Chicagoist: Red Scare

sparky

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:54:26 -0600

Rubber: Here's a recap: The RedEye. Jane Hirt. The Trib. Intelligence. The egos of the posters. The irony of Spook. Someone in the middle of this whipped out their cock to compare size. Spook Son couldn't find his zipper, so he couldn't compare with the boys here. I am not quite sure who pulled their cock out first, but the boys need to put it back and zip their pants back up and get back to the topic instead of bringing out the ruler. Back to the topic: On the occassions that I have sparred with Jane Hirt via e-mail regarding her choice of headlines and stories in the RedEye, I found her to be pretty intelligent. That said, she gets pretty defensive defending her stance. I guess I would too, if I was editor of the best newspaper for housebreaking a puppy. Anyway, I wish her the best of luck. I hope that she can lead the Trib in a direction that focuses on local stories, especially our local government. Because if this paper, or the ST or Reader for that matter, stop focusing on the corruption and sheer madness of Chicago and Illinois politics, we are screwed. As readers, we need to insist on a high quality paper. Write to Jane Hirt. Ask her what her vision is for the paper. Tell her you expect a quality paper, not a multi-section version of the RedEye. Insist on it. If you care about this city or this state, this is something we should do. It's a neverending cycle. The papers write to their audience, and the audience reads what they write. Make sure she knows that you expect an intelligent paper. I don't know if it willmake a difference in the end, but it doesn't hurt (or hirt, he he).

Rubber Shark

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:39:59 -0600

What were we talking about again?

BlueFairlane

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:41:23 -0600

As an outside observer and only occassional commenter, I'd like to say that watching Albany and matilda debate the merits of the Red Eye and its contribution to public discourse is absolutely hilarious. Sorry, but nobody wins this one ... the whole thing just descends into the same kind of verbal slapfest you'd find on any cable news outlet. I mean, can anyone say irony? (Spook probably can ... as annoying as I find him, he's as close to a master of irony as we're likely to see in these parts.) But this is what we get in the modern era, I suppose. He/she who talks the most wins. Let the games continue.

Albanyparkour

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:15:54 -0600

Do you have anything useful to contribute? Because snide comments on my intelligence (which if you actually believe is even remotely taxed by these posting you are likely more drunk than Christopher) and your "Oh gee mister, I don't means no harm, whys you gotsta get all mad about it" act is just old. You contribute nothing but your own tiresome ignorance and feeble attempts to stay relevant. I don't need to prove myself smarter than you, you do that all on your lonesome. Ok, done.

matilda

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:35:00 -0600

Albany: Standard response from you (and Spook) when confronted. Sorry for playing devil's advocate, offering another view of the situation, and arguing your own freaking words, dude, which sometimes contradict. I should have merely agreed with you and moved on. You really need to stop thinking you are the smartest kid in the room. You get pouty when you realize that is true only part of the time. And no, I am nowhere near as smart as Hitchens, nor do I drink or smoke as much. But I give up, really, you just want to be contrary to be a contrarian. You and Christopher Hitchens, wandering the earth. Done, over, ignoring you and your nonsense from here out.. And today's Bloggie for overwrought public frustration goes to Albany ...

Albanyparkour

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:36:46 -0600

Matilda: I give up. Really, you propose nothing in the eyes of God. You're playing devil's advocate for the paper I pick up on the train and use to make paper-mache projects with. What next, a strident defense of triangle trade? Of course I don't mean that the Red Eye is the only thing causing the slow and steady creep of DUMB across the land like a-uh...um...er... great...creeping...stalking...thingee. But it's the topic of the thread, it's awful and it should be beaten with rocks until dead, dead, dead. But I give up, really, you just want to be contrary to be a contrarian. You and Christopher Hitchens, wandering the earth. Done, over, ignoring you and your nonsense from here out. Spook has moments of wit, you're just dry timber.

jmagic

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:26:23 -0600

I concur with AlbanyParkour here ... just as my tirade about the Zellster selling the Trib Tower, this only proves that he's not interested in running a credible paper, but a tabloid extract with news and views of the silly and stupid. Metromix will soon double as the "Entertainment" section and the sports section will include the daily "5-on-5" bullshit ... The "vision" posted by the Trib editor earlier only serves the fact that this paper is having a severe identity crisis. It doesn't know if it should give into the simplisitic ways of the USA Today or to re-identify itself as a local news source.

matilda

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:09:22 -0600

Spook: Given that you seem a pretender on just about every subject--excpect, of course, your own brilliance, about which you are certain--I doubt you even know what a real dive bar is, son. Hint: It's not a place where you usually can get yuppie beer. In any case, I am too stupid to understand the rest of what you wrote--your language is odd and strange, though I would like to learn it one day, perhaps after I finally master Esperanto--I cannot fairly comment on the remainder of your commentary.

