On Justifying Causing Pain to Others and Journalistic Honesty Under Attack

Thought Crime Comments Off on On Justifying Causing Pain to Others and Journalistic Honesty Under Attack

 “I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause.” -Abraham Lincoln

Unfortunately, Gizmodo, you get the first post of Thought Crime, defined here in as a logic/thought/explanation so wrong, justifying it makes you just seem either stupid, callous, or simply inane.

In closing, I will fill you in on our little secret: TVs turn back on when you press the power button a second time. So, I can assure you, everything is going to be OK once the companies find their clickers between the couch cushions of our prank and your obedience. Will our critics find it as easy to turn their integrity back on? I doubt it. -Via Gizmodo-  

Gizmodo, a blog I read reverently, and use to inject the life blood of technology reverence into my maligned existence, posted a rant defense of their “prank” they perpetuated at CES  (Consumer Electronic Show) that got one of their people banned for life from the bloated show electronics.

Gizmodo justification, while excellently written, and amazingly well thought out, is just that, justification. I agree with 98% of their post, and believe that the media has become almost lapdogs for the things that they cover, technology or not.  Recently, Others have started to take exceptions to being in the pocket of technology companies: Both Penny-Arcade (who later appologized for dumping the DS, but I still agree with why they thought the D.S. was not for them initially. Confused, read their post.  

They also commented on the Getting in Bed with companies you cover  here, and view the comic ). Other examples besides Jeff Gerstmann at Gamespot, are Dan Hsu (over at EGM) who’s company has been banded for giving a bad review.  A company should expect a bad review for making a crappy ass game.)But, we are discussing Gizmodo defense, coached to match other real defenses. Gizmodo, I have one problem with your prank.  

It doesn’t matter if Motorola said no harm no foul, turning off a presentation repeatedly, was over the line and you know it.   You won’t admit it,  But I believe you know it was wrong.  As anyone who works in IT/AV/Electronics know, people get fired for less.   Think about it: You have worked long hours setting up booths, working your fingers off, assuring your nervous presenter over and over that everything is ok and will run smoothly, only to have the system go down, again and again for no reason.   

Gizmodo, you have not just harmed this person, but you’ve harmed his reputation, affected how his coworkers viewed him -however briefly- and even, caused him to doubt skills he’s honed to near perfection.  In one act you have sent a man down spirit down to hell with a smile and a can of diet rite.  I hope coffee spills on your keyboard.Pranks can go too far when someone gets hurt.  But no one got hurt you say? If you can say that and believe that, then truely, none of you have ever been a IT person, or known one.You went too far.

 Update: Gizmodo has posted a appology to the IT/AV techs, without rancor or blame. And I personally think it’s the right move. It is about time.

 

OceansOfThought @ January 14, 2008