Ben Fields
@benfields5.bsky.social
Opinion editor, Charleston Gazette-Mail
Purdue University alumnus
Hockey dad
Kentucky Colonel (for some reason)
Purdue University alumnus
Hockey dad
Kentucky Colonel (for some reason)
When your spouse decides to make an AI version of you after you die, with your permission, of course, ... supposedly ...
www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: Till death do us part ... and beyond? (Opinion)
In the early 2000s, there was a TV commercial in heavy rotation aimed at senior citizens for a greeting card service that would continue to send birthday cards or other
www.wvgazettemail.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:39 PM
When your spouse decides to make an AI version of you after you die, with your permission, of course, ... supposedly ...
www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
I saw a t-shirt that said "I lubricate my AR-15 with liberal tears" among others at a recent festival. I have questions. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: All I got was your lousy T-shirt, reprise (Opinion)
If you've ever — in what I can only guess would be an incredibly bored state — assumed rural, agricultural-based fairs are not my thing, you're correct. All the same,
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October 16, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I saw a t-shirt that said "I lubricate my AR-15 with liberal tears" among others at a recent festival. I have questions. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
My son asked me to turn down the radio in the car when I dropped him off at soccer practice. And Robyn Hitchcock was playing! C'mon, bud!
www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: 'And balloon man blew up in my hands' (Opinion)
"Dad, could you turn that down?"
www.wvgazettemail.com
September 11, 2025 at 1:49 PM
My son asked me to turn down the radio in the car when I dropped him off at soccer practice. And Robyn Hitchcock was playing! C'mon, bud!
www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Two years ago the CBJ let us in for the #Leafs morning skate and Nick Robertson tossed the boy a puck. We’re forever fans of No. 89 and glad he’s back in TO for another season!
August 5, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Two years ago the CBJ let us in for the #Leafs morning skate and Nick Robertson tossed the boy a puck. We’re forever fans of No. 89 and glad he’s back in TO for another season!
I took a run at my personal white whale this week, attempting to harpoon "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood (among other things).
www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: That's a sweaty wrap on another Independence Day (Opinion)
I think July 4 is officially my least-favorite holiday.
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July 10, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I took a run at my personal white whale this week, attempting to harpoon "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood (among other things).
www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
On the same day she betrayed West Virginians with the BBB, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito announced she looked forward to confirming her son as U.S. Attorney. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: It's simple: Capito doesn't have to care anymore (Opinion)
I was a bit put off when Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., announced Tuesday that she couldn't wait to confirm her son, former state legislator Moore Capito, and another lawyer,
www.wvgazettemail.com
July 3, 2025 at 1:18 PM
On the same day she betrayed West Virginians with the BBB, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito announced she looked forward to confirming her son as U.S. Attorney. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
I know one kid (and one dad) way out in West Virginia who will miss watching Mitch play for our favorite team. Best of luck in Vegas, no. 93.
July 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I know one kid (and one dad) way out in West Virginia who will miss watching Mitch play for our favorite team. Best of luck in Vegas, no. 93.
For those who view cruelty as a novelty or opportunity, there is no shame. That has not changed. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: History, education and the tourism of cruelty (Opinion)
Finding myself in the other Charleston over the long weekend as a byproduct of the youth travel sports racket, I decided to visit Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began.
www.wvgazettemail.com
May 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
For those who view cruelty as a novelty or opportunity, there is no shame. That has not changed. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Still posting into the void. I've had some people suggest that Kristi Noem carrying $3K in cash is not weird. Maybe I'm out of touch? www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: She was carrying how much in cash?! (Opinion)
So much is happening in the news right now that is serious and demands attention, engagement and analysis. But, for whatever reason, I can’t stop getting distracted by the odd
www.wvgazettemail.com
April 24, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Still posting into the void. I've had some people suggest that Kristi Noem carrying $3K in cash is not weird. Maybe I'm out of touch? www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Be patient with this one if you decide to give it a read. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: Accidents will happen (Opinion)
A while back, I sent a link to a YouTube video via text message to an old friend. Or I thought I did at least. The lack of response had
www.wvgazettemail.com
March 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Be patient with this one if you decide to give it a read. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
On Connor McDavid deepfakes, and other stuff happening closer to home in the West Virginia Legislature. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: Is any of this real? (Opinion)
Last week, someone texted me a video clip that was apparently making the rounds at the Capitol, showing a lobbyist or advocate from some group confronting a legislator in his
www.wvgazettemail.com
March 13, 2025 at 4:44 PM
On Connor McDavid deepfakes, and other stuff happening closer to home in the West Virginia Legislature. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
"The last goal he ever scored won the Leafs the cup." www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: The 51st state or the 11th province? (Opinion)
I’ve been under the weather a bit recently and didn’t attend a hockey practice my son was at earlier this week. So, I was a bit shocked when my wife
www.wvgazettemail.com
March 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM
"The last goal he ever scored won the Leafs the cup." www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
I know not many people are fans of my "we're all idiots" platform, but hear me out ... www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: Get smarterer (Opinion)
Did you know we’re all a bunch of idiots?
