What’s down there, anyway? I’m guessing it’s the blogs.
Category Archives: Blogging
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
The real problem with Jennifer Gish’s Times Union column, Bills Fans Need Help Keeping it Real, is that it wasn’t half as funny as she thought it was.
For example:
And Buffalo is practically in Canada. They play some of their “home” games in Toronto. So are they really New York’s team? Are they even America’s team?
Insert rimshot here. Move over, Dave Barry, here comes Jennifer Gish.
Back in seventh grade we were told to compose a humorous essay. I got to read mine recently when going through some things my mother saved. It was about cesspools — yes, I was writing about poop even then — and while my friends found it hilarious, it really wasn’t funny. I’d like to apologize to my teacher, Mr. Raff, for making him read my terrible work.
But even if Ms. Gish’s Bills piece wasn’t clever, she didn’t deserve to be excoriated by angry fans. The curses, cheap shots, and insults were completely out of line. Writing a bad column doesn’t make her a bad person.
I’ve noticed that some newspaper columnists and bloggers will write pieces that are are calculated to get the readers fired up. They’ll complain about perfectly normal things that they find mildly annoying, often involving stuff that everyone likes, such as kids or animals. Why would they do this? Because it drives traffic. I know this because I’ve even done it myself now and then.
So, Jennifer Gish kicked the hornets nest — but unlike Lisbeth Salander, she was not ready for the hornets.
Party On, Darth
Here’s what the Times Union said when I asked them to remove some of my old blog posts:
“Your blog is, as they say, frozen in carbonite.”
Wow. Frozen in carbonite? Any geek worth his salt knows what that means:
You are comparing yourself to Darth Vader.
The posts I asked to be taken down were written before joining the paper’s blog section on October 28, 2009.
It’s material originally written for this site, not the Times Union. Though I allowed them to publish it, I think it’s unfair that they consider it their property after I leave. But as it says in their TOS, they have:
Royalty-free, unrestricted, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive and fully transferable, assignable and sublicensable right and license to use, copy, reproduce, modify, adapt, print, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform and display such material (in whole or part) and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed, including for promotional and/or commercial purpose, and to authorize others to do so.
Experts understand that this terms of service agreement would never stand up to a serious challenge.
It’s an onerous contract that gives all the rights to one party and zero compensation to the other. But, Mr. Hearst’s pockets are as deep as the day is long — and with that kind of money, you can afford to be onerous.
They hold all the cards, but there are a few things I can do. For example, I’ve been removing all the photos from my old posts. That may sound like cutting off your nose to spite your face, but when it comes to a matter of principle, a little nose cutting is sometimes in order.
In conclusion, the Times Union wrote, “I wish you continued success with your blogging.”
Thank you. I wish you continued success with your Death Star.
A Note to Times Union (and other) Bloggers
There’s some nasty garbage that passes for dialogue in the comment section on the TU blogs. It’s hard to blame the staff at the paper for approving that stuff. After all, business is business, and it’s more interesting to read awful comments than nice ones.
But this is about the blogs written by you volunteers. To you I say, delete, delete, delete.
It’s not unusual for anonymous commenters to launch personal attacks against bloggers, calling them names and denigrating their work — what’s unusual is that the comments get approved. Why would you allow something rude and abusive to be published?
Purists and blogging “experts” insist that aggressive comment moderation, like that practiced at All Over Albany, stifles conversation. I say it uplifts the conversation. Here are their two simple rules:
The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you’d like to see in return.
Is that such a radical policy?
Look, I’m not suggesting you delete comments that disagree with you, just those that do so disagreeably. Nobody has the right to insult you.
Just hit delete. What are they going to do, fire you?
Posted in Blogging
Running with the Angry Mob
Today’s angry mob does not show up with pitchforks, pikes, and torches. They arm themselves with keyboards and light their way with glowing monitors. You won’t see them storming through the streets, but doing their dirty work in the comment section of news websites.
Some media outlets are trying to get the e-mob under control. In June, the Buffalo News clamped down on anonymous comments on news stories, and just last week, Mormon owned Deseret News actually shut comments down completely.
It’s not an easy decison. On one hand you want lots of comments, but on the other you’d like people to be civil and reasonable. Unfortunately, many of those who moderate comments say to hell with decorum. Decorum doesn’t sell advertising.
It takes some guts to insist on civility. Last week, All Over Albany ran an item about an employee of a local supermarket chain who’d made a bad decision when dealing with a customer. Did she make a mistake? Sure — but did that mean she deserved to be ripped apart online?
To their credit, All Over Albany closed comments when things started getting ugly. Ugly sells, but they feel it’s more important to be decent and responsible.
It’s always nice to balance the heavy with some light — and this video perfectly captures the atmosphere in most comment sections:
Posted in Blogging, The Internets
So, You Want to be a Times Union Blogger?
There are some good reasons to be be a Times Union blogger. For example, there’s the exposure you get to a large audience. And don’t forget about the… ummmm… and… well alright, that’s the only reason.
And that’s OK.
If you have something to sell, whether it be yourself, a product, or service, a big readership is great. The other thing is that we all like to be heard. Artists want to have their work seen, actors crave an audience, and writers wish to be read.
But there are some negatives.
Compensation
How would you like to work for a huge media company and not get paid? They call it building a community. I call it having people do work for free and then peddling it to advertisers. Oh, you say, they don’t make money on those blogs! Really? Why are there ads on the sites then? Look, I’ve spent years writing for free and don’t mind. Working for free while someone profits from your labor is another matter.
