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Wow! (Reply to this comment)
by girlboxer5
You are so the sexy-fez-wearing god!!! I am yet again honored to have participated in the only effective protest I've been involved in this year :-)
You've got to love the smarmy attitude Nirav shows to all of us slave-writers ($30,000 per year? Unh hunh! I'm at $3.34, including my impressive $0.20 of IS this month)... Thanks for publishing that letter. I'd love to know how you got it, but I'm sure that's a state secret ;-)
Rock on,
Elizabeth
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Nov 25 '01
10:18 pm PST
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You Guys Are Some Freaks! (Reply to this comment)
by dougsanders
No, really ... you are.
I think you made it rain in here.
Time for me to leave again ...
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Nov 20 '01
12:41 pm PST
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Damn the Man! (Reply to this comment)
by sibhreach
...Save Epinions. :)
Ken,
I hope that you will still write and give your unique insight and sharp humour - because you're one of the few reasons why I read as much as I do, here. I love to write, so that's another reason I stay. Hopefully, those big-wigs will see how strong the community is here - and not let us be swallowed whole by bogus claims of "in the community's best interests".
Thanks for being so eloquent.
...Cairlí
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Nov 14 '01
3:53 pm PST
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Ken (Reply to this comment)
by SMITHSWOODSIDE
Ken
You make some very interesting and valid points in this review. I believe EBD played a very major role in the reversal of a very poor decision. The merits or otherwise of how it was done can be debated ad nauseam.
From my viewpoint trust is required between the members and Management. I don't see much of it now except by a few sheep who blindly follow rules. Sheep they are and always will be - these poor demented fools don't have the ability to
think for themselves.
So we have a choice. We either "maintain the rage" or give Epinions a chance to show we matter to them. Already I have been let down over the ludicrous Popular/Editor lottery - yes lottery, thats all it is. Blind Freddie can see merit is
not a factor - I told Epinions I refused to be a part of that game back when it
started - what do I get....a bloody hat. Well we'll see about that.
Regardless, nobody wins if we maintain the rage. Yes Epinions have to use some
sense in dealing with the filthy garbage we all know about - yes Epinions need to
put certain pedantic vile creatures in their place - but for the next month or two I
am going to give them a chance to at least start straightening out their mess.
My hope is we all will. Not backdown, not forget - Just just give them a chance to
promote "pro-active" rather than reactive as they themselves once wrote to me.
And to help the sheep, that means don't be pedantic little worms and mudguts -
guidelines are guides, not laws, not rules - think!
Peter
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Nov 09 '01
8:32 pm PST
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What I Missed (Reply to this comment)
by pambo
So I took some time off from Epinions because of the recent volume of news and what happens? Utter rebellion. I missed it!
My last epinions review was Sept.10 in which I was whining about mildew. It was part of an attempt to help out HTP, bless his soul, though at least I managed to mention that there were things worse than mildew to worry about.
Thanks to Ed Grover, I am slowly catching up and have solidified my thinking on Epinions.
This opinion by Sordid_1 may be the best thing I've ever read on epinions. I love the passion, I used to love Epinions, but now I'm tired.
I believe in mercy killing, though only if the patient desires it. In this case, Epinions apparently intends to linger forever, refusing to sign a DNR order. In that case, we're under no obligation to hang around, mourning at the bedside.
I'm heading over to Mouthshut.com, along with, apparently, lots of other epinionators. I'd signed up there back in July but not written anything. See you at MS. I'm Pambo there, too.
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Nov 08 '01
9:28 am PST
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Sordy, I Just Can't Leave You Alone, Even For 3 Months, Can I?! (Reply to this comment)
by shockwave180
Kenneth Percival Schwartzdogg, you come here RIGHT NOW!
