- Site menu:
- Latest Discussions
- Latest Newswire
- Archives
- Submit Story
- Story HOWTO
- Syndicate
- E-mail Alerts
Who reads LXer? Why do I care?
|
|
Comments (56)
LXer Reader
7 earlier comments in the full thread.
Just to let you folks at LXer know -- I also count your site among the top 5 FOSS sites on the net. When I'm in Africa where web access is more difficult I visit 3-4 times a week. When back home in the US I touch base at least twice a day. Knowing what is happening in this fast-changing field is crucial to my business, and is fascinating as well. Thanks for the many hours you must spend every day making this service a reality for us.
--Simfox
In the past few months, I've trimmed my list of regularly visited sites down to about 10. LXer is not just in the top 10 or top 5, but it is my number 1. I visit it more frequently than any other site.
Originally it was the news content that drew me here, but it is the discussion and community that keep me here.
I live just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Originally it was the news content that drew me here, but it is the discussion and community that keep me here.
I live just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
NoDough: Originally it was the news content that drew me here, but it is the discussion and community that keep me here.
Ditto that sentiment!! I, too, really enjoy the sense of community that open discussion creates. Care must be taken and all that but, for the most part, it is just plain fun to read the jibes, back and forths and attempts at humor! This is how you build comraderie and community.
Keep it up gang!
I use the RSS feeds to get an overview and then I visit the site for new forum content. Usually there's something worth while reading in there.
Don K.
Ditto that sentiment!! I, too, really enjoy the sense of community that open discussion creates. Care must be taken and all that but, for the most part, it is just plain fun to read the jibes, back and forths and attempts at humor! This is how you build comraderie and community.
Keep it up gang!
I use the RSS feeds to get an overview and then I visit the site for new forum content. Usually there's something worth while reading in there.
Don K.
"....attempts at humor!"
Which, on rare occasions, succeed.
Which, on rare occasions, succeed.
I can heartily agree with what grouch said here - my main sites used to be slashdot and linuxtoday.com - well, I got tired of the inane goatsex, natalie portman/grits, and "first post biatch" drivel on slashdot, and now only skim slashdot occasionally. And I couldn't stand the stench of the microsoft fud on linuxtoday.com, so I stopped visiting the site entirely - my blood pressure has been lower as a result, and the ulcers have cleared up.
When I discovered LXer a few months ago, it was like running into an old friend - it's good to see there are still some who haven't sold their integrity for a few extra bucks from a crappy monopolist!
When I discovered LXer a few months ago, it was like running into an old friend - it's good to see there are still some who haven't sold their integrity for a few extra bucks from a crappy monopolist!
LXer is in my top 3 with Slashdot and Digg (Tech category). The quality is better on LXer, and the quantity is higher on Digg. I don't know where to put Slashdot. I've been reading it much longer, but between LXer and Digg, I almost don't need Slashdot.
Please keep up the good work.
Please keep up the good work.
Cypress:
I guess you do indeed know the worries I talked about! They're pretty new to me.
tuxchick2:
You're still sore about that 'top', 'less', and 'nice' joke aren't you? Or is it the "goalie host" groaner?
I guess you do indeed know the worries I talked about! They're pretty new to me.
tuxchick2:
You're still sore about that 'top', 'less', and 'nice' joke aren't you? Or is it the "goalie host" groaner?
LXer Linux News is the front & center panel of my Google home page that I keep tabs on all day long. I do not work in the IT industry at all, but FOSS is near and dear to my heart, and as tuxchick2 stated earlier the design is nice and clean. I like being able to be only one click away from the full news story that I find interesting. I visit daily and read more news now than I ever have - and it is all relevant to me.
Keep up the good work LXer staff - this reader appreciates you!
Keep up the good work LXer staff - this reader appreciates you!
I've been an Lxer reader since Dave appeared on the Linux Show (R.I.P.), although i don't post as much since im busy and kinda depressed after my move to the USA from Scotland, why am i depressed you might be asking yourself.
