Comments on: Boing Boing apartment in Comcast Town http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 19:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: cory http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473344 cory Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473344 Antinous, I say this with full sympathy toward your position and with the explicit assertion that usually you a pretty level-headed on here, but What the f***? "As is obvious, this sponsorship hasn't changed your ability or BB's willingness to criticize Comcast. The subject is closed" Normally there would be a [...] between those two sentences indicating that i was connecting two contradictory ideas that are separated by some space in your words, but this time there was no need. You said X, then immediately contradicted it. If we have the ability to criticize comcast, then the subject had better not be closed, had it? Antinous, I say this with full sympathy toward your position and with the explicit assertion that usually you a pretty level-headed on here, but

What the f***?

“As is obvious, this sponsorship hasn’t changed your ability or BB’s willingness to criticize Comcast. The subject is closed”

Normally there would be a [...] between those two sentences indicating that i was connecting two contradictory ideas that are separated by some space in your words, but this time there was no need. You said X, then immediately contradicted it.

If we have the ability to criticize comcast, then the subject had better not be closed, had it?

]]> By: zuzu http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473600 zuzu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473600 Clearly BoingBoing deserves to be showered* with free money from the U.S. Government rather than have to make tough choices in operating a sustainable business. Too bad they're not politically connected enough to garner the "too big to fail" privileged status. (*Showered from <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2008/10/18/deflation-ben-bernanke-and-the-famous-helicopter/">Bernanke's helicopter</a>, no doubt.) Clearly BoingBoing deserves to be showered* with free money from the U.S. Government rather than have to make tough choices in operating a sustainable business.

Too bad they’re not politically connected enough to garner the “too big to fail” privileged status.

(*Showered from Bernanke’s helicopter, no doubt.)

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473350 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473350 cory, Having a sponsor is not an invitation for every disgruntled customer to air their grievances every time we do a post. There have been plenty of posts about Comcast where you could complain about them. That does not give you license to continue repeating the same complaints in this and every thread that they sponsor (if any). cory,

Having a sponsor is not an invitation for every disgruntled customer to air their grievances every time we do a post. There have been plenty of posts about Comcast where you could complain about them. That does not give you license to continue repeating the same complaints in this and every thread that they sponsor (if any).

]]> By: Atomische http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473613 Atomische Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473613 I had no idea Comcast sponsored BB! The AdBlock thing really works! I had no idea Comcast sponsored BB!

The AdBlock thing really works!

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473360 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473360 we keep going down this tired road: Yes BB has ads. Yes you enjoy BB for free. Yes bills have to be paid. Yes some people accuse BB of impurity. Yes those people are full of self-righteous shit. Hey, I'VE got an idea! How about if we publicly question and discuss YOUR integrity over and over? How about the hobby prosecutors actually assemble a case and some evidence before bringing it up again? The Mod crew here wouldn't permit ongoing harassment of any poster on dubious at best charges, why the hell should the content providers have to constantly defend themselves? Go read the moderation thread. All of it. If any feel they must continue, then prepare to have me bash you for a while in exchange. Fair is fair. we keep going down this tired road: Yes BB has ads. Yes you enjoy BB for free. Yes bills have to be paid. Yes some people accuse BB of impurity. Yes those people are full of self-righteous shit.
Hey, I’VE got an idea! How about if we publicly question and discuss YOUR integrity over and over?
How about the hobby prosecutors actually assemble a case and some evidence before bringing it up again?
The Mod crew here wouldn’t permit ongoing harassment of any poster on dubious at best charges, why the hell should the content providers have to constantly defend themselves? Go read the moderation thread. All of it. If any feel they must continue, then prepare to have me bash you for a while in exchange. Fair is fair.

]]> By: jjasper http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473616 jjasper Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473616 OK, let's talk about the "Comcast town" concept. How is this not a third rate second life knockoff? What's the actual appeal? I mean, yeah, the objects are sort of interesting, but do you really expect this to go anywhere? If so, why? OK, let’s talk about the “Comcast town” concept. How is this not a third rate second life knockoff? What’s the actual appeal? I mean, yeah, the objects are sort of interesting, but do you really expect this to go anywhere?

If so, why?

]]> By: allen http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473364 allen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473364 Am I missing whatever it is that is supposed to make "comcast town" cool or fun (or interesting)? Can you do anything other than drag clipart around a cheesy apartment, or watch their (painfully uncool) commercials? It's a lot of money to pour into something that isn't a game or a community or even interesting... Am I missing whatever it is that is supposed to make “comcast town” cool or fun (or interesting)?

Can you do anything other than drag clipart around a cheesy apartment, or watch their (painfully uncool) commercials?

