Mathew's comments - Latest Comments in Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Charles — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:44:48 -0000

It appears that Duncan Riley is trying to become Australia's Mike Arrington. God I hope the startup industry in Australia doesn't put Duncan on the throne and give him an army of wantrepreneurs.

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Andy Merrett — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:44:38 -0000

"I was going to ... but then I thought ..."

Oh I love it when people say they were going to do or say something but then thought better of it, yet still tell everyone what it is they were going to do.

Fact is, you've still said it. Mind you, you've done fairly well out of Techmeme on the whole thing as well. :)

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

stuartma — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:13:45 -0000

Back a day and already a post with 43 comments. You should vacation more often, 'thewie ;)

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Shelley — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:26:58 -0000

Thank goodness, a rational argument.

I would suggest perhaps new glasses? Maybe?

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Cam — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:45:29 -0000

As far as I can tell, you are the first commenter to use the word "woman" in the entire thread.

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Cam — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:42:09 -0000

Not so much in Australia. It's often a term of endearment e.g. "You stupid old cunt". That said, I wouldn't tend to use it around people I didn't know, but it gets thrown around our (very mixed) workplace quite a bit.

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Shelley — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:23:34 -0000

I was mainly curious as to why others in this thread considered the use of "cunt" to be derogatory to women.

As for the point, you can use the sweetest words in the world and not advance a rational argument. I look at it this way: Louis Gray's words, though they be coached in gentle terms, had enough of a negative impact on Duncan Riley that he reacted as he did. Maybe Duncan is in a bad mood; maybe, though, Gray pushed the right buttons in this circumstance.

Regardless, this struck me as a personal issue between the two that perhaps should have been resolved between the two. Or is saying that an irrational argument?

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

mathewi — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:11:03 -0000

I never expressed an opinion about whether it's demeaning to women or
not -- I happen to think that those kinds of terms are demeaning to
people in general. In any case, my point was that they don't help to
advance any kind of rational argument.

On Sun, Mar 16, 2008 at 4:08 PM, Disqus

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Shelley — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:07:51 -0000

I'm indifferent to this weekend's hate-me/love-me/link-me fest, but I'm curious as to why people thought that Duncan Riley's use of "cunt" is demeaning to women? Especially since you, yourself, Mathew, used "bitchfest" and "bitchmeme"? If the one is demeaning, wouldn't the other be equally demeaning?

I find that the only time women are demeaned by these words is if they're used directly against us. I don't believe any player in this cat fight is a woman. Thank goodness for small favors.

(PS I apologize if anyone is offended by the word being spelled out, but I can't stand these coy, playful uses of characters to re-created a word, which we all know anyway. Call the word the word and damn the consequences.)

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Cameron Reilly — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:33:49 -0000

Actually, "cunt" is a term of affection in Australia, particularly if used as in "Howyadoingyaoldcunt?" as pointed out in this podcast from 2005 (http://gdayworld.thepodcastnetwork.com/2005/02/...).

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

StevenHodson — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:32:13 -0000

don't worry SheGeeks has challenged him quite nicely for the anti-woman language http://corvida.ilumine.net/pumpkin-duncan-riley...

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

StevenHodson — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:29:31 -0000

maybe this is how - http://www.braincellsoup.com/2008/03/04/hey-bab... :)

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

mathewi — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:30:03 -0000

Ah, you saw through that little trick, did you Chris? Congratulations :-)

On Sun, Mar 16, 2008 at 10:27 AM, Disqus

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Chris — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:26:28 -0000

I was going to title this post “Duncan Riley: Lessons in how to be an asshole,” but then I thought that would bring me down to the same level as Duncan...”

Really, I don't think you can claim kudos points for not descending to the level of the playground if you also write what you would have written if you weren't so civilised.

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

kenschafer — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:00:56 -0000

My sense is that Duncan is in classic troll-mode here and all this "controversy" is just feeding the beast.

I've found the interweb a much nicer place now that I've learned that trolls are trolls and have nothing to do with me or what matters. I move on and look for more thoughtful, err, thoughts.

I'm glad these things generally flare up on weekends - much easier to ignore this way!

(Of course I've now allowed myself to be sucked in - but I'm telling myself it's only because I want to use Disqus commenting a bit more.) :)

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Leigh — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 09:37:19 -0000

Yeah and any self-respecting Aussie's I know would have called him a f*ckwit not a c*nt.

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Peter — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 07:15:04 -0000

Duncan Riley is a fuckin asshole - despite being an Aussie.

Aussie Aussie Aussie - disown that loser!

and what is it with all the us vs. them language? trying to rally people to your side based on some wack nationalism? isn't that a bit totalitarian?

"He's trying to _destroy_ me!"

kid sounds like a daytime soap opera.

Dude thinks he can bust out with the anti-woman language, too, and not be challenged for it. Who is this fool?

Dare step to to God - blogger for the mighty Techcrunch? I'll show you! I'm mean, I swear, I'll fight - I finish you - shrimps on the barbie and shit. Loser.

We got George Bush and Dennis Miller. Oz has John Howard and Duncan Riley.

Oz is still my favorite place. Out.

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

ianbetteridge — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 06:35:10 -0000

First up, you're right about FriendFeed being nothing to write home about. However, you're wrong about Gray "coming after you". He simply wrote a response to your post. It didn't read as condescending - it just read as wrong, imho. Calling a c*nt just makes you look like an arse.

Step back, deep breath, etc.

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Wolke Snow — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 06:21:53 -0000

The only reason for Arrington hiring Duncan Riley to write on TechCrunch is that Duncan’s idiotic articles increase the "reader engagement" on the blog. Just watch how Duncan and Michael write provocative articles just before the weekend to make it on Techmeme or at least get more than 100 comments per article. Gabe Rivera, please improve your algorithm: if author == Duncan then ignore.

TechCrunch is the Fox News of the tech blogs.

Besides, how can the same person be a c*nt and a wanker? Seems like a bad picture for somebody speaking English as his first language.

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

jason — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:09:12 -0000

what is it with you people who cant spell cunt and fuck?

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

jason — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:03:05 -0000

duncan is a cunt

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Bla — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:54:33 -0000

Dont know Duncan - don't know Louis - and I'm an Aussie. The word C*NT is worse than the word F*$K here in Australia - and if anyone tells you different, they aren't aussie.

That said - people are entitled to their opinions. Duncan thinks that FriendFeed aint all it is cracked up to be - people get touchy would are close/spoken to the founders and lo and behold everyone thinks the world is going to end.

In Duncans defense - he did say in the post that he might come to love it if he uses it more - but at the moment he doesn't. Not quite sure why Louis continued with the attack on him but at the same time - I don't think he really took it to the personal level that Duncan did.

No need for abhorrent language in all of this. Chill out, have a beer - or meet up and bunch the shit out of each other until you resolve it.

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

ericrice — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:23:55 -0000

Isn't this the TechCrunch way? Who cares who the CEO is or how many staffers there are, Mike Arrington = TechCrunch and in the prince's chair = Duncan. Doesn't really matter where it's posted, you are the brand.

I think I actually agree with Duncan's points, but I dunno, I'm AMERIKUNH and we like bombing crap and watching fights. Duncan, you're a better American than most of the blogosphere. God bless. His original points are lost because of dropping the cunt-bomb.

Will Gawker please please PLEASE buy TechCrunch already? PLEASE?

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

howardlindzon — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:25:28 -0000

how did i not see you in florida MI...as per duncan...this bullshit he pulls has gone on forever. arrington loves it and thats the only reason duncan has an audience. at least he is being used by an american

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

gregory — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:18:34 -0000

boring