My goodness, is this what happens when I move and get stuck with no internet access for three months? Three pitiful months! And when I return from my brief, forced sojourn, I find a community riddled with chaos and uproar, with socks and sarcastic words strewn about like so many pairs of yesterday's underpants! I find dear old Mr. Tolia, who's always been so good to us, in tears! Tears, Kenneth! And, to my horror and shock, I find you, the boy whom I love as a son, right smack-dab in the middle of it all.
Well, I don't know what's going on, but as you can imagine, I'm very, very proud of you. I always knew, deep in my heart, that you would make something of yourself.
Love always,
Shockwave180
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Nov 07 '01
2:09 pm PST
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Wow... (Reply to this comment)
by rader6795
...I just got back to Epinions after being gone for around three weeks and I totally missed everything leading up to and including the EBD W/O.
I just wish I would've been here to see the contributions to the write-off AND contributed one but, due to the lack of internet access and the fact that I'm here in Korea, I was gone.
So, you're one of the hooligans that I read about, though, huh? Heh... what you did was very admirable and, if another situation should ever arise, I'd gladly stand by your side in support of what's right morally.
Until then, though, I guess I'll just do whatever the hell it is that editors do around here now that I'm one.
Great, great piece of work and overview and, out of curiousity, was there any site that has all the contributions by any chance?
Sincerely,
The Asian Persuasion,
Terry Rader
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Nov 07 '01
1:51 pm PST
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That was a great comment you left at laura10801's review!! (Reply to this comment)
by ginzo
We are all young and stupid because we don't lock our children at home for schooling like capri!
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Nov 07 '01
10:57 am PST
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Yea.. (Reply to this comment)
by ObiWanJabroni
Ken,
If this editorial were a woman, I'd impregnate it.
...D
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Nov 06 '01
12:25 am PST
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Re: Pass the potato salad. (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
Tom,
If I were, in fact, to receive one of those awards you mentioned, I would meticulously inspect it and outright refuse it if it were either covered in a chalky substance or made ticking noises.
Muckraker-1
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Nov 05 '01
8:48 pm PST
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Re: You deserve a lot more credit... (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
MKP,
I can fully understand your objection to the language and tone of many of the articles. I, personally, have never taken offense at writing or speech that utilizes the entire spectrum (even the seedier elements) of the English language, though when overused I find it tiresome and annoying. I find myself switching more to the other side, though, since I have become a father; not only attempting to monitor my own speech, but becoming increasingly irked with people who curse in public places when my children are present.
Nevertheless, I am not ashamed by my speech, nor am I particularly ashamed of the coarseness of the other pieces I read. Children were not the target audience, and, when all is said and done, I am more offended by theft than I am by “rough” language. But that (the execution and methods utilized) is what I knew would be the stumbling block to acceptance of this movement. But I do not begrudge anyone for being turned off, even to the point of vocal condemnation, by the way the grievances were presented.
By the way, I read your two well-written editorials and found myself in agreement with much of what you had to say, in addition to being a bit jealous of the effective, well-spoken way you presented your views.
Thanks,
Sordid-1
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Nov 05 '01
8:46 pm PST
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Re: Smile, You're on Candid Camera! (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
Daniel,
I agree that if it were not for the distance factor, and the fact that all the interaction were through phone lines and assorted electronic means, this would have made a great “Candid Camera” episode. Except that the rather than a dry cleaner irking a handful of customers as a joke, this was a company irking thousands of customers thinking that it wasn’t a joke.
I think “Candid Camera” is a truly dangerous show, I’m surprised someone doesn’t get seriously hurt. I remember seeing an episode a long, long time ago (maybe 20+years) where when a restaurant patron went to the restroom, the Candid Camera guy would sit at his booth and eat his food. One of the diners upon returning from the restroom and seeing his food was being stolen, grabbed a ketchup bottle and was just BARELY stopped before pummelling the guy with it. That just may be how I would react, too. Either that or use a suitable ketchup bottle replacement.
Thanks for your comment,
Sordid-1
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Nov 05 '01
8:45 pm PST
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Pass the potato salad. (Reply to this comment)
by 4-1-1
Just checking in.