It’s a lot of money to pour into something that isn’t a game or a community or even interesting…

]]> By: sievetronix http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-474133 sievetronix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-474133 The point of advertising is not selling ad space it is selling your audience. When a trusted website sell ad space and by extension its readership to a major corporation that it is against many of the principals that that the web site expressed that should raise a few flags. When you are openly working with them and giving them preferential treatment and free advertising masked as content then yes people have a right to be pissed. These are the people who made any of this advertising and your livelyhood possible. Don't take the wounded stance, someone in Boing Boing new this would have happened. I would respect you guys if you outright said "Look we looked at page hits compared to comments and we kinda figured any backlash we got in diminished hits would really matter in the long run. Screw you all we have kids to feed." I would understand that other than the we can say whatever we want and this isn't a big deal line. The point of advertising is not selling ad space it is selling your audience. When a trusted website sell ad space and by extension its readership to a major corporation that it is against many of the principals that that the web site expressed that should raise a few flags.

When you are openly working with them and giving them preferential treatment and free advertising masked as content then yes people have a right to be pissed. These are the people who made any of this advertising and your livelyhood possible.

Don’t take the wounded stance, someone in Boing Boing new this would have happened. I would respect you guys if you outright said “Look we looked at page hits compared to comments and we kinda figured any backlash we got in diminished hits would really matter in the long run. Screw you all we have kids to feed.” I would understand that other than the we can say whatever we want and this isn’t a big deal line.

]]> By: disprofession http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473371 disprofession Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473371 If we're not allowed to discuss Boing Boing's sponsorships in the comments of posts that are about Boing Boing sponsorships, and posts that in no way violate the moderation policy are being deleted, can someone link me to the thread on Boing Boing where discussion of this topic is/was allowed? If we’re not allowed to discuss Boing Boing’s sponsorships in the comments of posts that are about Boing Boing sponsorships, and posts that in no way violate the moderation policy are being deleted, can someone link me to the thread on Boing Boing where discussion of this topic is/was allowed?

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473373 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473373 Look up. It's linked at the top. Look up. It’s linked at the top.

]]> By: imag http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473886 imag Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473886 I just reread the post. This *is* shilling for Comcast. It goes beyond an ad, giving Comcast space in the "trusted" content section. I too see that as a violation. Why do I care? Because, bandwidth caps aside, Comcast is a despicable organization, with nightmarish customer service, a deliberately obfuscated and absurd "pricing structure", and and annoying drive to buy up better companies. Companies like Comcast are a blight on our nation - don't tell me internet wouldn't be doing fine without them - and I have to say I'm pretty resentful that BoingBoing is trying to push their little "contest" on us as well. This is the kind of stuff where corporations want to insinuate themselves into your life, and it's something I would expect BoingBoing to fight, not endorse. You have to ask yourselves - if Comcast wasn't a sponsor, would you have put their little marketing game on the front page? If you admit that the answer is no, then you can't say their ads don't change your content. People have a right to be upset that an advertiser is changing the content of their favorite blog, and they have a right to want to avoid astroturfing as part of their regular news round. I just reread the post. This *is* shilling for Comcast. It goes beyond an ad, giving Comcast space in the “trusted” content section. I too see that as a violation.

Why do I care? Because, bandwidth caps aside, Comcast is a despicable organization, with nightmarish customer service, a deliberately obfuscated and absurd “pricing structure”, and and annoying drive to buy up better companies. Companies like Comcast are a blight on our nation – don’t tell me internet wouldn’t be doing fine without them – and I have to say I’m pretty resentful that BoingBoing is trying to push their little “contest” on us as well. This is the kind of stuff where corporations want to insinuate themselves into your life, and it’s something I would expect BoingBoing to fight, not endorse.

You have to ask yourselves – if Comcast wasn’t a sponsor, would you have put their little marketing game on the front page? If you admit that the answer is no, then you can’t say their ads don’t change your content. People have a right to be upset that an advertiser is changing the content of their favorite blog, and they have a right to want to avoid astroturfing as part of their regular news round.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473127 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473127 Check out <a href="http://www.iwin.com/hotel/roombrowser/">Hotel iWin</a> -- a similar idea but focused on casual game folks and full of more middle-aged women than any other virtual world I've ever seen. Check out Hotel iWin — a similar idea but focused on casual game folks and full of more middle-aged women than any other virtual world I’ve ever seen.

]]> By: Eyeraw http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473642 Eyeraw Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473642 It sucks that the only people you can find to sponsor your genuinely fantastic site do so with the specific intent to create a chilling effect on your negative reporting about them. Whether or not that's the result... still kinda creepy! It sucks that the only people you can find to sponsor your genuinely fantastic site do so with the specific intent to create a chilling effect on your negative reporting about them. Whether or not that’s the result… still kinda creepy!

]]> By: grimc http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473133 grimc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473133 Is that a naked mole rat coffee table? Is that a naked mole rat coffee table?

