While so many others are applauding the rage that the “irresponsibly printed” column has caused, I find myself aghast. Have we so lost our ability to read critically and think through publications that satire needs a disclaimer now? I understood it to be satire after the first paragraph; why is it that so many other people apparently lack either the ability or the willingness to analyze what they read as they read it?

Not everything should need to be labeled to be understood. Harmful chemicals, the emergency exits, explicit material; all these things are perfectly sensible to label. Satire and other forms of opinion writing? Have we truly become so used to our lives being spelled out for us?

I say stop applauding the rage and start encouraging critical reading again; learn to understand what you read. Or better yet, actually read it before giving in to a knee-jerk emotional reaction. You might find that you actually enjoy the writing more.

Elizabeth Khounlavouth is a senior in sociology.