Comment

Comment by Liam Scheff on December 17, 2009 at 1:05pm

GNN Closure:

I'd say it died because it had no boundaries, no ability to move a very hateful commenter off your blog. I wrote a great deal for the site, and had more than several long conversations with site creators and programmers, about putting in a simple filter.

That is, when a GNN'er who was there to sew as much hatred as possible arrived on your doorstep, it was not possible to get on with conversation, let alone do any actual research. The site was also infested with many uncritical religio-scientists (those who defend any lab science over any criticism thereof); so, no conversation about the BS being peddled by the NIH over various epidemic manipulations and scares would get through without being savaged in the most personal of attack language.

And so, I suggested, again and again: Institute a simple 'block' feature, so that when you and some peers want to do some real research, you're able to do so, without three people coming in and posting long insult streams. But. No go.

And when the site finally issued its closing statements, one of the co-creators, Stephen 'silverback' (his GNN name) Marshall, wrote that he might have been naive to think that a site could exist without borders or boundaries (their 'anarchist' philosophy, I suppose?); and that the level of hatred and venom accumulating on the blogs drove people - and advertisers - away quickly, and then in droves.

And that's probably a lot of what happened. Lesson:

Anarchy is silly. Really, really, really silly, and self-destructive.

On the other hand, one big world government is terrifying. I'll settle for a reasonable libertarianism, that argues around the margins between social(ist) programs and un-restrained personal liberty, and some common-sense laws that protect citizens from each other, and the government.

I've enjoyed some of the posts I've seen here at 12160 (what does that mean, by the way?), and so signed up. I especially enjoyed Mr. Marklar's post on the climate hysteria. And another on the doping of poor kids with 'anti-psychotic' drugs.

I posted a great deal of original research on related topics, as well as editorial and satirical pieces on GNN about some of these issues, and met with absolute anger and hysteria. I suppose I was talking to too many of the people now "saving the world" in Copenhagen. Glad they're far away. I hope they'll stay there...

bests,

Liam Scheff
http://liamscheff.com

Comment by Marklar on November 17, 2009 at 4:23am

I don't think it's a pay to view thing. That's more of as big news corp kinda thing. I really can't imagine GNN going that route any more than I can imagine us going that route.

But Adap was telling me we've been getting bombarded with spammers likely paid or directed by someone judging by the sudden volume of it. Maybe ADL or Pentagon or just some weirdos prompted by an article or blog post. Adap had to make the site private for some amount of time to give himself a break from denying their accounts every three seconds so maybe they got the same kind of thing and turtled up to weather the storm.

Then again maybe it was the GNN exodus and Adap barred the gates and threw them back out into the snow with winter closing in ***that bastard!***, jk.

Comment by Swtnlovabl on November 16, 2009 at 11:48pm

Oh man I heard something last week about (News) web sites were going to be pay to view and for the life of me I can't remember were I read that, You may try searching for it, and I will rack my brain and try and remember, I dont know if it has anything to the site u are referring to but it did say ALL...

Comment by youhavetoforgiveme on November 16, 2009 at 11:37pm

...wish I had more info for you Marklar...let's hope that at least some of them show up here....we will feed and clothe them as best we can ;)

Comment by Marklar on November 16, 2009 at 5:09am

If anyone has any further information on the GNN shutdown please let me know.