]]> By: disprofession http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473390 disprofession Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473390 What's linked at the top? The moderation policy? Are you saying discussion of Boing Boing's sponsorships is only allowed in the comments of the moderation policy itself? I ask because some people have made it sound like a discussion about the sponsorships already took place and those commenting on it now are beating a dead horse. However, if I have to search though 1600 comments to find that discussion, no wonder I'm not the only one who missed it the first time. What’s linked at the top? The moderation policy? Are you saying discussion of Boing Boing’s sponsorships is only allowed in the comments of the moderation policy itself? I ask because some people have made it sound like a discussion about the sponsorships already took place and those commenting on it now are beating a dead horse. However, if I have to search though 1600 comments to find that discussion, no wonder I’m not the only one who missed it the first time.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473647 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473647 So what if this really <i>were</i> a thinly veiled Comcast ad instead of a "real" Boing Boing post? Are we so afraid of being manipulated by advertising that we can't determine for ourselves whether something is worthy of our interest or not? Weed through it and move on, if you're so inclined. I'm surprised people who roam the net, where advertising and "real" content mix and merge, aren't better at doing this sort of thing by now. And anyway, what's so bad about an interesting ad? I personally don't like Comcast much, but I stop and stare at the TV hypnotically every time one of their fun new toylike ads comes on. So what if this really were a thinly veiled Comcast ad instead of a “real” Boing Boing post? Are we so afraid of being manipulated by advertising that we can’t determine for ourselves whether something is worthy of our interest or not? Weed through it and move on, if you’re so inclined. I’m surprised people who roam the net, where advertising and “real” content mix and merge, aren’t better at doing this sort of thing by now.

And anyway, what’s so bad about an interesting ad? I personally don’t like Comcast much, but I stop and stare at the TV hypnotically every time one of their fun new toylike ads comes on.

]]> By: David Pescovitz http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-474159 David Pescovitz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-474159 All, We're working on figuring out how we might have handled this better or differently in the future. Once we have what we think is a more concrete and explicit set of guidelines around advertising, sponsorships, and promotions on the site, I promise we'll share them with you for feedback. We're doing the best we can to figure stuff out while trying to run a business. And we're learning as we go. Thanks. All, We’re working on figuring out how we might have handled this better or differently in the future. Once we have what we think is a more concrete and explicit set of guidelines around advertising, sponsorships, and promotions on the site, I promise we’ll share them with you for feedback. We’re doing the best we can to figure stuff out while trying to run a business. And we’re learning as we go. Thanks.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473143 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473143 Nice layout, Perky Pat would be proud. All you need now is some Can-D. Nice layout, Perky Pat would be proud.

All you need now is some Can-D.

]]> By: hemidemisemiquaver http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473656 hemidemisemiquaver Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473656 <blockquote>In a perfect world we could do what Penny Arcade does, vetting each advertiser personally, but we don't have that luxury at the moment.</blockquote>This crystallizes for me why the arguments being advanced by staff are so disturbing -- it conflates two entirely different types of sponsorship. Banner ads are one thing; I'm well aware that vetting them all would be silly and impractical. But this is a stealth ad made in every way to look like a normal post. It goes without saying that for this post to exist BB administrators had to make the decision to set up a relationship with Comcast that goes well beyond that of regular advertisers: a relationship that they allow to intrude into the editorial voice of the site with minimal disclosure. That behavior damages our ability to trust that any given post is not bought and paid for. Comcast already has some editorial control of the site; why should we believe that you are willing and free to criticize them as if they didn't? <blockquote>We're a business and we're trying to figure out how to negotiate this really shitty time for being a media company</blockquote>Would this be acceptable behavior from, for example, the NYT? I'm sure they could make plenty of money if they opened the integrity of their newsroom to the highest bidder.

In a perfect world we could do what Penny Arcade does, vetting each advertiser personally, but we don’t have that luxury at the moment.

This crystallizes for me why the arguments being advanced by staff are so disturbing — it conflates two entirely different types of sponsorship. Banner ads are one thing; I’m well aware that vetting them all would be silly and impractical. But this is a stealth ad made in every way to look like a normal post. It goes without saying that for this post to exist BB administrators had to make the decision to set up a relationship with Comcast that goes well beyond that of regular advertisers: a relationship that they allow to intrude into the editorial voice of the site with minimal disclosure. That behavior damages our ability to trust that any given post is not bought and paid for. Comcast already has some editorial control of the site; why should we believe that you are willing and free to criticize them as if they didn’t?