The most entertaining bits of this comment section are S-1's replies.
Now that eroyalties have ended at Epinions, I really think it would be quite a bold move if Epinions itself started a new tradition and handed out annual awards to its membership in honor of their contributions and loyalty.
And, yes, Mr. Tolia should be the emcee, and the list of awards should include some categories like:
1) Best Offtopic Rant
2) Most Helpful Review
3) Best Comment Section
4) Best Profile Page
5) Biggest Muck Raker
etc., etc. Prizes to be awarded: Epinions' T-shirts and a cheat sheet with all the ASCII codes so that reviewers can beat the objectionable word filter.
And, oh yeah: this year's first lifetime achievement SORDIE would go to Ken. Goes without saying.
Tom / 4-1-1
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Nov 05 '01
11:05 am PST
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You deserve a lot more credit... (Reply to this comment)
by mkp51
...than you give yourself. I believe the EBD write-off did, in fact play a key role in getting Nirav and Company to reverse their ill-conceived decision regarding the elimination of edit/delete function. In my view, EBD was an act of "civil disobedience" against an inflexible, unresponsive system, and it worked. And that's what matters.
As you're probably well aware, I didn't write an EBD review, but I did rate most of the ones I read either "VH" or "MH," because I found them worthy of those ratings despite their being "off-topic." (I did not rate ones with offensive content.) My favorite was CurtisEdmonds' contribution... a review that was smart, funny, satirical, and devastating in its condemnation of Epinions.com's abominable decisions of recent days.
I like to think of myself as one of those members of Epinions who try very hard to abide by the rules. I place a great deal of premium on doing things "the right way." I was brought up to respect authority, and I've always tried to do that.
But I was also brought up to respect the concepts of right and wrong even more. What Nirav Tolia and Company tried to do in recent days was wrong by any definition of the word I can think of. There was simply no justification for their attempt to heist our intellectual property in the fashion they did.
I don't necessarily agree with all the tactics employed by EBD contributors, and I can safely say that I would not have written an EBD review had I been asked (lest you or any of your "band of EBD brothers and sisters" think I'm just "kissing up" here); I do believe, however, that, while the EBD write-off may have been a flagrant violation of the "rules;" while it may have been disrespectful of authority; and while some "EBD'ers" did go overboard with their use of coarse language (something I wholeheartedly disapprove of and condemn); there are times when extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary measures. EBD was an "extraordinary measure" that did serve a beneficial purpose to the Epinions community as a whole.
As for Nirav's "secret" letter to the critics of EBD: I guess I'll just "consider the letter's source." As I said in my most recent editorial on this subject: Nirav had better "walk the walk" if he's gonna "talk the talk" on the issue of rebuilding trust. If this letter is "on the level" (and there's no reason to doubt that it is), then Nirav has a lot of explaining to do to the community at large. Thanks for making this letter public!
mkp51
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Nov 05 '01
5:16 am PST
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Smile, You're on Candid Camera! (Reply to this comment)
by dtobias
Today on the "Candid Camera" TV show, they did a piece where they put up a sign at a dry cleaner saying that it was under new management, and when people tried to pick up their clothes, they were told that the new owner chose not to purchase the inventory from the old store, namely the clothes left with it, and hence all of their clothes had been shipped to the old owner's new location in a different state. The usual amusing reactions ensued.
I'm still wondering when they're going to air their follow-up episode, where they impersonated the management of a web-based opinion site and told the writers that they would no longer have any control of the writings they created and owned, and then filmed the reactions for a while before letting everyone know it was all a gag...
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Nov 04 '01
5:18 pm PST
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Re: I rated it already, but... (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
No need for thanks, Ticktockman, cold hard cash will do just fine!
Best,
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
4:15 pm PST
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Re: Thank you (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
Barbara,
Of all the EBD pieces I was able to read, I believe yours (along with Curtis Edmond’s) made me laugh the hardest. Even if nothing else good came out of this whole thing, the chance to read that hilarious, straight-faced look at Afghanistan as a popular tourist destination was worth all the effort.
