Mathew's comments - Latest Comments in Is Jason Calacanis a troll?

Re: Is Jason Calacanis a troll?

Malaysia Newspaper — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 04:41:55 -0000

Germaine Greer aka the Female Eunich calls Steve Irwin an "embarrassment".

Both as an animal and feminist lover I must say that Germaine Greer is an "embarrassment" for cows...
for "stupid cows" that is.

Try to argue your point through with people that are still alive Germaine...

Re: Is Jason Calacanis a troll?

Mathew Ingram — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 12:11:34 -0000

Thanks, Pete -- and you too Steve. I can see why some people may have gotten upset, but I actually think what Scott wrote wasn't all that bad. Possibly in poor taste, but not outrageously so.

And Jason, I did read past your headline and first paragraph, so I know your point about Discovery Channel goading people into dangerous stunts had to do with more than just Steve Irwin -- and I think you are probably right when it comes to the guy swimming with the sharks.

But including Irwin's death in there actually detracts from your argument, for the reasons I mentioned in my post -- and it makes it look like you only threw Irwin in there for the sake of a sensational headline and some traffic (which I assume Netscape is as interested in as anyone else).

Re: Is Jason Calacanis a troll?

Jason — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 11:43:19 -0000

1. Blogging is about expressing how you feel.

2. I don't need the traffic

3. I honestly feel that the climate the Discovery channel has created and is causing these deaths--and there isn't just one.

People are putting themselves in more and more dangerous positions in order to get ratings on Discovery. In fact, I was going to blog about this trend *before* Steve was killed. This past shark week they had an idiot skin diving (that is without a cage) with great white and bull sharks! They had the same idiot taunt wild lions (oh yeah, said idiot was attacked by a lion a couple of years back).

Steve Irwin was very entertaining, but I don't think the guy would take as many risks if the Discovery Channel were not promoting him all day long. The guy was clearly addicted to risk, to the point at which he dangled a dead chicken in one hand and his infant son in the other!

Now, the title is clearly not intended to be literal... the Discovery Channel didn't get out of bed and kill Steve Irwin. If you read past the title--which some folks don't seem to do--you'll see I make a very clear case for the Discovery channel being out of control.

best,

Jason

Re: Is Jason Calacanis a troll?

Steve Newson — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 11:23:12 -0000

I believe this is known as "exploitation".

I've emailed you a copy of the original Scott Adams posting.

Re: Is Jason Calacanis a troll?

Mathew Ingram — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 10:13:57 -0000

Can't seem to get to it from the cache, Pete -- but people on Reddit seem pretty upset about it. What did he say?

Re: Is Jason Calacanis a troll?

/pd — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 10:01:09 -0000

Hi Mathew, I just wondered why the link did not work and on further investigation you can see that Scott Adams pulled his posting !! heres the cache

Re: Is Jason Calacanis a troll?

/pd — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 09:50:58 -0000

yeah , in way he is a troll of the worst order.

At least Scott had much more refrained way to gain traction