Spook

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:51:28 -0600

Matilda, as I am fair and objective like WBEZ/NPR National- White wealthy- Peoples Radio. I pride my self on being "fair" and "objective" on every issues large and small. With that said, allow me to recognize the only real contribution you have ever made on Chicagoist...... "and that hippie guy I saw passed out in the bar last weekend." Hell that sounds like my kinda Dive Bar! What's the name of it son!??????!

matilda

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:43:39 -0600

Spook: Great argument, as always. Nothing less than expected from such a wide Internet character. Thanks for the insight. In fact, you have cause me to reconsider my previous position, and, in doing so, you no doubt have helped me build a better, fuller life that will benefit humanity. I am grateful that you are willing to share your brilliance with those not so blessed (or, if you prefer, fortunate), and that you do so without any expectation of glory or wealth. No longer will I question the value of debate and conversation on blogs, nor have a generally cynical attitude that fellow human beings can exchange ideas on the Web. You are a great person on par with Jesus, Dr King, Gene Debs and that hippie guy I saw passed out in the bar last weekend. I look forward to someone, somewhere, naming a street after you one day.

matilda

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:37:52 -0600

Don't put words in my mouth, Never was or claimed to be doing. Don't be so defensive; not everyone is out to get you. Just making a contrary, loosely related point to help move along the discussion. Such things happen from time to time in various forms of argument. So the best way to deal with the dumbing down of society is to cash in while we can? No. Good. We agree. Now: How do we who claim to be literate and sophisticated and smart and all that fight and perhaps reverse the tide? Any and all ideas welcome. I'd argue that it IS the Redeye's fault. It's only contributing to the perception that adolescence can continue well into your 40's. You see a man drowning you do not offer to sell him water. Well, OK. It is the fault of one specific publication only if you ignore the past half-century of TV culture; the efforts of post-modernists and other people with noodles for brains to substitute analysis and logic with emotion and perception; the victory of image over text; and the high positions and honor we have given, as a culture, to image-based advertising, marketing and other forms of (very good) propaganda at the expense of critical thinking. But yeah, it's all about the RedEye. (By the way, your point, as stated above, makes little sense: You accuse RedEye of being the villian here--"it IS the Redye's fault" and then, in the next breath, say RedEye is merely a contributor. Which is it, then?)

Spook

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:30:17 -0600

Figures p.s Dear Ms. Matilda aka "Devil's advocate", Please shut up already! What are you practicing for meet the press! Jesus H. Christ on a Fudge sickle stick in January!

archie manning

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:19:05 -0600

That settles it, I will continue to not read the Trib.

xlprq

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:03:32 -0600

"It began an free but opt-in home-delivered Saturday edition that has more than 100,000 subscribers." Is this true? Or is it counting the unsolicited ones that end up on everyone's doorsteps every weekend? Because I'd hate to think that there are 100,000 people who love the RedEye that much.

Albanyparkour

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:01:37 -0600

To be devil's advocate, I doubt you will find anyone with any information on the matter ever accuse Hirt of being dumb. Hell, she might even be smarter than you, as impossible as that sounds. The devil needs no advocate, he's rockin' and a rollin' just fine. Don't put words in my mouth, I never said she was dumb. Very smart people produce some of the stupidest shit in the world. I offer you Simon Cowell. Preferably on a spit. And, while we are fast becoming a sub-literate--or post-literate-society, whatever you might call it--I don't think that is RedEye's fault. RedEye only reflects what was already happening and which will continue to happen no matter what. In that regard, it's a brilliant, cynical publication. So the best way to deal with the dumbing down of society is to cash in while we can? No. I'd argue that it IS the Redeye's fault. It's only contributing to the perception that adolescence can continue well into your 40's. You see a man drowning you do not offer to sell him water. Consider Zell's race to the bottom in every other regard, bringing in the purveyor of wastewater like the Redeye is sickening. No matter her pedigree and experience, her last job was running an eyesore.

matilda

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:48:54 -0600

Albany: To be devil's advocate, I doubt you will find anyone with any information on the matter ever accuse Hirt of being dumb. Hell, she might even be smarter than you, as impossible as that sounds. And, while we are fast becoming a sub-literate--or post-literate-society, whatever you might call it--I don't think that is RedEye's fault. RedEye only reflects what was already happening and which will continue to happen no matter what. In that regard, it's a brilliant, cynical publication. Don't get me wrong: I hate RedEye, and probably would find it hard to respect its most loyal readers, especially those over the age of 21. And as smart as I think Hirt is--check out her work history somewhere for a clue--I do think she lacks a certain moral fiber for helping craft that daily piece of dumbed-down shit. She seems more like some (smart) corporate functionary than a journalist--more of a product person than a truth-seeker or crusader. I guess we will see.

Rob Christopher

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:43:55 -0600

Oh, how appropriate!

Albanyparkour

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:26:29 -0600

Can...can it get worse? The woman who ran the newspaper for the sub-literate is running the trib. Sweet Christ.

matilda

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:26:00 -0600

Yeah, and people continue to think the grown-up Trib will just become more and more like the RedEye. I guess this news shows them.