Well im depressed because of the amount of ignorance im coming across over here regarding the likes of MS, ODF and their various shenanigans some folk don't even realise these guys are convicted monopolists the people here just don't know whats going on, im in Vermont btw.
Ignorance of which i found very little back in Scotland and Europe as a whole, as i used to travel alot, i'm sure i'll get over it, i tried enlightening folks but they plainly just don't care its like i hit a conservative wall in a very fast car so i've more or less decided to not bother and bleed folks dry by repairing their virus ridden PC's at least MS are keeping me in a job.
Signed Depressed and possibly a little homesick.
Ignorance of which i found very little back in Scotland and Europe as a whole, as i used to travel alot, i'm sure i'll get over it, i tried enlightening folks but they plainly just don't care its like i hit a conservative wall in a very fast car so i've more or less decided to not bother and bleed folks dry by repairing their virus ridden PC's at least MS are keeping me in a job.
Signed Depressed and possibly a little homesick.
Hey grouch --
"goalie host" is great stuff.
Some people just don't know fine art when they sneeze it.
"goalie host" is great stuff.
Some people just don't know fine art when they sneeze it.
Koriel:
>Signed Depressed and possibly a little homesick.
I know more about Ayre & Inverness than I do about Vermont. I miss Ayre - and I'm not from there. Hopefully you'll get settled into Vermont soon. Welcome Stateside! :-)
Don
I know more about Ayre & Inverness than I do about Vermont. I miss Ayre - and I'm not from there. Hopefully you'll get settled into Vermont soon. Welcome Stateside! :-)
Don
Not that long ago...ok maybe a little longer than that, but still!
I was new to "this Linux thing" as I called it and was using my 'uber'-surfing skills to find out more about it. I happened to come across some site called LXer.com.
I thought "Cool, lots of news about Linux and stuff, direct links instead of re-directs, comment threads worth reading and participating in and no M$ ads, looks like somebody got it right."
It almost instantly became the one place I went to "get the news" on Linux and along the way I was asked to become a member of the Team.
Look at what it did to me, JUST LOOK!! AAHHHHH!! (your all supposed to run away in fear for your lives)
;-)
Koriel: Your not alone in your depression my good man, your not alone. If you ever need someone to drink some good Scotch with look me up. We can get 'pissed' and crawl home. :-)
I was new to "this Linux thing" as I called it and was using my 'uber'-surfing skills to find out more about it. I happened to come across some site called LXer.com.
I thought "Cool, lots of news about Linux and stuff, direct links instead of re-directs, comment threads worth reading and participating in and no M$ ads, looks like somebody got it right."
It almost instantly became the one place I went to "get the news" on Linux and along the way I was asked to become a member of the Team.
Look at what it did to me, JUST LOOK!! AAHHHHH!! (your all supposed to run away in fear for your lives)
;-)
Koriel: Your not alone in your depression my good man, your not alone. If you ever need someone to drink some good Scotch with look me up. We can get 'pissed' and crawl home. :-)
Why grouch, I don't hold a grudge.
For very long.
For very long.
This is gonna sound bad, but it was all Tom's fault. I didn't really read LXer much. I was just looking for an outlet to post a press release. I sent in a question about something I submitted. Next thing I know, I'm being recruited as an editor. I'm thinking, "me? really?", but it seemed like a fun thing to do. And it has been! It may yet turn out to be the best move I ever made.
dcparris:
Ditto. Tom goaded me into going a bit further than just spouting off in the comments, then you came along with those thinly veiled threats about knowing where I live and where I hide my mummified rat collection.
BTW, the response by readers got to me. sbergman27's thread was the catalyst for writing the editorial (it was actually going to be a reply in that thread, right at the point where I was nudging Steve to post an article). Ever since that time, I've been wondering if the editorial should even be posted, and if it was, would anyone read it. It's mostly about LXer instead of Linux, GNU or FOSS, after all. So, for 2 days and nights I've been biting my fingernails, figuratively. That disclaimer was put in just in case the thing really offended readers, to hopefully limit the fallout. I certainly didn't want my screw-up to be blamed on everyone else who works on LXer, especially since they have so many obligations demanding their time. They don't need extra duty imposed on them to clean up my messes. When Cypress posted that first comment, didn't roast me personally, and did complement LXer and the merry band of editors, it was tremendously relieving. The responses since then actually choked me up. (dinotrac's next groaner will fix that).
