bree Photographers,
Klaus Vollrath

Art Direction

Inpladi Lay Out Studio

Printing Company

vanGrinsven druk kers Venlo bv

Advertising Sales

Jan Willem Ypma
Phone: +31 343 517 488
Fax: +31 343 510 253
E-mail: [email protected]

Subscriptions

Subsciption rate: € 149 a year
(excl. V.A.T.)

ISSN 1387-8700

Copyright 2007

All rights reserved. No part of this
pub li ca tion may be repro duced or
trans mit ted by any means with out
writ ten per mis sion of the pub lish er.

Member of

Having published 95 issues of Recycling International over
almost ten years, I have come to realise that people’s views
differ fundamentally on what is funny and what is not. Feedback
suggests my Viewpoints generally afford readers a good-heart-
ed chuckle but sometimes, inadvertently, I manage to upset
some of them.

Funny-bone of contention

BIR

‘…the most
undignified and
inappropriate
display of male
commentary…’

Manfred Beck
Editor

RI_003 Viewpoint:Viewpoint 08-11-2007 09:06 Pagina 3