# How to Solve the Joel Stein Problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 1, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417 "2003-08-01T18:43:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/1 "2003-08-01T18:43:31Z")
Hire Stephen King to write the back page column in _Entertainment Weekly_. OK, so he’ll just be doing it once a month, and so the first column is a time-wasting intro. But will he be better than Joel Klein? Eight ball says: odds are favorable. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/2 "2003-08-01T19:02:17Z")
What’s the Joel Klein problem? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/3 "2003-08-01T20:01:26Z")
Joel Klein alert: He wrote the recent cover article for _Time,_ regarding the growing popularity of meditation in the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/4 "2003-08-01T20:53:29Z")
[url=“[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=194622&highlight=joel+klein](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=194622&highlight=joel+klein)”]This Joel Klein problem. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/5 "2003-08-01T20:59:14Z")
[This Joel Klein problem](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=194622&highlight=joel+klein). ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/6 "2003-08-01T21:13:06Z")
Wasn’t that Joel Stein? And I actually liked his Meditation article. Very witty. ---
**Author:** ![Peg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Peg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peg)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/7 "2003-08-01T21:18:42Z")
Uh-oh. Let me see if I can clear the 2: **Joel Stein** is the guy who used to write the backpage “Editorial/Op Ed” type article in _Entertainment Weekly_. He didn’t last more than a half dozen isues, however. As you can see from the above thread, his stay was controversial in a fluffy sort of way. **Joe Klein** is a journalist who, among other works, turned out to be the “Anonymous” who penned “Primary Colors.” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/8 "2003-08-01T22:11:31Z")
Yes, it is Joel Stein. :smack: Mods, can you fix the title so that people know what I’m talking about? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/9 "2003-08-01T22:46:31Z")
this setup (King’s column alternating w/ Stupid Questions) seems infinitely better than that awful Stein column. And yes, the thread title was confusing - **Exapno** , I’d email the mods for a change. The only reason I entered the thread was that Joe Klein lives in my town and I was curious what you would be complaining about regarding him… ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/10 "2003-08-01T23:11:24Z")
**Expano** has requested and I have changed the thread title to reflect Joel Stein. It’s still gonna confuse the hell out of anyone reading it, but that’s probably not uncommon. Glad that it wasn’t Joel Chandler Harris. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/11 "2003-08-01T23:15:45Z")
Joel Klein should change his name to “Anonymous” to end all the mix-ups with Joel Stein. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Avumede](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/avumede/32/7235_2.png) [@Avumede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avumede)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/12 "2003-08-01T23:16:54Z")
OK, problem solved. Tonight Joel Klein sleeps with the fishes. On previewing… oops! ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/13 "2003-08-02T03:46:59Z")
Well, I’ve sketched out a battle plan against Joel Stein. Maj. Gen. Golden shall lead the main forces up the hill. Whilst doing so, a party led by Lt. Col. Skurnick shall do a feign attack, from the rear. Meanwhile, Maj. Haven will land with the paratroopers directly onto the Stein mansion, while Col. Steinhart is sent around to make sure that all paths of retreat are closed. Lt. Col. Bodoni shall be left with the reserve at camp, in case there’s a sneak attack by the enemy. Governor Quinn, C-in-C of the SDAF. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/14 "2003-08-02T14:44:28Z")
Well, is anyone with me? Anyone? Maj. Gen. Golden? Lt. Col. Skurnick? Maj. Haven? Col. Steinhart? Lt. Col. Bodoni? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/15 "2003-08-02T14:53:21Z")
_hangs head_ I liked Joel Stein’s EW column. ---
**Author:** ![Skott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Skott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skott)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/16 "2003-08-02T20:14:54Z")
I found it entertaining as a pathetic, self-serving, ego self-agradazing sort of column, of which there are very few 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/17 "2003-08-02T20:26:36Z")
Why do I EVER think I’ll beat someone to the punch here at the SD? I was going to post about this very same subject as soon as I got my copy of EW this morning. Heh. The odds are most defintely in Stephen King’s favor. Just reading that first column I already prefer him to Joel Stein. How could I not? I think it’s a brilliant move on EW’s part. And I think this comment by him in his first column: > [@](#): > > I may make you angry–I hope I do…but I will not waste your time. was a not-so-subtle stab at Joel Stein, no? ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/18 "2003-08-02T23:24:40Z")
Isn’t “the Joel Stein Problem” the fact that he’s employed at all? So he’s out over at EW, from what other have posted, he’s still writing at Time where I first learned to loathe him. Haven’t read the Stephen King column, but why not get some other people to flesh out the other three weeks, “10 Stupid Questions” has always been decent occasional filler but I couldn’t see looking forward to it on a (mostly) weekly basis. I’m still holding out for **Eve** to get a column, I’d resubscribe just for that in support. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/19 "2003-08-02T23:56:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by widdershins \* > \*\*Isn’t “the Joel Stein Problem” the fact that he’s employed at all? So he’s out over at EW, from what other have posted, he’s still writing at Time where I first learned to loathe him. > \*\* That’s were my proposal of military action would help! Get on the horn with Maj. Gen. Golden, Col. Steinhart. Lt. Cols. Skurnick and Bodoni, and Maj. Haven, and tell them that Gen. Fehr has decided that it’s time to solve this problem once and for all! ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417/20 "2003-08-02T23:57:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skott \* > \*\*I found it entertaining as a pathetic, self-serving, ego self-agradazing sort of column, of which there are very few 😉 \*\* I chose to view it as parody, and as such it was occasionally moderately entertaining, but I’m not sad it’s gone. Also, I’m not actually sure it was _written_ as parody. –Cliffy [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-solve-the-joel-stein-problem/192417.md?page=2)