I've seen what kind of sacrifices, especially of spare time, that Don, Scott, and others have made to keep things going around here, so I think it's safe for me to claim to speak for the whole team(.php), now, to say, 'Thanks for the feedback!'
Ditto. Tom goaded me into going a bit further than just spouting off in the comments, then you came along with those thinly veiled threats about knowing where I live and where I hide my mummified rat collection.
BTW, the response by readers got to me. sbergman27's thread was the catalyst for writing the editorial (it was actually going to be a reply in that thread, right at the point where I was nudging Steve to post an article). Ever since that time, I've been wondering if the editorial should even be posted, and if it was, would anyone read it. It's mostly about LXer instead of Linux, GNU or FOSS, after all. So, for 2 days and nights I've been biting my fingernails, figuratively. That disclaimer was put in just in case the thing really offended readers, to hopefully limit the fallout. I certainly didn't want my screw-up to be blamed on everyone else who works on LXer, especially since they have so many obligations demanding their time. They don't need extra duty imposed on them to clean up my messes. When Cypress posted that first comment, didn't roast me personally, and did complement LXer and the merry band of editors, it was tremendously relieving. The responses since then actually choked me up. (dinotrac's next groaner will fix that).
I've seen what kind of sacrifices, especially of spare time, that Don, Scott, and others have made to keep things going around here, so I think it's safe for me to claim to speak for the whole team(.php), now, to say, 'Thanks for the feedback!'
Yea. Editorializing's like that, at least if you're doing it right :).
>I know more about Ayre & Inverness than I do about Vermont. I miss Ayre - and I'm not from there. Hopefully >you'll get settled into Vermont soon. Welcome Stateside! :-)
thanks for the welcome dcparris and i am originally from Inverness, never been to Ayre but i hear its nice :)
Cheers
thanks for the welcome dcparris and i am originally from Inverness, never been to Ayre but i hear its nice :)
Cheers
> thanks for the welcome dcparris and i am originally from Inverness, never been to Ayre but i hear its nice :)
I could happily retire to either town. Yeah, I did the Loch Ness tour. Even got to pilot the boat for a minute. Nessie's really cute for a lake monster, btw.
I could happily retire to either town. Yeah, I did the Loch Ness tour. Even got to pilot the boat for a minute. Nessie's really cute for a lake monster, btw.
Quoting:to speak for the whole team(.php), now, to say, 'Thanks for the feedback!'
Accordance from your editor in Zundert, the Netherlands. My holiday just started, so there will be new shiny spare time for LXer!
BTW I hit LXer when typing 'linuxnews.com'.
Cypress: You could also translate the other way around. If there's anything interesting going on in Romania, translate it to English, and post it at LXer. We would be very happy to hear how FOSS is doing in Romania!
LT » LXer
2 earlier comments in the full thread.
Just as a point of note, it seems that LT has stopped running 'Get The "Facts"'. I'm not sure if this is a permanent, or temporary, situation. There have been months in the past in which MS simply forgot to pay the rent for a month...
Some time ago I noticed that the "get the fud" ads had been replaced by a Novell ad - I wrote the lt editor to thank him for his good taste, but he said that the microsoft stuff would be back, he was just taking money from whoever wanted to advertise... sure enough, the microsoft crap was back a few days later.
> he was just taking money from whoever wanted to advertise
This is incorrect. Jupiter Media is taking money from whoever wants to advertise. There is a strict division of responsibility. Brian is responsible for everything but the advertising. Jupiter Media does not interfere with his editorial control. Brian has absolutely no control over the advertising, however, and he is fine with that, and in fact, insists upon it. It's good journalistic policy to enforce that separation of responsibility and interests. (We wouldn't want MS's advertising money affecting the *stories* on LT, would we?)
