To the Editor:
Re “It’s Not You: Courting Apps Are Getting Worse,” by Magdalene J. Taylor (Opinion visitor essay, nytimes.com, March 16):
With extra individuals on on-line relationship platforms than ever, we’ve got entered a brand new period rife with sizzling takes and opinions based mostly on a slim set of experiences. Current surveys say that relationship apps are the No. 1 method individuals meet immediately, and almost 70 p.c of people who met somebody on a relationship app stated it led to a romantic, unique relationship.
I’m not right here to query particular person experiences, or faux that each date will result in success. Matching two individuals is an imperfect science and rests on shared pursuits, complicated personalities, timing and extra. It’s an age-old axiom for a purpose: It’s important to kiss a number of frogs earlier than you discover your prince or princess.
However recently, we’ve been constructing to an setting the place critiques of apps are introduced as a monolith and pessimism over a foul date is taken to sign the tip to a era’s romantic future. There’s this false notion suggesting that relationship apps don’t work. The numbers inform us that broadly talking and for extra individuals than ever: They work.
Bernard Kim
Los Angeles
The author is chief govt officer of Match Group.
To the Editor:
Re “With Lackluster Progress, Courting Apps Are in Want of a Spark” (entrance web page, March 13):
There was a time when discovering a accomplice was an journey that performed out in public areas: the park whereas strolling your canine, the bar whereas calming down from a busy week, the artwork class that opened you as much as new experiences and other people.
Now apps allow you to sit in your couch in your slippers and store, viewing solely what the app reveals. Are they variety? Would their smile make you look twice?
We used to reside someplace, work together with individuals we discovered there who had our way of living — and would really transfer if we discovered no synergy (why reside someplace that’s like that?). These have been all actions that led to private connections.
So until you’re pressured to reside someplace completely out of sync together with your values, cease enjoying the sport the apps have created and get off the couch!
Susan Fraser
Jacksonville, Fla.
Donald Trump and Louis XIV
In 1709 the French bishop and theologian Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet’s tract on royal absolutism, “Politics Derived From the Phrases of Holy Scripture,” was revealed posthumously.
Bossuet affirmed that the king is a sacred being who represents the divine majesty; he’s God’s “lieutenant on earth.” However Bossuet additionally underscored that the king “shouldn’t be exempt from the regulation; for if he sins, he destroys the legal guidelines by his instance.”
Although the king, endowed with “a divine high quality,” was “not topic to the penalties of the regulation,” the American president shouldn’t be so endowed.
Susan Dunn
Williamstown, Mass.
The author is emerita professor of humanities at Williams School and the creator of “Sister Revolutions: French Lightning, American Mild.”
To the Editor:
Re “The Security Web Is on the Poll,” by Paul Krugman (column, March 17):
Mr. Krugman’s astute evaluation of our nation’s entitlement packages was a well timed reminder of two of the numerous issues at stake in our subsequent election.
I worry that many People lack an curiosity in understanding the catastrophic potentialities ought to Donald Trump be re-elected. Many citizens would select to type their opinions round sound bites from social media or partisan cable channels fairly than taking the time to learn up on the problems that can finally matter most to them and their futures.
I worry that one other Trump presidency will mark the tip of many time-honored traditions and packages which have turn out to be a bedrock in our society.
Mr. Krugman offers President Biden his due on Mr. Biden’s understanding of and dedication to our Social Safety and Medicare packages. Ought to People fail to heed Mr. Krugman’s warnings, it will likely be far too late to stroll again the harm Republicans would do.
Amy M. Ferguson
Dunmore, Pa.
The Music Enterprise: Robust for New Expertise
To the Editor:
Re “Why Does Each Track Sound Acquainted,” by Marc Hogan (Opinion visitor essay, March 24):
The commodification and exploitation of music are as outdated as promoting sheet music by Tin Pan Alley track pluggers over 100 years in the past. The hitmakers have all the time pushed income, whereas the wannabes eternally wrestle for traction.
Whereas Mr. Hogan criticizes the present monetization of hit songwriters’ catalogs — and ties it to the dearth of alternatives for brand new expertise — the richness and breadth of musical content material today are exceptional and overwhelming. It’s simply troublesome for brand new expertise to interrupt by way of and make a residing, and I’ve by no means recognized it to be any totally different.
“Music enterprise” is 2 phrases. I’ve been a songwriter, recording artist, document producer and music govt for greater than 4 many years, and the track stays the identical.
Robert Kraft
Encino, Calif.
The author is former president of twentieth Century Fox Music.
Killing Animals: Keep away from the Euphemisms
To the Editor:
Re “OK, Class, First We Shoot the Deer” (Meals, March 20):
Can we please cease utilizing euphemisms resembling “harvest” and “cull” when referring to killing animals? Let’s not sugarcoat it: College looking and animal agriculture packages take impressionable youngsters who’re thought of too immature to make accountable selections about voting, smoking cigarettes or working a automotive, and educate them the best way to kill residing beings.
It’s particularly troubling when you think about that a lot of U.S. mass shooters have been uncovered to or took half in violence towards animals or different types of cruelty at an early age.
Having been a instructor within the Bronx for a few years, I really feel strongly that educators have an obligation to mannequin kindness to these totally different from us and compassion for these weaker. Youngsters are naturally empathetic, and we do them and the larger inhabitants a disservice once we educate them to suppress that.
Lisbet Chiriboga
Norfolk, Va.
The author works for TeachKind, PETA’s humane training division, however shouldn’t be writing on behalf of the group.
To the Editor:
The pictures of the blood and organs of the deer have been considerably repulsive, however the article’s title is merciless.
However then, it was truthful. My recollections of “Bambi” hang-out me nonetheless.
Rosemary Abbate
Moorestown, N.J.
Memo to Liberals
To the Editor:
Re “Ought to Wildlife Advocates Assist Set Looking Guidelines in Vermont?” (information article, March 26):
As a liberal non-hunter and non-fisher (I reside in Brooklyn, for goodness’ sake), I learn the article with curiosity. My conclusion is that for every of my fellow liberals’ makes an attempt to control one thing like this, it turns into apparent why Democrats are dropping the nonelite working class.
Let it go, individuals, or you’ll proceed to feed the category anger that led to a Donald Trump presidency.
Paul Swetow
Brooklyn