We’re a business and we’re trying to figure out how to negotiate this really shitty time for being a media company

Would this be acceptable behavior from, for example, the NYT? I’m sure they could make plenty of money if they opened the integrity of their newsroom to the highest bidder.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473401 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473401 disprofession, It's standard for meta-commentary to go to the Moderation thread. It would be impossible to have a conversation otherwise. The discussion of sponsorship has come up many times and been answered many times. It's not that interesting to regular readers to see the same discussion over and over when it already exists elsewhere for new readers to peruse. disprofession,

It’s standard for meta-commentary to go to the Moderation thread. It would be impossible to have a conversation otherwise. The discussion of sponsorship has come up many times and been answered many times. It’s not that interesting to regular readers to see the same discussion over and over when it already exists elsewhere for new readers to peruse.

]]> By: David Pescovitz http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473147 David Pescovitz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473147 Ha! It's likely a panther, but I prefer to think it's the Montauk Monster. Ha! It’s likely a panther, but I prefer to think it’s the Montauk Monster.

]]> By: sirdook http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473152 sirdook Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473152 Wait, *this* Comcast? http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/04/17/comcast-disconnects.html http://www.boingboing.net/2008/01/23/is-comcast-really-bl.html http://www.boingboing.net/2008/02/27/fcc-may-doover-comca.html http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/07/31/comcast-extends-wris.html Wait, *this* Comcast?

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/04/17/comcast-disconnects.html
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/01/23/is-comcast-really-bl.html
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/02/27/fcc-may-doover-comca.html
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/07/31/comcast-extends-wris.html

]]> By: disprofession http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473410 disprofession Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473410 Well, I guess I better go spend the rest of my day reading the 1600 comments on the moderation policy so that I never accidentally post a comment that is similar to any that have been posted in the past, thus experiencing the frustration of having a comment deleted even though it didn't violate the moderation policy. I suggest updating the policy to include a warning that comments that seem like old news to people who have time to read every comment ever posted on Boing Boing might be deleted so that they don't bore anyone. Well, I guess I better go spend the rest of my day reading the 1600 comments on the moderation policy so that I never accidentally post a comment that is similar to any that have been posted in the past, thus experiencing the frustration of having a comment deleted even though it didn’t violate the moderation policy. I suggest updating the policy to include a warning that comments that seem like old news to people who have time to read every comment ever posted on Boing Boing might be deleted so that they don’t bore anyone.

]]> By: HunterZ http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473421 HunterZ Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473421 @#37: As a "regular reader" I'm more interested in the discussion of the troubling situation of one of my favorite net neutrality championing blogs taking money from and shilling for one of the worst offenders than I am in discussion about some inane advertising ploy. Please don't tell me what is and is not interesting to me. @#37:

As a “regular reader” I’m more interested in the discussion of the troubling situation of one of my favorite net neutrality championing blogs taking money from and shilling for one of the worst offenders than I am in discussion about some inane advertising ploy.

Please don’t tell me what is and is not interesting to me.

]]> By: relgin http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473677 relgin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473677 "sirdook" and everyone else beat me to it. Yes, Comcast. I will stick to the real world even though I am burdened by mundane principles for it costs me less time and money. “sirdook” and everyone else beat me to it. Yes, Comcast.
I will stick to the real world even though I am burdened by mundane principles for it costs me less time and money.

]]> By: Tarmle http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473167 Tarmle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473167 Runners up will receive a free forged TCP RST packet. Runners up will receive a free forged TCP RST packet.

]]> By: Foxhearstherabbit http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473168 Foxhearstherabbit Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473168 yeah sirdook...i must be confused too..... yeah sirdook…i must be confused too…..

]]> By: godfathersoul http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473169 godfathersoul Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473169 Yeah, um, what's up with that? I thought comcast was devilspawn or something - throttling, etc... How is this better than... what was that other world thing that showed up here not too long ago? At least they coulda named it something different.. "Comcasttown" goes right aong with the Staples Convention Center, the Pepsico Arena, etc, the Verizon Amphitheater.. there is no character to those names at all. And you know, this stuff is all really neat... but it still doesn't beat REALLY riding your cruiser down the street... Yeah, um, what’s up with that? I thought comcast was devilspawn or something – throttling, etc…

How is this better than… what was that other world thing that showed up here not too long ago?

At least they coulda named it something different.. “Comcasttown” goes right aong with the Staples Convention Center, the Pepsico Arena, etc, the Verizon Amphitheater.. there is no character to those names at all.

And you know, this stuff is all really neat… but it still doesn’t beat REALLY riding your cruiser down the street…

]]> By: norns http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-473429 norns Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-473429 There is a prison TV room with some funny cartoon bubbles about comcast. you have to search for "jobes" in the comcast town phonebook to see it... it will probably be deleted soon. There is a prison TV room with some funny cartoon bubbles about comcast. you have to search for “jobes” in the comcast town phonebook to see it… it will probably be deleted soon.

]]> By: Cadfael http://boingboing.net/2009/04/23/boing-boing-apartmen.html#comment-474197 Cadfael Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-474197 No, Thank you David. No, Thank you David.

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