Besides, even if he did fight to get the ads stopped, I seriously doubt it would make any difference to the mass media machine that is Jupiter Media.
Brian remains there to do his best to *counter* what is in some of the ads. I've had this conversation with him and he has convinced me that he is doing the right thing.
So while I dislike the the ads, I have great respect for Brian and his efforts.
Sometimes (most of the time?) things are more complicated than they appear on the surface.
This is incorrect. Jupiter Media is taking money from whoever wants to advertise. There is a strict division of responsibility. Brian is responsible for everything but the advertising. Jupiter Media does not interfere with his editorial control. Brian has absolutely no control over the advertising, however, and he is fine with that, and in fact, insists upon it. It's good journalistic policy to enforce that separation of responsibility and interests. (We wouldn't want MS's advertising money affecting the *stories* on LT, would we?)
Besides, even if he did fight to get the ads stopped, I seriously doubt it would make any difference to the mass media machine that is Jupiter Media.
Brian remains there to do his best to *counter* what is in some of the ads. I've had this conversation with him and he has convinced me that he is doing the right thing.
So while I dislike the the ads, I have great respect for Brian and his efforts.
Sometimes (most of the time?) things are more complicated than they appear on the surface.
sbergman27, you're right on all counts. The get-the-FUD campaign damaged LT's credibility a great deal and drove away the very readers they should have been courting- tech-smart and FOSS-smart readers who contributed a lot of great commentary and good stories. It was a big fat slap in readers's faces, like advertising Wife Beater shirts in a women's magazine.
I have no facts to back this up, but it's obvious to me that LT was specifically targeted for get-the-FUD. It wasn't in rotation, it was glued in place. With all the big players in Linux/FOSS today, it strains credibilty to assert that they had no other options for advertisers.
Still, we need to support LT, and hope that someday Brian's bosses wise up.
I have no facts to back this up, but it's obvious to me that LT was specifically targeted for get-the-FUD. It wasn't in rotation, it was glued in place. With all the big players in Linux/FOSS today, it strains credibilty to assert that they had no other options for advertisers.
Still, we need to support LT, and hope that someday Brian's bosses wise up.
> This is incorrect. Jupiter Media is taking money from whoever wants to advertise.
Odd that he said nothing about that. I could only take what he said at face value. Perhaps he was trying to protect higher-ups, and be loyal to "the firm", but for whatever reason, spending time on that site was an irritation that I've been happier without.
Odd that he said nothing about that. I could only take what he said at face value. Perhaps he was trying to protect higher-ups, and be loyal to "the firm", but for whatever reason, spending time on that site was an irritation that I've been happier without.
Brian tends not to go out of his way to defend himself unless you really push him. I've noticed that, and I figured he had simply not spelled it all out in your exchange.
> Brian tends not to go out of his way to defend himself unless you really push him.
"defend himself" against what? Are you insinuating that he was attacked somehow?
There was no attack, what I actually wrote to him was congratulations on his good taste in finally removing the silly ms fud, to which his reply was a correction of my naive impression.
"defend himself" against what? Are you insinuating that he was attacked somehow?
There was no attack, what I actually wrote to him was congratulations on his good taste in finally removing the silly ms fud, to which his reply was a correction of my naive impression.
No, no, no!
It never occurred to me that you would percieve my post that way.
But if I were in Brian's position, I would probably have a stock script ready to explain the situation in detail. I'd probably be telling it to people who didn't even want to hear it, by mistake.
It never occurred to me that you would percieve my post that way.
But if I were in Brian's position, I would probably have a stock script ready to explain the situation in detail. I'd probably be telling it to people who didn't even want to hear it, by mistake.
The advertisements are only one part of the problem. The astroturfing and the policy of distorting coverage to keep viewers "in the channel", condoned by the parent corporation, destroyed the trust between the readers and the editors.
