Is Stein Irreplaceable or a No-Talent Narcissist?

I’m concerned that Joel Stein’s column may be put under the ax (Opinion, May 29), and I wanted to send this in the hope that I could sway at least a few people to keep him. Although it may be too solipsistic and narcissistic for some readers, they fail to understand that this is Stein’s point. He is speaking to the younger generation by using our understanding of the world. This is what we grew up with, and he uses it and a cutting sense of humor and satire to make his points. Some claim that his points need not be made. They’re just entertainment after all; what place do they have in a newspaper? Precisely that. That is the point, to make sure that we understand the absurdities of the world and the entertainment business.

I’m a Yale sophomore who had previously never even glanced at The Times. I’m not the only one who finds his column to be the only one with any value. Why cut the only unique voice in the paper (not to mention the field of journalism at large) just because a few older readers have a hard time understanding modern humor? Keep Stein, if only because there is no one who could replace him.

Sean Gandert

Santa Fe, N.M.

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I guess it is not for us to know what hold Stein has over you. Does he know something about you so damaging that, in Bill O’Reilly’s hands, it would spell the end? If things are not that bad, if he is just a spoiled in-law, for example, would he be content if you fed his no-talent narcissism by printing his name every Sunday over 20 square inches of blank space? Give it a try!

Jerrold w. Hambleton

Laguna Woods

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On the Web: Readers can debate the value of Joel Stein at latimes.com/opinionblog.