Thanks,
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
4:13 pm PST
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Re: Thanks For Your Work; Let's Not Do It This Way Again? (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
Peter Ruden,
Thank you for your analysis, it was a well-spoken, honest expression of your views on the matter. Definitely worth hearing.
Thanks,
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
4:11 pm PST
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Re: The best thing about this.... (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
Ginz,
Well, I think everything played out true to form, nobody deviated from character too much.
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
4:07 pm PST
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Re: Background, please! (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
Gonow,
If I were you, I’d just wait for the movie version starring the ever lovely Vicki Lester.
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
4:06 pm PST
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Re: Damn, late to the party again! (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
Fez Monk,
You win this year’s SORDIE AWARD for Most Creative Use of The Word “Glazzballs” in a Rant!
Be proud, be fezzy, be simian.
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
4:05 pm PST
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Re: Re: Re: Agree and Disagree (more disagree, but hear me out) (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
Jim,
I said sexy, fez-wearin’ mofo, not sexy, use-a-boatload-of-twenty-dollar-words-that-causes-Sord-to-get-a-numer-of- papercuts-while-thumbing-through-the-dictionary-at-a-frenetic-pace mofo. There is a difference! Game, set, match!
Innocent of all misnomer-related accusations,
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
4:02 pm PST
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Re: You Are (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
Tom (4-1-1) stated:
“Some of your writing betrays the fact that you are a greater gentleman than some may suspect.”
Now, now, now, Tom. Don’t leak that to the general public, I have a deviant reputation to maintain here.
Besides, “nice, rational Sord” just comes out to play when “raving lunatic Sord” wears down and has to take a nap.
Thanks
Sordid “Temporarily Lucid” One
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Nov 04 '01
3:56 pm PST
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Re: Oh, Sordid-1! (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
David K,
Bad Kitty just offered $20 for a picture of my naked hindquarters. I think I detect the start of a bidding war.
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
3:54 pm PST
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Re: Re: Re: (Insert intelligent and witty title here) (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
BadKittyM,
My lilly white ass gets tickled pink
When money’s offered by the kitty whose hooked on kink.
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
3:49 pm PST
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Re: Sordie, Darling! (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
The Ever Flamboyant Mrs. Norman Maine,
While we did hear from Joseph, his demand that those annoying Baha Men be commissioned to perform the title song is proving to be a real stumbling block. I only hope he will come to his good senses to get this project off the ground.
Also, Sordco’s product development team has advised me not to elaborate any further on the Mr. & Mrs. Norman Maine action figures, although they will allow me to say that the set will not be complete without the foul-talking Margo Channing doll complete with removable head!
Let’s do lunch!
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
3:47 pm PST
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Re: Better than a pork butt and a 12 pack of Dr. Thunder (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
MiDoyle,
Ego boo is the true currency of Epinions. That is all the more evident with the elimination of actual money.
You can’t buy potato salad and pork butt with ego boo, but doggone it, it tastes just as fine!
Cheers,
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
3:38 pm PST
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Re: I did not reach my $10.00. (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
Dawn,
Maybe a couple more rounds of income share will jack you up to the ten dollars mark. In the meantime, go SUNS, down with Utah! Stockton’s too old! Donyell Marshall’s too ugly! John Starks only has one ball! (Okay, that was low, way too low, the Jazz are a fine team.)
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
3:10 pm PST
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Re: Enjoyed your questions. (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
HorsWispr,
PIKACHUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!
sORDID-one
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Nov 04 '01
3:07 pm PST
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Re: Everyone needs a leader; (Reply to this comment)
by Sordid-1
Brenda M,
Your husband has one a golden wanger? Damn, you must have a Midas touch.
Nevertheless, you are a random thing I enjoy.
Sordid-1
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Nov 04 '01
3:06 pm PST
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