How could a reader have any feeling of assurance that the 4 other readers he/she has just engaged in debate are not actually 1 hired hit-man of the parent corporation?
How could a reader have any feeling of assurance that the news being presented is not heavily influenced by the parent corporation, through its extensive, tangled chain of properties?
This is not about a general news outlet, although even television filters commercials for clashes with programs. If you ran a site which was focused on organic gardening and healthy diets, would it be appropriate to have it sponsored by advertisements from petroleum-based pesticide manufacturers splashed across the front page?
A site claiming to present news about Linux, or GNU/Linux, or FOSS should not be plastered with advertisements from the arch-nemesis of everything GNU/Linux and FOSS developers and advocates and users work for, unless it is a site designed to disparage everything that community strives to accomplish.
A site which allows and encourages community commentary should not undermine that community with stealthy insertions of fake members.
I would, quite literally, rather live in a cave and scrounge for daily sustenance than accept pay from such an organization as that which owns LT. I am not so insane as to ever volunteer to assist it in its erosion of trust and the community with which I associate. Assistance of the overt and surreptitious attacks on the community includes working for that amoral organization or commenting on that site.
Even linking to a story that orginates at one of that organization's properties causes me to grit my teeth. I post it here on LXer only after scrutinizing the story and convincing myself that some LXer reader needs that information and it is available nowhere else.
How could a reader have any feeling of assurance that the 4 other readers he/she has just engaged in debate are not actually 1 hired hit-man of the parent corporation?
How could a reader have any feeling of assurance that the news being presented is not heavily influenced by the parent corporation, through its extensive, tangled chain of properties?
This is not about a general news outlet, although even television filters commercials for clashes with programs. If you ran a site which was focused on organic gardening and healthy diets, would it be appropriate to have it sponsored by advertisements from petroleum-based pesticide manufacturers splashed across the front page?
A site claiming to present news about Linux, or GNU/Linux, or FOSS should not be plastered with advertisements from the arch-nemesis of everything GNU/Linux and FOSS developers and advocates and users work for, unless it is a site designed to disparage everything that community strives to accomplish.
A site which allows and encourages community commentary should not undermine that community with stealthy insertions of fake members.
I would, quite literally, rather live in a cave and scrounge for daily sustenance than accept pay from such an organization as that which owns LT. I am not so insane as to ever volunteer to assist it in its erosion of trust and the community with which I associate. Assistance of the overt and surreptitious attacks on the community includes working for that amoral organization or commenting on that site.
Even linking to a story that orginates at one of that organization's properties causes me to grit my teeth. I post it here on LXer only after scrutinizing the story and convincing myself that some LXer reader needs that information and it is available nowhere else.
While I am offended and bemused by the ads masquerading as site content, I must note that the terms "astroturf" and "FUD" are as bad. They are terms that are so easy to throw around. They mean "something I don't agree with".
I make it over to LT now and then. And I have not noted much I could really peg as "astroturfing" in the comments.
If the MS strategy is to divide and conquer, and if there is that much anathema involved between sites, then I would say that the strategy is working.
I make it over to LT now and then. And I have not noted much I could really peg as "astroturfing" in the comments.
If the MS strategy is to divide and conquer, and if there is that much anathema involved between sites, then I would say that the strategy is working.
sbergman27:
I did not use "astroturf" and "FUD" outside their meanings. What happened at LT exactly fit the definitions, as shown by the reports by those who were "inside" at the time.
I did not use "astroturf" and "FUD" outside their meanings. What happened at LT exactly fit the definitions, as shown by the reports by those who were "inside" at the time.
grouch -
I was involved in the Linux Today "incident" as an outsider in communication with insiders, and circulating a petition to internet.com (is that right? I don't remember any more) that including signatories including ESR and more than a few names you might recognize.
With regard to LT, you absolutely did not go beyond the generally accepted meanings of the terms.
There were bad things going on, and bad things happening to good people. They were caught, leading indirectly (by way of Michael Hall) to the current regime.