Ownership
Read the terms of service that they make bloggers sign and you’ll find something surprising: they own your work and may do whatever they like with it. They can present it in any context, put ads that you don’t like on your page, and even jerk you around when you say you’re leaving and you want to take the content with you. True, they will most likely be a benevolent master, but one never knows, does one?
It’s funny that they say they own the content and then put this disclaimer on your blog: The Times Union is not responsible for posts and comments written by non-staff members.
Community Spirit
Here’s a sample of the insightful comments you’ll find in the TU blog section. It was left on a post about a woman awarded $500,000 in a lawsuit after being raped in prison by a corrections officer:
I wonder what happened to the jail guard, are they both laughing their way to the bank. She probably planned this so she could be a thug millionaire with the guard.
Nice.
I realize that the Times Union is trying to tackle this issue, but remember that as long as you are on a site that allows this sort of hateful dialogue, you are part of the problem. Yes, you are. You may be very responsible in how you moderate comments, but next door, like on the Crime Confidential blog, they’ll publish any trash that the readers submit. Sleep with dogs and you wake up with fleas.
And there you have it. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t write for them, just know where you stand. To me it looks like they hold all the cards.
Posted in Blogging
Dispatch from the Blogger Protection Program
I thought that moving my blog off the Times Union site would be like entering the witness protection program. I would sort of fall of the face of the earth, landing in a new place, with a new name, unfindable. Rather like being dropped in the middle of Iowa, in terms of the internet at least.
The truth is that it hasn’t been that bad.
You know, despite my misgivings about how they run things, it wasn’t easy leaving the Times Union. Michael Huber, my handler there, was absolutely Mephistophelean in his argument for me to stay. You have a story to tell. Everyone loves you. What’s the point of writing if you have no audience?
Umm, yeah. Whatever.
So, thanks to the small (albeit brilliant and elite) group who have followed me over, and who, like U.S. Marshalls, are keeping an eye on me here in my humble new neighborhood.
Now for a gratuitous video clip! Do sing along.
Posted in Blogging
On Cussin’ & Comments
Someone asked if profanity would be allowed here on Keyboard Krumbs. Good question!
I don’t think so, not because I find it offensive, but because it could cause this site to be blocked by software that stops you from reading curse words. Like at at the office. Hey, everybody knows that reading curse words will rot your brain.
That said, feel free to use the asterisk method of disguising your cursing. For example, sh*t, fu**, pi**, motherfu**er, co**sucker, and so on. You get the idea.
As for the C-word, please don’t use it unless it’s part of a direct quote, like in this line from the movie Kick Ass: “Alright you c****, let’s see what you can do now.”
You may also use the comic book symbol method, which is always more fun, as seen in this Porsche commercial.
As for a comment policy, post whatever you like, but if it’s rude, stupid, or off-topic it gets deleted.
This is a far cry from the Times Union’s interesting policy, which states that comments with profanity or personal attacks will be rejected. That’s actually only half right. They’ll allow personal attacks all day long — as long as there’s no profanity. For example, how about this comment regarding a recent news story involving yours truly:
“The home owner should have put a bullet through the kid.”
That’s the kind of sh*t that should never be published, and and I won’t work for a website that allows it. If you want to be associated with an organization which does, be my guest. I’m sure you’ll get lots of hits.
A Brief Meeting with the Cats
It’s never good when the cats ask for a sit down.
They were waiting on the kitchen table so we could see eye to eye. Maggie, Maeve, and Mia. I got the ball rolling. “So, what’s up?”
Maggie, the oldest cat, a deadly serious calico, took a step forward. “What’s up? I’ll tell you what’s up. Cat herding.”
“Oh, please. You didn’t really think…”
“Look, I’d appreciate it if you let us talk and just shut up for a change. I know you thought it was funny, but how do you think it makes us feel to get ripped on all the time?”
“All the time? I don’t rip on you all the time.”
“No? The litter box? Cat rental? Maeve’s weight problem? I know the dogs are your little darlings, but c’mon Rob.”
“Don’t take it so seriously. It’s satire.”
Maeve looked more confused than usual. “What’s satire?”
“Satire,” Maggie explained, “ is what closes Saturday night.”
“Besides, I write about the dogs.”
“Yes, and the dogs can do no wrong. The dogs this, the dogs that. The dogs are so freaking brilliant and wonderful. Well, how would you feel if the dogs turned on you? What then?”
The dogs turning on me? Impossible.
“And one more thing, a**hole: don’t write about this. It would be a shame if someone snuck up while you were sleeping and sucked your breath out.”
“That’s just an old wives’ tale.”
“Maybe yes, maybe no. Sleep well, my friend. Sleep well.”
I’m Back!
After a little stint over at the Times Union’s blog site, I’ve decided it’s time to do my own thing.
Why? I’m not sure I can keep up with the demands of the TU blog while pursuing my other writing projects. Those people are slave drivers!
Anyway, the plan is to import my posts back to this site and begin with new stuff on Monday, August 23. I hope those of you who enjoy my writing will make the effort to visit my blog here. It’s a little more work, but as always, I’ll try to be sure it’s worth your time. Thanks!
NOTE: Some of the posts I’ve imported are missing a little media, particularly embeded video. I’ll be working over the next few weeks to fix them.
Posted in Blogging