www.wvgazettemail.com
February 6, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I know not many people are fans of my "we're all idiots" platform, but hear me out ... www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Dr. Phil following the border czar around on an ICE sweep broke my brain. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: Send in the reality TV clowns (Opinion)
A video clip has surfaced of former daytime TV bottom-feeder Dr. Phil McGraw trying to grill a man detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during a raid in
www.wvgazettemail.com
January 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Dr. Phil following the border czar around on an ICE sweep broke my brain. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
The tale of WV’s analog to George Santos gets weirder.
December 12, 2024 at 4:28 PM
The tale of WV’s analog to George Santos gets weirder.
No matter our political or personal differences, it seems most Americans agree that our health care system doesn't work. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: A macabre example of how much we have in common (Opinion)
In highly polarized times, there remains at least one thing most Americans can agree on: The financial side of the country’s health care industry is a nightmare.
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December 12, 2024 at 2:55 PM
No matter our political or personal differences, it seems most Americans agree that our health care system doesn't work. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
The man likely to be the next WV Senate President was once caught on camera chewing on a stick and then smelling it. True Story. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/edit...
Gazette-Mail editorial: Only WV GOP would oppose jobs, investment
Cutting off whatever is left of their nose to spite whatever is left of their face, a few far-right West Virginia Republicans in the state Senate tried to derail a
www.wvgazettemail.com
December 9, 2024 at 9:58 PM
The man likely to be the next WV Senate President was once caught on camera chewing on a stick and then smelling it. True Story. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/edit...
It's not like they were going to pick someone good, but, still, this is depressing.
Randy Smith has been elected as the next Senate President, will be confirmed in January.
December 9, 2024 at 9:54 PM
It's not like they were going to pick someone good, but, still, this is depressing.
This one is crap but, sometimes people (myself included) love crap. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: Exercise your free speech cautiously (Opinion)
Except for the noise of the TV, it had gotten quiet. Everyone in the room was looking at me.
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December 5, 2024 at 7:11 PM
This one is crap but, sometimes people (myself included) love crap. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
A lot of state workers in WV make less than their counterparts in other states. Many vital agencies are understaffed. Less expensive health benefits are one of the few incentives WV can tout, which is why it's important to fix PEIA. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/edit...
Gazette-Mail editorial: Fixing PEIA will require investment from state
Most of the major problems in any category in West Virginia can be addressed in three steps: finding enough money, properly spending it and maintaining that revenue. All too often,
www.wvgazettemail.com
December 4, 2024 at 4:26 PM
A lot of state workers in WV make less than their counterparts in other states. Many vital agencies are understaffed. Less expensive health benefits are one of the few incentives WV can tout, which is why it's important to fix PEIA. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/edit...
Hot take: It bugs me that people took glee in a columnist getting pepper sprayed accidentally amidst a nationally embarrassing display of poor sportsmanship and crowd control. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/edit...
Gazette-Mail editorial: Problems in sports point to something bigger
Turns out, the recent fights between Nitro and Shady Spring that led to six ejections in the West Virginia Class AAA prep football playoffs were merely the undercard to something
www.wvgazettemail.com
December 3, 2024 at 3:15 PM
Hot take: It bugs me that people took glee in a columnist getting pepper sprayed accidentally amidst a nationally embarrassing display of poor sportsmanship and crowd control. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/edit...
When the church made me kill Jesus ... twice. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Ben Fields: Everybody wants to be the villain (Opinion)
With Christmas approaching faster than anyone over 40 wants it to, the boy was reminiscing about ghosts of Christmas activities past after school the other day.
www.wvgazettemail.com
November 21, 2024 at 4:03 PM
When the church made me kill Jesus ... twice. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/colu...
Sexual abuse by law enforcement is a problem everywhere, and West Virginia certainly has seen its share of cases. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/edit...
Gazette-Mail editorial: When a rapist wears a badge
On Dec. 19, Larry Clay Jr. is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Charleston on two felony convictions of sex trafficking and two counts of obstruction of justice.
www.wvgazettemail.com
November 20, 2024 at 3:26 PM
Sexual abuse by law enforcement is a problem everywhere, and West Virginia certainly has seen its share of cases. www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/edit...