I was involved in the Linux Today "incident" as an outsider in communication with insiders, and circulating a petition to internet.com (is that right? I don't remember any more) that including signatories including ESR and more than a few names you might recognize.
With regard to LT, you absolutely did not go beyond the generally accepted meanings of the terms.
There were bad things going on, and bad things happening to good people. They were caught, leading indirectly (by way of Michael Hall) to the current regime.
dinotrac:
I remember your involvement well. The first time I found LXer, I noted your name among the comments. You and I debate quite a bit, but I've never had reason to doubt your sincerity or integrity. Noting how long you had been 'hanging out' at LXer gave me reason to believe it could be trusted. It was later that I found out people like Paul and Dave were here.
You are still pig-headed, though.
I remember your involvement well. The first time I found LXer, I noted your name among the comments. You and I debate quite a bit, but I've never had reason to doubt your sincerity or integrity. Noting how long you had been 'hanging out' at LXer gave me reason to believe it could be trusted. It was later that I found out people like Paul and Dave were here.
You are still pig-headed, though.
>You are still pig-headed, though.
Remembering, of course, that pigs are the smartest of the barn-yard animals.
Remembering, of course, that pigs are the smartest of the barn-yard animals.
> I did not use "astroturf" and "FUD" outside their meanings. What happened at LT exactly fit the definitions, as shown by the reports by those who were "inside" at the time.
I think we are talking about two different things. Are you sayting that astroturfing and FUD are rampant in the content and commects on the site today?
Whatever happened years ago (which I seem to have somehow missed) under a different editor is of little relevance to me today.
BTW, exactly what *did* happen? I've heard of this before. An editor was posting comments under an alias and then later claimed that he thought every one just knew that it was his alias or something or other. Something about "just wanting to stimulate debate" or some such. IIRC, whoever it was got sacked. Seems like his name started with an 'R'.
Edit: Never mind. At first I missed the link in the article explaining that 5 year old incident.
I think we are talking about two different things. Are you sayting that astroturfing and FUD are rampant in the content and commects on the site today?
Whatever happened years ago (which I seem to have somehow missed) under a different editor is of little relevance to me today.
BTW, exactly what *did* happen? I've heard of this before. An editor was posting comments under an alias and then later claimed that he thought every one just knew that it was his alias or something or other. Something about "just wanting to stimulate debate" or some such. IIRC, whoever it was got sacked. Seems like his name started with an 'R'.
Edit: Never mind. At first I missed the link in the article explaining that 5 year old incident.
Steve -
It's been five years since it all came to a head, but you are correct.
'R' -- and with more than five years gone by, 'R' is sufficient -- posted comments under a number of aliases. One I can remember is George Tirebiter.
Whether he was actually shilling for Microsoft, or merely trying to stir up action for LT, he didn't make his aliases known or that they were connected with the site's management in any way. He violated LT's own ethics policy, violated the trust of readers, and hurt the credibility of the site. A couple of pretty good LT people had their careers negatively affected along the way.
In retrospect, in light of many things that have happened since, it hardly seems like worst thing ever done on the internet. It was, however, bad enough.
It's been five years since it all came to a head, but you are correct.
'R' -- and with more than five years gone by, 'R' is sufficient -- posted comments under a number of aliases. One I can remember is George Tirebiter.
Whether he was actually shilling for Microsoft, or merely trying to stir up action for LT, he didn't make his aliases known or that they were connected with the site's management in any way. He violated LT's own ethics policy, violated the trust of readers, and hurt the credibility of the site. A couple of pretty good LT people had their careers negatively affected along the way.
In retrospect, in light of many things that have happened since, it hardly seems like worst thing ever done on the internet. It was, however, bad enough.
sbergman27:
Keep in mind that this was not some drive-by trolling, nor an astroturfer associated only with MS. This was the Executive Editor of what claimed to be a community site.
dinotrac:
Your memory of the feeling of betrayal and the duplicity involved appears to be fading. Allow me to refresh.
The time period of the stealth attacks was Dec, 1999 to May, 2001. During that time, KR assumed several aliases in the "talkbacks" to attack just about everyone who had something good to say about Linux, Stallman, ESR, Perens, or any competing site. Remember "newsforger"? He also made the private policy of pointing to sister sites; those owned by the parent corporation.
About 5 months into that stealth campaign, he published this:
"At Linux Today, we freely point readers to other Linux/Open Source Web sites; the entire point of the site to expand the Linux space by showing readers the wide variety of viewpoints regarding Linux."
"So what did I tell the public-relations agency about our "competitors"? I told them that I didn't have competitors--I had colleagues."
http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/opinions/1866/1/
If you read that, you will see praises being heaped on the people and publications that he slurred in the "talkbacks".
KR's delayed response to the flack is at: http://web.archive.org/web/20011126045744/http://linuxtoday....
Check that list of names in the talkbacks, dinotrac.
Remember he was promoted afterwards. (To the parent corp.'s credit, the relevant information has not disappeared from the Internet. This could simply illustrate how coldly greedy it is, though, as I'm sure the clicks continue to come in from time to time).
Try imagining Don creating such secret policies.
Keep in mind that this was not some drive-by trolling, nor an astroturfer associated only with MS. This was the Executive Editor of what claimed to be a community site.
dinotrac:
Your memory of the feeling of betrayal and the duplicity involved appears to be fading. Allow me to refresh.
The time period of the stealth attacks was Dec, 1999 to May, 2001. During that time, KR assumed several aliases in the "talkbacks" to attack just about everyone who had something good to say about Linux, Stallman, ESR, Perens, or any competing site. Remember "newsforger"? He also made the private policy of pointing to sister sites; those owned by the parent corporation.
About 5 months into that stealth campaign, he published this:
"At Linux Today, we freely point readers to other Linux/Open Source Web sites; the entire point of the site to expand the Linux space by showing readers the wide variety of viewpoints regarding Linux."
"So what did I tell the public-relations agency about our "competitors"? I told them that I didn't have competitors--I had colleagues."
http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/opinions/1866/1/
If you read that, you will see praises being heaped on the people and publications that he slurred in the "talkbacks".
KR's delayed response to the flack is at: http://web.archive.org/web/20011126045744/http://linuxtoday....
Check that list of names in the talkbacks, dinotrac.
Remember he was promoted afterwards. (To the parent corp.'s credit, the relevant information has not disappeared from the Internet. This could simply illustrate how coldly greedy it is, though, as I'm sure the clicks continue to come in from time to time).
Try imagining Don creating such secret policies.
grouch:
I haven't forgotten anything that matters. I was far more "attuned" to the events while they were happening than you will ever know.
It's 2006 now, however, and different people are running LT. The incidents in question are back in the past. Good to remember that they are actually unethical. Good to have demonstrated that a trust-bond develops between a website and its community, a bond that deserves respect. Good to have shown that breaking that bond can have dire consequences for the site -- and, believe me, internet.com was definitely concerned about that possibility when it reassigned the editor in question.
But..we let burglars and rapists and arsonists and all sorts of people out of jail. We give them a chance to move on, to create a life that is not forever defined by the mistakes of their pasts.
It's not a bad concept.
I haven't forgotten anything that matters. I was far more "attuned" to the events while they were happening than you will ever know.
It's 2006 now, however, and different people are running LT. The incidents in question are back in the past. Good to remember that they are actually unethical. Good to have demonstrated that a trust-bond develops between a website and its community, a bond that deserves respect. Good to have shown that breaking that bond can have dire consequences for the site -- and, believe me, internet.com was definitely concerned about that possibility when it reassigned the editor in question.
But..we let burglars and rapists and arsonists and all sorts of people out of jail. We give them a chance to move on, to create a life that is not forever defined by the mistakes of their pasts.
It's not a bad concept.
dinotrac:
Good point. It will be 5 years this August. That's a proper sentence for such deeds. I will try to put away my sack cloth and cease ranting about the incident.
Good point. It will be 5 years this August. That's a proper sentence for such deeds. I will try to put away my sack cloth and cease ranting about the incident.
And the offending editor was finally sacked a couple years ago. I know, it took too long, but it finally happened.
This is my Linux news homepage...
My problems aren't so much with the Microsoft ads, but rather the fact that my login no longer persists between visits at LT, the insightful community comments on stories are gone (dino, et al), and the LT specific editorials and commentaries are no longer memorable or interesting to me.
I even skip Linux Journal now that the editor is Nick P ( who I am quite sure is a nice guy and trying hard ). He just doesn't have the same kind of style as Doc and frankly Doc's style and editorial focus is more appealing to me. Wow, and that ultimate Linux box story never gets old...
Also, the trend to blogging has also taken a whack out of traditional aggregators like LT, LXer and Slashdot for me. I still catch most of the big Linux news here, but most of my favorite parts of the stories are the good comments. Now with everyone hosting their own blog, they tend to comment in their own space. Now the lack of some kind of trackback system keeps me from being able to follow the buzz around a story that used to form on the news aggregation sites alone.
It's hard to figure out what to keep and what to change. I'm sure you'll get dozens of opinions, but ultimately I trust LXer more than any other Linux news site out there. Keep up the good work!
Tony
I even skip Linux Journal now that the editor is Nick P ( who I am quite sure is a nice guy and trying hard ). He just doesn't have the same kind of style as Doc and frankly Doc's style and editorial focus is more appealing to me. Wow, and that ultimate Linux box story never gets old...
Also, the trend to blogging has also taken a whack out of traditional aggregators like LT, LXer and Slashdot for me. I still catch most of the big Linux news here, but most of my favorite parts of the stories are the good comments. Now with everyone hosting their own blog, they tend to comment in their own space. Now the lack of some kind of trackback system keeps me from being able to follow the buzz around a story that used to form on the news aggregation sites alone.
It's hard to figure out what to keep and what to change. I'm sure you'll get dozens of opinions, but ultimately I trust LXer more than any other Linux news site out there. Keep up the good work!
Tony
LXer
I hope LXer never gos, I have come to like this website, Iam a reader and will be for as long LXer is here.
Thank You Sir and know that LXer is not going anywhere, anytime, anyplace, anyhow, ever. Period. :-)
Glad to hear that Scott.
I'm also kind of addicted to LXer.com. It's simple, not much advertising and we sometimes have some really cool discussions on it as well (even if sometimes slightly tiresome).
But that makes a great news portal.
I'm also kind of addicted to LXer.com. It's simple, not much advertising and we sometimes have some really cool discussions on it as well (even if sometimes slightly tiresome).
But that makes a great news portal.
Why I read LXer
I read read LXer almost every day because I care.
I have LXer as one of the standard tabs in Firefox, next to NewsForge, Slashdot. These three together give me a quick and usually complete coverage of the Linux news that day. This story triggered me to even register a login so that I could leave a reaction.
I would like to thank all people at LXer for there work to keep me informed.
I would like to thank all people at LXer for there work to keep me informed.
nicolas: If I may say so on behalf of LXer that you have our most Sincere Thanks. I am glad that the article grouch wrote made you feel the need to register and respond. Please do not let this post be your last, it is you and those like you that he was speaking too.
jojje: Your not alone, I care too. I wear my heart on my sleeve I have been told, a couple of times..by those I know. :-)
Keeping up on the news and being able to engage in intelligent conversation about it is something to take advantage of. I do.
jojje: Your not alone, I care too. I wear my heart on my sleeve I have been told, a couple of times..by those I know. :-)
Keeping up on the news and being able to engage in intelligent conversation about it is something to take advantage of. I do.
Post a comment
A free account is needed to post. Write your comment here first: your text is kept in this browser while you sign up or log in, and is waiting for you when you come back.
Your message:Markdown: **bold**, *italic*, [text](https://link), - lists, > quotes, $x^2$ for math. Formatting help
Sign up and post (it is free) or Log in and post
Nice work.